Ask the expert

Cancer and nutritional needs

» Fortisip info
COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE WHERE I CAN BUT FORTISIP FROM? CHICKEN OR MUSHROOM FLAVOURS

[Answer]
» Nutritional recommendations for cancer patients
my dad (87) has bowel cancer which is inoperable. His bowel is closing up and he has been told to avoid fibre. How can we find out what he can eat? eg can fibrous foods be liquidised?

[Answer]
» Cancer, cancer treatments and loss of appetite
My husband is very ill with oesphogal cancer which has spread to lymph glands. He has had one course of chemotherapy where the tumours did reduce but we have found they have grown back, and that they may have spread to the bones. Waiting for result of bone scan. He has also recently had radiotherapy on the oesophagus area and neck. All this has hit him very hard and I cannot get him to eat anything. He is also sleeping a lot and has lost his voice. Would this be a result of the radiotherapy or just depression? Have you any suggestions as to what to do? I am realistic about outcomes but would just like to see him eating more with more energy if possible.

[Answer]
» Nutritional recommendations for cancer patients
Hello My mom is diagnoised with cancer at stage 4. Endomaterial cancer and under went surgery- hystrectomy but now it has spread to the lymph nodes.. What sort of diet will hlep her? Is there any diet / food that can actually stop the cancer from spreading? Please advise Thank you Sharon

[Answer]
» Healthy diet for cancer prevention
HI EXPERT MY FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF STOMACH CANCER, HOW CAN THAT BE AVOIDED. ALSO I SUFFER FROM PSORIATICAL ARTHRITIS CAN YOU PLEASE RECOMEND ANY NUTRITION. CAN YOU ALSO ADVISE ME OF SERRAPEPTASE I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY KIND REGARDS SEAN

[Answer]
» Nutritional recommendations for cancer patients
What information would a person be given who was about to recieve treatment for cancer (radiotherapy, chemotherapy) who also had diabetes? Would they have to change the diet, taking the meds, etc Any special planning procedures taking into account their condition?

[Answer]
» Steroids in cancer treatment
How and why are steroids used in the treatment of cancer?

[Answer]
» Weight gain and healthy diet
I have had non hodgkins lymphoma for nearly 3 years and am on "watch & wait" I was diagnosed after going to the doctors suffering from fatigue & weight gain. I have now gained nearly two & half stone since diagnosis. I have invested in a exercise bike but am not seeing any result. I think I eat a healthily most of the time, plenty of fresh veg, some fruit, rarely touch biscuits, crisps, etc, do not drink fizzy drinks. Only have the occasional take away (maybe twice a month) HELP

[Answer]
» Can diet prolong life?
My niece had breast cancer 2 years it has now traveled to her bones and liver and she has been told there is nothing they can do for her now. Can you tell me if there is any special nutricinal diet that would help her to prolong her life. Her age is 37years Thanks for your help

[Answer]
» Chemotherapy side effects
Hi I am currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer - chemotherapy at the moment - and have just had my 6th cycle of a probable 8 - I am currently having taxoter - then i wil be having surgery and then probably radiotherapy. I dont eat particularly well after each chemo session due to nausea which I think may be causing to go neutropenic each time - I have had a 5 day stay in hospital at the beginning of treatment due to this and antibiotics after nearly each cycle. I have been tring to boost my immune system by eating a neutropenic diet but my problem now is that after the 4th chemo treatment my gall bladder has flared up so I am now even more limited as to what I can eat. I have cut out dairy and am having soya marg and milk. I have also cut out all fatty foods & oils etc, cakes, biscuits - apart from gingers - I have also cut out tomatoes and some fruits due to their acidity and also cucumber as I have been told its not good to eat. I am not having any sauces due to the vinegar in them but have found a dairy free mayo from the health store. I do eat soups, bits of toast, ginger biscuits , melon for about a week after chemo but thats about iit. Then I gradually introduce some salmon, chicken, other veg and salad and jacket potates and beans. My main concern is that I dont feel as though I am eating a balanced diet at present and there doesnt seem to much information on what things to eat and not to eat - apart from conflicting info - with reagrds to the gall bladder problem. I would appreciate it if you could let me know what foods would be good to eat & in what quantities - ie carbs - how many portions a day and which ones would be best fruits and veg/salad - which ones can I eat, which are best to avoid If you could do this for all the food groups and list foods down and just let me know how many from each food group to choose that would be great and if you have any tips on recipes ar any sauces I can eat to make the food less dry that would also be great as I do have a sore mouth as well which makes eating dry food difficult as well. I hope you can help - sorry its such a long request ! Many thanks

[Answer]
» Advice for weight loss
hi, was just wondering if there is a 7 day menu i could follow which would give me the nutrition i need & get my weight down as my bmi was 30, thanks

[Answer]
» Teenage growing pains diagnosis?
Hello, dont know if u can help. Just a query really. My 16 year old daughter has been complaining of continous pain for just over a year. First started in her legs, went to the GP who diagnosed growing pains. Since then the pain has traveled to her back, and pelvis. The pain comes and goes but is worse at night, sometimes so severe she is in tears. She has had blood tests which came back normal, urine samples which are also normal and physio. Recently she is very fatigued and feels almost constantly nauseas. Could this be anything serious? What should my plan of action be? I feel like im hassling the GP!

