Comments on: Cooking For People Undergoing Chemo & Radiation

By: Megan

Megan — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:01:23 +0000

Thank you for your article. My mother-in-law was recently diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer at the all-too-young age of 51. She must undergo months of chemotherapy and then have surgery to remove her stomach entirely. Like you, my whole perspective on food has been shaken to the core. I am an avid home cook, but until now, I never really thought about how vital food is to our well being, or how deeply the inability to enjoy food can affect a person’s spirit. I would love to be able to use my love of cooking to bring even some small comfort to my mother-in-law during this impossible time. Thank you for sharing your experience and guidance.

By: connie

connie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:50:24 +0000

Shuna dear, you are what I admire in a professional. I came of cooking age in the early 70′s, was smitten and have never looked back. Most of us were”self taught”, which really means we absorbed every ounce and pound of experience from our own depths as well as those we chose to hang with in the close confines of the “line”. We really sucked it up! I am now 54, have been a chef/owner for 12 years, have raised a beautiful daughter and a restaurant resentful husband,(still asking if we can get away between Christmas and New years!)and have lived with the spectre of breast cancer upsetting the applecart to boot. Reading your blog of cooking for a true friend while undergoing treatment put me in a momentary catatonic state, while I underwent this barbaric episode of lumpectomy and radiation, I was desperately maintaining my business with very poor mgt personnel, indifferent, inept “chefs” and a just plain dreadful scenario. But I did it, that was 4 years ago, still not out of the woods,but all I can say is I wished someone had cooked for me…

By: shuna fish lydon

shuna fish lydon — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 08:43:00 +0000

Charles,

Thank you for your insight as well. I had forgotten to mention that one of the side effects of the myriad of medications one is taking is that one's taste buds change dramatically.

A person cooking for someone undergoing treatment is oftentimes avoiding certain flavors because medications render those flavors as different than they are to a person not on those meds.

And, yes, sometimes the lasting effect of cancer and it's medicinal trials is that a person loses a taste for things they once loved, whether during treatment or before.

Mags,

You are welcome. A journey such as ours is difficult and few have a desire to share its woes.

I wish for you bravery, honesty and patience. And the ability to ride the storm out.

For me I know that the storm created incredible challenges that changed my life forever after.

Thy,

I thank you back to your thank you. What you have said about what I have written is why I set fingers to keyboard.

By: june2

june2 — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Macrobiotics was conceived as a cancer healing diet, I believe, and while the food is simple, it isn't bland at all. And it is highly nutritious, of course.

I've seen people transform their health with it over the course of a year.

By: JEP

JEP — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Thank you for sharing! Your post holds a special meaning for my own circumstances!

By: Thy Tran

Thy Tran — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:51:00 +0000

Shuna – Thank you for writing about cooking and eating under difficult circumstances in such a simple, direct, useful and honest way.

By: Mags

Mags — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:53:00 +0000

My father was recently diagnosed with leukemia. It's in a very early stage, so treatment (chemo) is off the table until his symptoms change. I often wonder (and have anxiety attacks) about what side effects, if any, he will experience when he finally does undergo treatment.

Your post is helpful to someone like me who wants to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. Your commenter above is right - nobody ever really talks about the culinary needs of someone undergoing chemotherapy.
My whole life, dad has cooked for us. He still does. His dishes are the standard by which I judge Filipino cuisine. I want to be able to give him at least one tiny moment of nourishing pleasure if and when treatment time comes.

I think the goal of anyone giving care to a loved one who has cancer is to give him or her a pleasurable respite from the ravages of this disease, in any way you can. Thank you so much for this post.

By: charles

charles — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:16:00 +0000

My mother has had some experience with the challenge you describe when cooking for her friend's husband who suffered from an agressive stomach cancer. She also found that soups featured heavily when planning a menu. Plain vegetable soup was a firm favourite.

My friend's mother who recently lost a 16 year battle with cancer found that foods that she consumed during courses of chemo could not be eaten again without making her feel nauseous. Strong foods were a definite no-no as the pallet became hyper sensitive and anything with a distinctive flavour tasted burnt or very bitter.

I am heartened by your article that addresses an issue which affects so many but is not often discussed. Thank you.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Shuna,

I think it's worth mentioning that Radiotherapy can have a very similar effect as well.

I was reading your article nodding to myself, as we went through this with my father last year.

Soups, poached eggs with toast and cups of sweet tea with milk were his staples. (Although there was the Best.Meal.Ever - Oysters Kilpatrick. I'll never figure that one out.)

Your article is very sensitive and caring. Thank you.

Amy