Great appetite but losing weight

alpham · New User Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Spain

Hi everyone.

I wonder if any of you can tell me of your experiences regarding weight loss, and how far it goes. My husband was diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer with lung and liver mets just under two months ago. He had a colostomy, which went well, but since then he has been losing weight at an alarming rate. He does not seem to have any muscle mass at all. His oncologist started him on iron tabs a week ago, and his appetite is ferocious!! But he just doesn't seem to be putting on any weight at all.

I understand that it may be early days yet, as he has only had two chemo sessions so far, but I am incredibly worried about it.

brainman

alpham, I am very sorry about your husband's cancer. It could be that although his appetite is good, his body is not absorbing the nutriets well enough. You should consult with his medical team.

You and you husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Darwin

Sorry to hear about your husband's Cancer. You might also like to try giving him high calorie drinks such as Ensure with icecream or fruit drinks like Resource. I agree with Jim. They might help a little but the medical team should be able to make suggestions about his diet and weight managment. My ex has also lost a lot of weight and has the same bowel cancer and mets to liver and lungs. Many small meals seem to be more attractive to him so perhaps smaller amounts every hour or two might be absorbed more easily but I am just guessing at that.
Thinking of you both
D
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Had 2 years of continuous chemo, folfox then folfirri. On MAX chemo now. Has had radiation to pelvic area and radiosctive SIRT spheres injected directly into the metastic liver tumours.

Johanflannery · New User Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Oh god i have gone trough that HELL =( i would love to help you somehow.
When a family member of mine had the same problem in stage 4 she gained some weight by giving her Ensure and A beer once a while
I will always advocate the use of dca (sodium dichloroacetate ) as per it was the only medication that could response.

it is very sad really if you need more info on this i have the potocols and all of it my advice.

now there are some places where you can buy it my advice try (edited by admin)

*** by admin- Please be very sure with your post. Alot of your posts are sounding alot like soliciting products. ****

alpham · New User Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Spain

Thanks Brainman and Darwin. I know it is a common problem, it is just rather perturbing to see, especially when the patient is gulping everything and anything that falls in his path. He now seems to have stabilized at pre-skeletic level - Our oncologist asures us this is normal and the only thing she has done about it is prescribe iron tabs.

Ah, well. As long as it goes no further, we can handle that.

Thanks again, you guys.

REB

I went from 165 pound down to 140 (right now I am around 155-160).

Most of my weight loss was due to not eating for 10 days prior to my tumor being removed, and then not eating for 3 days after my first chemo treatment made me so sick. After that, I slowly gained weight, but then I would loose it on my worst day after chemo when I didn't feel like eating.

His chemo may be a lot tougher than mine, so I am guessing that is what is causing it.

I am not aware of a colostomy causing weight loss. It does keep one from absorbing water like they did before the colostomy so they need to drink more water.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

alpham · New User Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Spain

Thanks for that, REM.

The question is that my husband's chemo is quite different to yours - 5-FU and irinotican. He responds fantastically to it, no nausa - nothing and actually feels good after it!!!

He eats like a mad man, and drinks a lot more water than before the colostomy.

Since my first mail, his weight seems to have stabilized, but has not been able to regain any of the weight he lost.

golfgirl10 · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

My husband just had his colon/rectum resectioned with an ostomy. He was also losing weight fast. Food was passing through his body way to fast. I had to change his diet to very low fiber, high calorie foods. The weight has started to come back on now.

I found a very helpful website for people with ostomies. The people on the forum are very helpful and many have years of experience with their colostomy. Here is the website: http://www.uoaa.org/forum/index.php

I find the General Ostomy Discussion very informative.

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