[Answer]
» Including Soya in diet?
I ask on behalf of my wife who is in remission from stage 3 Ovarian cancer. Would you consider Soya products benificial, neutral, or non benificial for her condition. Thank you

[Answer]
» Bowel cancer
My Father has bowel cancer and has never been advised on what foods he needs to steer clear from to prevent "toilet accidents". He knows that if he eats too much fruit it can affect him and he now only eat white bread but is there anything else that we wouldn't expect to cause problems that he needs to stop eating?

[Answer]
» Non milky alternatives
My father in law has osophageal cancer, diabetes and a colostomy bag. He has been using Fortisip and Fortijuice as a regular part of his diet for some months now but has recently developed strage, cheesey smelling, diarrhea (This is not good with a colostomy bag). I was wondering if there was a non milky complete formula. We already use Fortijuice as an energy boost in the mornings.

[Answer]
» constipation
My husband has cancer in the tail of the pancreas and liver mets, he has been constipated for around 3months now, he currently started chemo last week and is taking movicol to help but doesn't seem to help much at all, he is now feeling very sick and not eating well he also finds it very hard to swallow. He is also a diabetic can you help?

[Answer]
» nutrition / diet
Hello I am on my 2nd cycle out of 6 of chemo. (FEC)They give me domperidone for the sickness, emend for the 1st two days after chemo and omeprazole for acid. However I suffer badly from constipation. It may be 4-5 days before I go and this is with the aid of either califig or senna. My stomach becomes so distended, and i feel sick all through the day. I drink fresh juices each day and eat lots of veg and fruit, water, home made soups etc Any suggestions ?

[Answer]
» Fortisip and weight gain
Will i be able to gain weight drinkin the fortisip drinks, i have had cancer and use these as i´m unable to eat normally?

[Answer]
» childhood leukaemia
My 12 year old daughter has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. I find it hard to get her to eat any fruit/fruit drinks. At times she may only have 200 calories per day, her appetite can be very poor. I approached the hospital who would not allow me to give her any supplements. Can you give me any direction here? Is there any research which I can show them which proves my daughter needs good nutrition? Her muscles are very wasted and she has very bad oedema on her face due to the steroids. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

[Answer]
» Diet for ovarian cancer and chemotherapy
My friend is being treated for Ovarian cancer and is undergoing a course in chemo. She has received very conflicting info regarding diet and she is losing a significant amount of weight despite her very bloated tummy full of fluid. Should she eat dairy produce, red meats? Should she avoid sugar? How can she help boost her immune system between chemo sessions?

[Answer]
» Leukaemia
My 16 year old daughter has neurolymphblastic leukeamia. She is on the four treatment system and is on the second set. She had a stroke three weeks ago and is just in the process of regaining mobility in her right arm. She is having intensive physio including speech (it was the whole of her right side) and is improving. However, she has lost 10kg. The doctors wanted her to have a nasal tube for feeding but she vomitted it out and we are worried about doing it again. She is vomitting many of her meals and the nutritionist seems to be giving only protein drinks which she also vomits up. Can you help? I thought that maybe food especially for expeditions would be useful - does that sound like a good idea and can you come up with any more ideas?

[Answer]
» Fortijuce in Spain
My Uncle has Acute Myloid Leukaemia and lives in Spain. The medical staff keep trying to give him a version Fortisip. He does not like the Milkshake consistency and I was just wondering if you produced a Fortjuce that is distributed in Spain? I work in medicine so am familiar with your British products.

[Answer]
» Gastric Cancer and Tube Feeding
My mother has Stage 3 Gastric Cancer. She has already undergone surgery which involved complete removal of her stomach, spleen and 32 lyphmondes that were cancerous. She is able to eat by mouth, but not enough to get the nutrition she needs. She does tube feeding via a J tube nightly using Ensure Plus as recommended by her Nutritionist, because of the high calorie intake. I have issues with this, as Ensure is very high in sugar and everything I have read states that "Cancer feeds off Sugar." If I am incorrect please correct me. I am wanting to juice multiple organic cancer killing vegetable such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots and put them in her feeding to along with a low sugar weight gainer. My question is, is there any health hazards with all natural nutrition going straight into her intestines? New feeding bags are used nightly, the vegetables would be raw and put into a juicer to extract one the liquid, liquid much thinner than Ensure so I dont see clogging to be an issue. Any input you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Answer]
» cancer of the gullet
Why is it that even though my husband is eating quite well, he is still losing weight?

[Answer]
» Weight gain
You mention that during cancer treatment most people have difficulty in eating, unfortunately i dont! I have gained about 2+ stone since being diagnosed in August last year. I am undergoing chemo at the moment and have little energy to do much in the way of exercise and am eating as well as before if not a little better!! I also have crohns disease and eating fruit and veg is very difficult. I would like to know if there is a multi-vitamin that i could take to help me get the nutriants i need to ensure that i am not lacking in all the good stuff.

[Answer]