Compliments of MERCK ONCOLOGY “Eating Well Through Cancer”

Does this Sound Familiar?
• I have no appetite. Is there anything to help me?
• Should I eat hot or cold foods?
• What foods should I eat?
Your mouth normally will get sore 7 to 10 days following certain chemotherapy treatments. Remember to do your mouth care: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt in a quart of tap water. Rinse and spit after each meal. Make a fresh solution each morning and discard at the end of the day. Try eating soft or pureed foods. Use a straw for all liquids or pureed foods. This is a good time to use plastic utensils to avoid the metallic taste. Eating foods at room temperature or cool are easier to handle when your mouth is sore. Raw foods tend to irritate your mouth and should be avoided. If you are still losing ground, talk to your physicians about the following appetite stimulants:
1-Liquid Megace – 800 mg/day x 30 days then decrease to 400 mg/day.
2-Megace 40 mg twice per day and Marinol 2.5 mg by mouth twice per day.
Remember, if you find one food that you can tolerate do not hesitate to eat it repeatedly. The mouth soreness is usually associated with a low white blood cell count. As soon as your counts rise, the soreness will resolve. Cephacol, Xylocaine, and pain medicines are sometimes needed to ease the mouth paib. I often have patients take a pain pill 30 minutes prior to meals to allow them to eat. If you have obvious sores on your lips, a small amount of Vitamin E can sometimes help. Puncture a 500 unit Vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents on the ulcer 3 times per day.
If you have these problems, eating soft, bland foods and lukewarm or cool foods can be soothing. On the other hand, foods that are coarse, dry, or scratchy should be avoided. In addition, you may find that tart, salty or acidic fruits and juices, alcohol, and spicy foods may be irritating and should be avoided. Rinsing your mouth regularly with one teaspoon of baking soda and eight ounces of water or salt can help prevent infections and improve healing.
Points to Remember
• Avoid tart, acidic, or salty foods and drinks such as citrus fruit juices (grapefruit, orange, lime), pickled and vinegary foods, tomato-based foods, and some canned broths.
• Avoid rough-textured foods, such as dry toast, granola, and raw fruits and vegetables.
• Eat food that is cool or room temperature. Very hot or cold foods can cause discomfort.
• Limit alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. These substances can dry out your mouth and throat and promote further irritation.
• Avoid spices such as chili powder, cloves, curry, hot sauces, nutmeg, and pepper.
• Season foods with herbs such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
• Use a straw for liquids.
• Try chewing sugar-free gum or suck on sugar free candies.
• Cut food into small pieces.
• Softer and easy to swallow foods include soft, creamy foods, such as cream soups, cheeses, mashed potatoes, pastas, yogurt, eggs, custards, puddings, cooked cereals, ice cream, casseroles, gravies, syrups, breakfast-type recipes, milkshakes, and nutritional liquid food supplements.
• Drink your meals with nutritious liquids.
• Practice good oral hygiene.
• Use oral anesthetics such as ulcerease. Ask your doctor for a
“stomatitis” (sore mouth) cocktail.
Xylocaine-equal parts; Maalox-equal parts; Benadryl-equal parts
Swish and swallow one teaspoon every four hours as needed for pain

Some Soft Foods to Include:
• Applesauce, bananas, watermelon, and other soft fruits.
• Cottage cheese, milk shakes, or smoothies. Scrambled eggs.
• Puddings, flavored gelatin, Cooked cereals such as oatmeal or cream of wheat.
• Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or mashed vegetables.

Shopping List for Sore Mouth
• Bread, butter, eggs, honey
• Cream of wheat, grits
• Applesauce; fruit, no citrus (fresh, frozen, canned), vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned)
• Milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, frozen yogurt, cheese, yogurt
• Nutritional energy drink supplement
• Popsicles, puddings, flavored gelatins, frozen whipped topping

Please let us know at Info@ChrisElliottFund.org of your FAVORITE recipes for Sore Mouth and Throat. We’d love to share them! Blessings, Dellann Elliott, President & CEO, Chris Elliott Fund

My father was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2010.  He had no symptoms before a massive seizure sent him to the emergency room of our local hospital.  My family was blindsided and devastated.  We felt lost and completely in the dark.  We had never known anyone that had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

We were told by our family & friends that the “best doctors” were at the University of Washington.  So, appointments were made and after 6 weeks of listening to unfamiliar words in rooms full of oncologists, chemotherapists, radiologists and neurologists, a biopsy was scheduled for the end of April.  We had to wait one week for the results.  We were anxious to get answers so we could start our “game plan” and get rid of this tumor.

On May 5, 2010, our first appointment was made with a doctor at the UW.   He opened my father’s file and nonchalantly informed us that, unfortunately, the biopsy showed a Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM, stage 4 brain cancer and there wasn’t anything we could do to cure him.  Perhaps chemo and radiation could give him a few more months, but that it was our decision whether we wanted to do that or not.  He gave us NO HOPE. His lack of emotion and fatalistic viewpoint sent all of us into a semi-shock.   We were not in the least bit mentally prepared to absorb such devastating news.

After 2 days of uncontrollable sobbing and brief periods of denial, our family did the smartest thing that we have ever done:  We made the conscious decision to not give up.  We were going to try.  Try to survive, try to accept the cards we were dealt, and learn how to change them.  I knew that to the UW doctors, my father was just a number; but to me, he was my best friend.  My indestructible father was not “on borrowed time”, and he WOULD be the exception.  After researching every book and online article, my mom decided to contact Dellann Elliott, President & CEO, Chris Elliott Fund, info@ChrisElliottFund.org/www.ChrisElliottFund.org.  She had read the CEF story and felt she could turn to Dellann for guidance.  Dellann is a kindred spirit, and was so knowledgeable about brain tumors and what is on the cutting edge of treatments.   Dellann told us a year and a half ago that we should get a 2^nd opinion from Dr. Foltz at the Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment and that she would arrange for it.  We should have listened to Dellann’s advice then because the support and knowledge that Dellann provides to each family and patient is desperately needed and critical.  Dellann and the CEF on a mission to educate and provide awareness about this disease so that everyone knows what to do about a brain tumor diagnosis to extend or even save one’s live before they need to know it.  Dellann gave us the HOPE that we needed.  JOIN TEAM CEF at the 4^th Annual Seattle Brain Cancer WALK to help us in this mission.  Register and donate today at: www.ChrisElliottFund.

Having the support team and CEF and knowing that whatever questions we may have, from new trials out of the state to the definition of a word, CEF is there.

For as long as I can remember, every time that I’ve been sick or there has been an obstacle that seems unbeatable or too tough to conquer, my father has always held my hand and carried me through.  I’m supporting TEAM CEF in the 4^thnAnnual Seattle Brain Cancer WALK because this time, my father is the sick one, and it’s my turn to show him that he can count on me.  He gave me tenacious drive and unwavering will power, and I will be PART OF THE CURE.  I will fight for my family and help in every way possible.  I love you dad.

Rachael Long

I was reminded  last Friday once again, what it means to be around a handful of unique individuals who understand the difficulties of each situation and strive to do whatever it takes, whatever is best for the patient–this is where they focus their efforts, whether politically correct or not, they advocate and service the life of the patient and somehow connect to what is right and what is honorable when it comes to the patient and their care. 

I am lucky to have one of my inspirations right here in Seattle, and I felt the need this evening to reach out and say, thank you Dr. Gregory Foltz for all that you do.  You inspire me to end this disease with you, and believe me, we will.