Food

A few people seem surprised that Dave is still able to eat. I think this stems from the fact that he has a feeding tube, and I wasn't very clear in earlier posts. Dave has difficulty eating some food like meat and drier or crunchy foods because they just don't go down easily and can cause him pain, but he can still eat softer foods like soups & spaghetti. (The tumor is partially blocking his esophagus.) He still has a good appetite, but he just needs to eat smaller meals and chew them very well first. The feeding tube was put in as Dave was starting to lose weight because he just couldn't eat enough to keep his weight up. The doctor wanted to make sure that he didn't keep losing weight - especially going into chemotherapy, where people tend to lose their appetite. The feeding tube gives him supplemental calories & nutrients and will keep him healthier during chemo.

I've also been making him daily protein shakes with frozen strawberries, blueberries etc... bananas, yogurt, probiotics, & protein whey. Also, my sister & brother-in-law just bought Dave a juicer for his birthday, which has been awesome in helping him get fresh veggies & fruits (like carrots & apples) that he otherwise couldn't eat right now.

A few people have dropped off some homemade soups, which has been great as it's just a little more variety for Dave. (Thanks so much for that!)

Food & nutrition is quickly becoming a big factor in what we believe will be Dave's recovery. We think it's a crucial part to keeping healthy through chemotherapy and in fighting the cancer itself. I hate to say this, but I'm a little discouraged at how this seems to be overlooked by traditional medicine (doctors, nurses, and dietitian/nutritionist at the hospital). I have asked a few times over the past week or so about what foods he should be eating and avoiding (like sugar and processed foods) and they insist that it doesn't matter, "just eat whatever you like to keep the weight on". And yet the American Institute for Cancer Research gives very specific information on what foods to eat and avoid. AICR-foodsthatfightcancer
The fact that the LRCP doesn't encourage healthier eating is a little disappointing. (Don't get me wrong. I fully believe in traditional medicine and the treatment Dave is receiving, I just think it's a little closed minded to rule out everything else.)

This weekend Dave has been feeling not too bad. They described the first few days of chemo to feeling like you've got the flu. I think that's been pretty accurate. (Dave seems better to me today than he did on Friday.) Yesterday he went to the dog park with a friend (and the dogs). Last night he went to North Park church with a few co-workers and said it was awesome! This afternoon Dave went skating with some friends that came down from Toronto to visit. It was a great weekend to get out! We had 2 beautiful sunny days.

As always, thanks everybody for your positive calls, emails and keeping us in your prayers!

Val