Pancreas Cancer -- Help with foods easy to digest

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Kelli - 23 May 2007 23:32 GMT

Hello,

As I said in another post, My father-in-law has just been diagnosed with
Adenocarcinoma pancreatic cancer. He's still in the middle of the testing
and treatment plan cycle and has only spoken with a nutritionist once. They
gave him some general dietary advice and pancreatic enzyme medication,
Creon.

His dad is not a huge vegetable and fruit eater right now and we know we
need to work on that. We know that the general advice is more vegetables,
whole grains, fruits, and less processed sugars, white flours, and fatty
meats. He was wanting me to hunt around Internet and find a list of
specific foods that are easy to eat/digest when you have this condition.
Even with the pills he is still having some problems.

Again, as soon as he is at his next trip to MD Anderson in a week and a
half, we will have an appointment with the nutritionist again, but we're
wanting some advice for now and from people who might have the same problem.

I have read that having more frequent small meals during the day helps, and
I'm hoping that somehow we can convince him of this. Right now when he's
working, even though he is mildly diabetic, his tendency is to skip meals.

:-( He may eat breakfast and then not again till 9pm.

If people can give me examples of specific foods that are good or
particularly bad, I would appreciate it. Also, recommendations for items of
food if he does end up eating at fast food places for meals while at work or
something. I KNOW this is not the best thing for him, but he is a very
stubborn person and not someone who has had great eating habits at least in
the last 8 or 10 years. So, it is going to take perseverance and persuasion
on our part, too.

If you can help with questions that we should be asking the nutritionist
that will help us steer him in the right direction that would be helpful.

One last thing, is there a forum you can recommend for pancreatic cancer
where more people might be able to answer some of these
pancreatic-cancer-spescific questions? I searched for forums and came up
with a number of them, but I don't know which sites are more recommended and
reputable and which are not.

Thank you,

Kelli

Reply to this Message

J - 24 May 2007 00:06 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> with a number of them, but I don't know which sites are more recommended and
> reputable and which are not.

http://www.acor.org/mlists/mlists.html
Click on the pacreas list to join and they'll email you as to start sending and
receiving messages.

http://www.path.jhu.edu/pancreas/
Discussion board (at the top of the screen)

<http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/TreatmentDiet.php?area=tr&v=scccccsc>
How are diet & exercise affected?

It is very difficult for pancreatic cancer patients to maintain weight for
several reasons. Many patients lose their appetite and the normal taste of food
as a result of byproducts released from the cancer. Even the food that is eaten
may not always be digested well because the pancreas is not working properly. If
the pancreatic duct is obstructed or after surgery, the pancreas may not release
sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes.Therefore some patients will benefit
from taking pancreatic enzymes.

Unfortunately, the problems with weight do not end there. The majority of
patients with pancreatic cancer will still lose weight even if they are eating
and digesting their food sufficiently. Many pancreas cancers (and other cancers)
release compounds into the blood that breakdown muscle and fat (causing
cachexia). So that over time patients will find they are not only slimmer but
their muscles are smaller and they become progressively more fatigued.
Pancan.org has published a very informative Diet and Nutrition booklet. You can
review this booklet and recipe suggestions on their website. Click here
http://www.pancan.org/Patient/Pancreatic/Diet/more.html

http://www.pancan.org/Patient/support.html
http://www.pancan.org/Patient/caregivers.html

There's lots of support resources (above) and here.
.
Please keep in touch as you are able.
J

Reply to this Message

Matti Narkia - 24 May 2007 01:39 GMT

>Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>If you can help with questions that we should be asking the nutritionist
>that will help us steer him in the right direction that would be helpful.

You may want to have a look at Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez's nutritional
regimen for pancreatic cancer. In addition to a specific diet and
nutritional supplements it also includes a large amount of pancreatic
enzymes, which seems logical when one is suffering from a devastating
disease of pancreas, where availability of these enzymes may be
severely limited. I believe that Dr. Gonzalez has his own pancreatic
enzyme products, but perhaps in addition to them or instead of them
one may also want to try Wobenzym N or Wobe Mucos E enzymes made in
Germany. I've used both of them with some success in my cancer (not
pancreatic cancer) years ago. In addition to pancreatic enzyme
pancreatin they also contain proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin,
chymotrypsin, papain (derived from papaya) and bromelain (derived from
pineapple).

