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Every month, a featured expert from CancerCare's staff of professional oncology social workers will answer common questions about coping with a cancer diagnosis. Submit your own question for the chance to have it answered in this column.

August 2008

This Month's Topic: Nutrition

Submit Your Questions on this Month's Topic

Featured Expert: Carolyn Messner, DSW, LCSW-R

Q. My mother is undergoing chemotherapy treatments and her appetite is poor. She has a doctor's appointment next week. I plan to go with her but don't know what to say to her doctor.

A. It is wonderful that you are helping care for your mother. Your important role is known as a "caregiver." Attending your mother's doctor's appointment with her can be very helpful because good communication with her doctor will improve the quality of care she receives. Your mother may feel overwhelmed and needs your help to sort through the doctor's instructions on managing her poor appetite.

Before this visit with the doctor, write down any questions the two of you would like to ask. Make your questions as specific as possible and ask your most important questions first. Bring a notebook or tape recorder so you can keep track of the doctor's answers and refer to them later.

Some questions that you might want to consider asking the doctor are:

What could be causing my mother's poor appetite?
Are there any ways to help improve my mother's appetite?
Can you arrange for her to meet with a dietician to help us plan her meals and snacks?
Is there any medication that would help to improve her appetite?

You may also want to learn about organizations that help with care at home. Ask your mother's doctor or hospital social worker about local home health agencies.

CancerCare resources that will provide you with additional information:

CancerCare's professional oncology social workers assist people living with cancer, family members and caregivers with the practical and emotional concerns arising from a cancer diagnosis. Call us at 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) or email info@cancercare.org.

Q. I just started chemotherapy. I am not eating as much as before I started treatment. I don't have the energy to prepare my meals and sometimes feel nauseated. What should I do?

A. Nausea and fatigue are common side effects in cancer treatment but can be well managed with the help of your doctor, health care team and medications. Daily chores and tasks can be especially burdensome. This is the time to ask others to help you prepare your food so that you can maintain good eating habits during your treatments. Perhaps you don't want to "bother" your family or friends or ask them to do simple tasks because it makes you feel helpless. But most of the time, family and friends are looking for a way to contribute to your care, even if they can't be there all the time. Try appointing one family member or friend to be your primary caregiver, and have that person organize help from the others. Together, they can work as a team to do your food shopping, bring you meals and do the dishes. Giving each one a specific task allows each one to feel that he or she is helping you.

You can also get help with meals and house chores from your hospital, non-profit agencies and private organizations. Sometimes this help is covered by insurance, and sometimes you may need financial assistance to get the help you need. For more information, read CancerCare's Tips for Finding Assistance.

Other CancerCare resources that will provide you with additional information:

Eating Hints for Cancer Patients: Before, During, and After Treatment from The National Cancer Institute is another helpful resource.

CancerCare's professionally trained oncology social workers assist people living with cancer, family members and caregivers with the practical and emotional concerns arising from a cancer diagnosis. Call us at 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) or email info@cancercare.org.

Dr. Carolyn Messner, DSW, LCSW-R, is director of education and training at CancerCare. Dr. Messner specializes in the psychosocial impact of cancer on patients, caregivers and families; methods to design educational interventions to ameliorate the distress of cancer; and cancer in the workplace. She pioneered the use of teleconference technology to bring information and support to cancer patients, their families, employers and healthcare professionals.

Do you have a question regarding nutrition? We invite you to use the space below to Ask CancerCare.

All questions are submitted anonymously, and responses to selected questions will be posted on this page. Please note that not all questions can be answered, and that you may contact CancerCare directly for information and guidance.

CancerCare provides free professional support services, including counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help. These services are provided by professional oncology social workers. If you have a specific concern or question and would like to speak with an oncology social worker, please contact us at info@cancercare.org or 1-800-813-HOPE (4673).

For questions about medical issues, please visit Cancer.net, the patient information website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Archive of Ask CancerCare questions and answers from previous months: