What is a good eating plan (7 day menu) for a terminally ill cancer patient?

There is no such thing for a terminally ill cancer patient. You let them tell you what they want to eat and prepare it. They may suggest something for which seams appealing and get quite excited over the anticipation of the meal. However, when you have prepared it, they may not eat it or even like it, as they used to. It's not their fault. Cancer is a mean disease and plays havoc with everything within their body and around them. That includes you. Prepare each meal with love and pray it works. Eventually it will be yogurts, protein shakes, fruit bars, popsicles, and finally ice chips. I wish you all the best. This is the saddest part of caregiving and the most heartwrenching.

Doe

To Paul Anthony - your crass response was uncalled for. Renay is only asking because she doesn't know what else to ask at this point. Maybe you have experienced such painful and heartwrenching situations as this, but not everyone has. Instead of ridiculing the question, you should be focusing on how you can help her through this difficult time. Cancer affects everyone involved in that person's life. I joined this website for compassion and support. Why are you here?

Anything they want to eat!

I say let dying people eat whatever they want to eat, can eat, and can "keep down". If the person is close to death anyway, probably no food is going to do as much harm as the death-causing disease is doing (although I suppose in cases like diabetes-related oncoming deaths etc. one would have to be more careful). It is so hard to accept the fact that a loved one can no longer take in much or any nutrition. It is frustrating and heart-breaking for everyone involved. But it is what happens more times than not in connection with dying.

A termianally ill patient should eat whatever they damn please. You have to be kidding right?

Renay,
This is very hard. I don't know what her living situation is, whether 'facility' or home. My suggestion would be, think of all the things she liked to cook or take to friends or with the Church Ladies. Comfort food. She needs to enjoy the memories that are associated with taste and smell. I am sure that she has hundreds of recipes, probably in her head, but I bet you know some of them too. At this stage of the game, nutrition is useless. Provide for her all the things she would have cooked for you guys and there is your 7 day menu. She will appreciate you remember and hopefully enjoy the comforts of you attention.

Boma. Compassion and support is good. My mom is sufferring from severe dimentia. She is not dying but she has no ablity to know what she wants. I had to Man up a long time ago and get my emotions in check and get to the task of keeping her alive. I decide based on what she would like. I am happy she has the appetite she has and I think part of it is varying her diet and surprising her with cool snacks. A person with cancer may not have an appetite for anything specific so you have to key in on what she likes and again I say the person should have whatever he or she likes. Just get ready for the dissappointment when they don't eat. I am sorry for the lack of a compassionate answer.but I stand by it.

My father was a fairly big man 6 ft 2 and about 215... He loved to eat and enjoyed good food he made GREAT soup (from scratch) and loved to share. When he was diagnosed last June with metasatic cancer of his bones and prostate, he basically stopped eating. We tried various things but it seemed to hurt. The last thing we did successfully was a strawberry banana smoothie... He really seemed to enjoy it. My best advice is try things like soft boiled eggs, puddings, soup ... they are nutrious and will slide easily. I have made egg custard from scratch for folks with cancer and it seems to taste good and go down easily... I will you the best take care... God Bless!!!

My sister is going through this same thing with her dear companion. He is only in his early 50's and is two and half years into a diagnosis of Stage IV esophogeal cancer. His first two years he had pretty good quality of life, but now he is bed ridden and needs 24/7 care. She is a nurse so she has been an excellent caregiver for him. Anyway he is still eating but trying to plan what he will want from day to day is a challenge. So far she takes it one day at a time and prepares what he thinks he can eat at the time. She is finally getting another caregiver on board so she can work her three day twelve hour shifts at the hospital. Anyway I think it sounds like most of the people on here understand and have given good advice. Hugs to you Renay and know you are not alone.

My mother has colon cancer ,( untreatable ) and we take one meal at a time. Whatever she wants. Most is sent back eaten and she is often sick after eating. It's very hard to see her like this. She sometimes enjoy a packet of potato crisps even though we both know the salt is not good for her but her enjoyment is the most important thing. She has been bedridden since April. It's too painful for her to get out of bed and into a wheelchair.