Hi all.
I wanted to know, is the weight loss caused by the cancer; by the treatments (chemo - radiotherapy); by difficulty eating (OK that sounds obvious); or by a mixture?
I ask because, OK, I have lost some weight, but am really not upset about it because over the last 18 months I had put a load on; so I am still at least 5kg overweight, probably momre like 7kg. I am between phases - recovering from surgery, with radio therapy due to start on the 28th. Apart from I get tired more easily than normal, I don't feel there is anything wrong with me - I have a hard time recognising that there is a problem, other than getting over the surgery. Maybe that's good, but maybe it means I am not looking after myself as I should, on the eating front.
I have been given loads of supplements - high protein drinks etc - and advice to add cream/cream cheese to things, use full fat milk etc - and I do.
But I don't do the program properly, making sure I eat 3 proper meals a day plus 3 or 4 snacks, and I guess I am losing weight slowly - only slowly.
Do I need to make myself concentrate more on this, because the illness is working away at me, or do I wait until the chemo/radio has started to make myself really notch up on the food front? By 'normal' habits, I welcome weight loss - ah, to be back at a size 12 again! - but I am working on my brain to tell myself that it is not good for me right now.
For details:
I eat a certain amount 'normally', and if I think I havn't done well enough, I have a pack of nutrition via the tube. I frankly feel pretty stuffed most of the time. And I have never been one for eating breakfast - I am having a full fat milk hot choccie normally now, instead of tea, and I have a high protein drink during the morning some days. For lunch I will eat something like scrambled eggs with cream/smoked fish added, a bit of soft bread; or today I'm going to try a microwave pasta dish. Another HP drink during the afternoon, or maybe yoghurt + fruit compote + spoon protein powder. And either a pack or some food in the evening - although I don't think I normally eat enough in the evening to make up my correct intake (e.g. one steak haché/burger plus potato purée with additional protein powder or cream/cheese; maybe some vegetable purée; or a bowl of soup with cheese/cream, a bit of bread).
Original Post