Welcome to the forum Sue09, although I'm sorry to hear about your husband's cancer and that his appetite isn't very good at the moment.

We know how worrying and stressful this must be, especially when you are not getting the support you need from his medical team, but I hope this information we have on how managing diet problems including tips to help with loss of appetite will be useful. 

We also have a team of cancer nurses you talk to about this on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very well informed so do give them a call if you want to get further support and advice.

Loss of appetite with cancer is quite common and has been discussed within our community quite a bit so hopefully some of our members who have been in this situation with their loved ones, or have experienced it themselves, will stop by soon to share their thoughts and advice.

In the meantime, we're sending you both all our support and hope your husband's appetite starts to improve soon.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Sue,

I’m just another patient, but I’ve been round the block a few times. Like Steph has said, this is a pretty common outcome of therapy. I’ve not had radio myself but after chemo it took me months before I felt like eating properly. Mind you, I didn’t feel much like exercising either, so the two balanced out. 

Is his lack of appetite affecting his health? If his weight is falling away, you might want to get his GP involved. I was on steroids for a while which improved my appetite. Otherwise, just make sure he isn’t getting dehydrated and that he’s eating healthily - vitamin pills might be an option. 

Good luck to you both
Dave

Hi Sue09, I'm Mark. I am having the same problem as your husband is plus I have a problem with my mouth as in everything I eat is painful to eat. If it was down to me I probably would eat at all, I have no appetite at all. So I eat small meals a few times a day. First thing in the morning is a drink (it's always coffee and has been for 30 years now). Then it's medication which some of the tables have to be taken with food. So I have a porridge pot which will take me maybe 30 to 45 minutes to eat. Then another drink maybe just some juice. Before lunch 10am to 11am I have a complain drink. Then for lunch soup or a pot noodle also takes me a while to eat. Then a couple of more drinks. Then last meal is normally a sandwich or barm cake I find it hard to eat after 5pm. Then before bed time a couple of more things to eat like a banana or some grapes. And another complan drink. Then last thing will be a hot chocolate and last tables of the day. Everything I have I have to force myself to eat, but I know I have to. I found small meals a few times a day is working for me. I hope this helps you in some way.

Hi Mark,

Sorry for butting in but I found that home made thick shakes, smoothies and liquidised soups worked for me when I was on chemo and struggled to eat.

I used various fruits, ice cream and full fat milk for the shakes. I sometimes still have the strawberry or banana and smooth peanut butter shakes as a treat in Summer. Almost anything can be liquidised into a soup. My taste buds were shot away, so I tended towards bland stuff.

My oncologist’s advice was to eat anything I could stomach and keep down, but to try to include some fruit and veg.

Best wishes
Dave