Cancer: Friends & Family Support

Hi, there. I'm very sorry to read that you have been diagnosed with throat cancer! I personally know someone who was diagnosed about 4 years ago and treated. He's doing exceptionally well - a survivor!

The reason your doctor has told you to gain weight is because the high doses of radiation used to treat the cancer can cause decreased appetite and weight loss, nausea and painful swallowing. These patients typically receive radiation alone or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, which can worsen the side effects of treatment, particularly nausea. Due to the pain and nausea, it is very difficult for patients to eat sufficient quantities of food and drink proper amounts of fluid during treatment. It is a critical time to maintain adequate food intake and hydration, yet one of the most frequent complaints from patients during this type of therapy is a decreased appetite.

Did you doctor mention Ensure as a way to increase your weight, while giving you the proper nutrition?

I hope this has helped you somewhat. Please hold onto to hope. You will be in my closest thoughts and prayers. Let us know how you're doing, okay?

You might also find something of inspiration in The Inspiration Room folder down below.

Good luck to you!

Thank you for your kind words.  I hope your friend remains a survivor for a very long time. My thoughts are with him.

I have heard of Ensure. Several years ago I was on the road to recovery from a totally unrelated disease.  After the doctors realized I was going to live, my weight became an issue. In just a few months I had dropped from 140 to 95.  Their first recommendation was Ensure. I tried drinking it, I gagged, coughed, couldn't swallow. I couldn't drink the stuff. My doctor told me I had three choices; eat, Ensure, or a feeding tube.  I started eating the next day, small frequent meals, but I ate.  It was different then, I was recovering, now I haven't even packed for the trip.

The more I read, the more confused I get. My thinking is stay positive, I've already beat one disease, what's one more!

You're very welcome! All any of us can do is to keep hope alive and rely on the positive. It's true that those who keep a positive outlook CAN heal. You're going to beat this and you're going to be okay, I just know it!

I've heard of others having a difficult time in drinking Ensure. If you don't go that route and you lose your appetite completely, it's good that there IS the feeding tube. You need your strength and you need to take care of yourself.

Big hugs!