Hi everyone!
I'll be going on chemo later on this week at earliest or after a surgery to remove my lower abdominal lymph node(s).
While on these drugs the effects can be blegh.It lowers the immune system and other effects.It was recommended by a friend to take vitamin C.What foods would you recommend eating.Ofcourse I'll be asking my doctors the same questions,but I'd like to hear some opinions. Any and all are welcome,thanks!

Make sure that whatever you are able to eat is nutritious.

Odds are you are not going to feel like eating much, so if you do, make the most of it.

You will also probaly be advised to eat some high calorie supplement ie Boost or Ensure, to try to keep your weight up. It probably won't work, your gonna drop a few, but it might help.

As always, We suggest that you seek out a qualified doctor in your area

Good luck my friend! We are pulling for you!

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From a healing and medical standpoint I would listen to Budoc and the advice of your medical team. i know tomatoes contain anti carcinogenic qualities (particularely in ketchup form for some reason that escapes me at the moment).

My mother swears by Kiwi fruit to aid healing. She can give no reason other than its a wisdom handed through her family. She was eating 4 a day after having a 'delicate' operation, and was back at work in 7 weeks, 5 weeks ahead of schedule. Could be placebo effct however.

My uncle went through extensive bone marrow transplant 2 months ago, what with the accompanying therapy he had no appetite at all. Doctors kept giving him 'nutritionaly balanced' bland meals that he simply wouldnt/couldnt eat, so my auntie, on impulse, bought a Curry for him (his favourite). The flavour stimulated his appetite and he ate the lot. The medical staff said that it was not great 'on paper' but that it was no more harmful than him wasting away with an empty stomach, and endorsed a once a week curry regime!

He is doing extremely well (touch wood) and the weight is kreeping back onto him.

Hope this helps

May I also suggest fish oils (omega 3 etc) for your immune system.
Enjoy the hospital food. I think I would take Cords advice and have a curry once in a while!

Be well mate, and tell us how its going.

Damn! I am going to try to find this article!

DON'T EAT STUFF YOU LIKE WHILE ON CHEMOTHERAPY!

The nausea associated with it will make you want to stop eating, and can affect your diet even after you are done treatment.

They did a study with giving kids on chemo novel (to them) tasting foods, and found they they ate better. I know, it doesn't make sense, I am going to try to find the article.

Hang on.

This isn't the one I was thinking of, but it is the same idea.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...p;dopt=Abstract

Here's a little bit more -

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Sauce%20b%E9arnaise%20syndrome

more -

http://www.breastdoc.com/My_Breast_Health/Nutrition/Chemotherapy_and_Diet/chemotherapy_and_diet.html

More -

http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/drug.html

Hope this helps.

One thing that would help with the nausea and the lack of hunger would be tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), no joke.
Ask your doctor, but a friend of mine's mum used to 'administer' it for the same reasons, but not because of chemo, but could be beneficial.
Some doctors agree and some dont, for your situation, I dont know what the consensus is, but ask!

Actually what Matt says about not eating foods you like cause you will stop liking them due to association with nausea sounds pretty plausible, I didnt read the articles he posted.

Magr, my man! Way to come through with the pot prescription

In the US your not going to find a physician that will prescribe Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana, pot, smoke, mary jane, weed, spliff,wacky tobaccy, herb, 2 toke ooh ooh) I keep up on all the hip lingo. I'm groovy!

Anyway, marijuana is probably not an option.

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Yo, I was trying to be subtle with the chemical name of it.... but yes 'da chronic!'

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Anyway, it is probably not an option.

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But would it work, or be harmfull in your opinion? I have been informed that it is an anti-nausiac? And we all know about the hunger inducing properties!

SANCHIN,

I went and had a talk with one of my employees who is a survivor. He said what ever you do, stay away from sugar. Other than that, remember to eat..and you will not feel like eating..but you will at times need to force yourself to. He also said there are some medications that help with this and your blood cell depletion.

Thanks for all the replies....except the one about THC! I am completely against such a notion and I have never even tried it! I do have some close family members whose lives have been destroyed by it though.Please let that be the very last thing saud about it.Thankyou!
I'll talk to my doctors thursday and ask questions about the suggestions made here.Thanks all!