Izzy (and Mama) Eat: The Gourmand Goes To College...

Tales of Empty Nest and College Boy Eats.. The Next Chapter

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Crazy Sexy Cancer? Not quite...

Crazy Scrawny Cancer is more like me after my third chemo treatment Wednesday.

My ever-thoughtful friend S., who has been sending me all manner of care packages, was kind enough to send along the book, Crazy Sexy Cancer, brimming with stories of beautiful, courageous women beating cancer and still managing to look great. These are inspiring stories to be sure, but I just can't live up. I can barely get out of bed in the morning let alone muster up enough energy to look in any way presentable. And eating? That is the most difficult task of all, a cruel punishment for a food blogger to be sure.

Which brings me to the scrawny part. I could surely use some fattening up but can't eat fattening foods, nor do I really want to. Not to mention that everything tastes wrong. Any tips on helping nausea and increasing appetite welcome.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Lynn! I have no tips for nausea, but just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers and thoughts. Keep Fightin!! The storm is almost over.
Wendy-Jackson's Mom

Bathory House said...

Ginger Tea (fresh root steeped in water) sometimes helps with nausea.

Also, people I've known in treatment do well and put on weight with a macrobiotic diet.

Hope your apetite is hardier has time goes by.

Hoping you can eat what you so wonderfully cook very soon.

Alyson Pemoulie said...

Lynn,

My thoughts are with you. I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through. I've been following your blog for years now and am sending love and good energy your way.

Best,
Alyson

Judith Cohen, CPCC, MCC said...

Lynn,
I just read your post and I wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with ovca a little over 11 years ago and I've been cancer free ever since my treatment. I too went through intraperitoneal chemo as well as systemic chemo and radiation. What I found to be most helpful for nausea were the anti-nausea drugs they gave me before and after chemo. I found especially good results with anzamet and with zofran. I took the anzamet for three days post chemo and I never felt nauseated. Everyone is different but that is my best suggestion.

As for gaining weight, I was big on mashed potatoes. I also made sure to have a large meal post chemo when the decadron was still in my system. Are they still using decadron pre-chemo sessions? I was generally hungry after chemo and I know it was from the decadron.

Be kind to yourself. I would also suggest getting into a support group. Other cancer patients have great tips on getting through chemo and it's good to be surrounded by people who know exactly what you are going through.

Good luck and I'm sending good energy your way. Us cancer girls have to support one another!

Warmly,
Judith

Unknown said...

Zofran worked 4 me, along with a sometime bouquet of mint by the bed or sometime chewy bits of crystallized ginger. Aromatherapy goes a long way, and I'm a firm believer in acupuncture.

Ask someone's Asian mother to make you some jook, or try some chilled rice pudding.

Thinking of you....

Izzy's Mama said...

Wendy: So good to hear from you!! Where does Jackson go to school now??
Bathory house: Ginger hasn't helped so far but my appetite has returned for a spell.
Alyson: Still can't believe you read my blog!
Judith: How did you find my blog? so glad you did. I did not know they did IP 11 years ago. Which stage did you have? I am taking different meds, Emend and Zofran. Also going the natural herb route which has been more helpful. It is impssible for me to eat post chemo as the bloated stomach is very painful.
Bonnie: Love the tip about mint. I bought some to try at my bedside.