Hi

Im new to this but just thought i would get my thoughts down and see what other people have to say. My dad was diagonosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in October 2016 and underwent a 4 week course of radiotherapy & is on hormone injections every 3 months for the next 3 years. Thankfully, this treatment worked and he has now been cleared of prostate cancer. 

On not such a happier note, 3 weeks ago he was diagnosed with stomach cancer which has already spread to nearby lymph nodes and is still spreading - we have also been told it is not cureable and completely unrelated to the prostate cancer. 

They have offered chemotherapy as a treatment to manage the cancer only BUT have said that this may only add another couple of months onto what he has left (no time limit given) and the side effects of chemo would be severe. Dad has decided not to have chemotherapy as doesn't want the time he has left to be spent unwell. 

He is very weak & tired, and struggles with day to day tasks that up until 2 months ago he could manage  -getting up and down the stairs is a real challenge! We have managed to get a zimmer frame and wheelchair to help with his mobility but hes just not like the dad he used to be & its so upsetting to see.

Over the last 2 weeks he has completely lost his sense of taste and because of this isn't really eating much as he says everything tastes bland and plain and hes not able to enjoy his foods. Im not sure whether the loss of taste is related to his cancer or another issue. He says that his appetite is still there but he is not enjoying foods like he used to. 

We are trying to take one day at a time which is hard knowing eventually what the outcome is going to be & seeing him suffer is upsetting & frustrating for both me and my mum & him. 

Does anybody have any similar issues in regards to the loss of taste & if so any tips on how to try and encourage it to come back? It's just a shame that as well as loosing to ability to do daily tasks he is not unable to enjoy the foods he loves for the rest of the time he has left. Any feedback would be appreciated. 

Thanks

Jess