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dewebb11 Asked February 2010

My 77-year-old mom is a cance3r patient and is having trouble eating after chemotherapy and radiation. How can I get her to eat so that she can recover better?

She finished the cancer treatment, and has pretty well healed up from the gum soreness and burns in her esophagus but now it seems her stomach is dormant and doesn't tell her she's hungry and needs to eat. She has been on an IV for 3 weeks. We try to encourage her to eat but we don't get very far. What can we do?

Sparkly Feb 2010
Id suggest getting her some of those meal replacement drinks, like Ensure or Boost. While it isn't much "food" it may get her appetite and stomach awakened again. It also goes down easier that solid food.

dewebb11 Feb 2010
Texas doesn't support pot and mom would probably rather die. She smoked for 50 years and I highly doubt she would consider taking a puff regardless of how effective it would be. However, amusingly, I agree with your comment. She would definitely get hungry...munchies, munchies, ha.

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bobbie321 Feb 2010
sorry to hear about your mom,

roll a doobie. check out your state for med marijuana. If you're near California it's worth the drive. If not, figure it out in your state. There's people that will help a 77 year old cancer patient.
or
Google medical marijuana and keep searching until you find something close.

the difference in someone who taps into the pot and one who doesn't is amazing. The stuff will get rid of nausea and induce appetite. It is truly incredible and the people who speak out against it for med purposes are myopic idiots.

I was sick in the hospital and couldn't keep anything down for 3 days. They were ready to keep me forever. One of my friends visited, whipped out a little pipe and 15 minutes later I wolfed a sandwich and kept it in me. One puff. Released 36 hours later.

Just sayin...

lovbob

rephill27 Feb 2010
Chemo also changes your taste buds, so the things she used to eat may no longer taste good to her. Maybe try giving her one small bite of different foods and see what hits her. Start with her favorites, no matter what it is, then work your way through the food groups. If she starts eating a little, try to set up some kind of feeding schedule, maybe every one or two hours, so that her stomach doesn't have to tell her when to eat anymore. Good luck to you.

tennessee Feb 2010
Jeff had chemo and radiation every two weeks for years. It took a toll on him. He was only in his thirties. Pot was a miracle drug as far as the sickness goes and the lack of appitite. It is illegal most places and highly controversal.It was the only thing that helped him eat.

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