Dr. Gonzalez's protocol includes some controversial peculiarities such
as coffee enemas, which according to him may help to remove toxins
produced by cancer by stimulating liver (or something like that). If
that seems too weird, I think that the other parts of the program such
as diet and especially the enzymes may still be worth trying.

I have included some informative links and scientific references, and
also a critical article from the Quackwatch site:

Gonzalez Regimen (PDQ®) - National Cancer Institute
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/gonzalez/Patient/page1>

Gonzalez Regimen (PDQ®) - National Cancer Institute
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/gonzalez/HealthProfessional>

Study Confirms Pancreatic Enzyme Cancer Treatment
<http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/cancer/a/Gonzalez.htm>

Dr. Gonzalez's Nutritional Regimen
<http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/>

Evaluation of Pancreatic Proteolytic Enzyme Treatment of
Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, With Nutrition and Detoxification
Support
Nicholas James Gonzalez and Linda Lee Isaacs
<http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/pilot_study_abstract_txt.htm>

Nicholas Gonzalez Treatment for Cancer:
Gland Extracts, Coffee Enemas,
Vitamin Megadoses, and Diets
<http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/kg.html>

Kelley-Gonzalez Diet
<http://www.answers.com/topic/kelley-gonzalez-diet>

ACS :: Therapy May Provide Hope For Pancreatic Cancer Patients
<http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Therapy_May_Provide_Hope_for_
Pancreatic_Cancer_Patients.asp>

Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez: pancreatic enzymes and autonomic balancing help
fight cancer
ACAM Convention 2002 at Broward county convention center,
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida May 2002
<http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2003/feb2003_report_acam_01.html>

Studying Supplements to Treat Pancreatic Cancer?
<http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA263508>

Pancreatic Cancer
<http://www.lef.org/LEFCMS/aspx/PrintVersionMagic.aspx?CmsID=113507>
<http://www.lef.org/protocols/cancer/pancreatic_01.htm>

Wobenzym
<http://www.wobenzym.com/>

Wobenzym N
<http://www.vitaminusa.com/won100tabymu.html>

Enzymes & Cancer
<http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditioncancer.htm>

Mucos Pharma
<http://mucos.com/>

Mucos Pharma CZ
<http://www.mucos.cz/Default.aspx?alias=www.mucos.cz/mucos-en>

Wobenzym N 200 tablets
<http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00465.html>

Wobenzym N 800 tablets
<http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item06153.html>

Medline references:

Saruc M, Standop S, Standop J, Nozawa F, Itami A, Pandey KK, Batra SK,
Gonzalez NJ, Guesry P, Pour PM.
Pancreatic enzyme extract improves survival in murine pancreatic
cancer.
Pancreas. 2004 May;28(4):401-12.
PMID: 15097858 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=15097858>

Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL.
Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme treatment of
adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition and detoxification
support.
Nutr Cancer. 1999;33(2):117-24.
PMID: 10368805 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=10368805>

Novak JF, Trnka F.
Proenzyme therapy of cancer.
Anticancer Res. 2005 Mar-Apr;25(2A):1157-77. Erratum in: Anticancer
Res. 2005 May-Jun;25(3c):2599.
PMID: 15868959 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=15868959>

Wald M, Olejar T, Sebkova V, Zadinova M, Boubelik M, Pouckova P.
Mixture of trypsin, chymotrypsin and papain reduces formation of
metastases and extends survival time of C57Bl6 mice with syngeneic
melanoma B16.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001 Jul;47 Suppl:S16-22.
PMID: 11561867 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=9488106>

Smolanka II.
[Systemic enzyme therapy with the preparation Wobe-Mugos E in the
combined treatment of lung cancer patients]
Lik Sprava. 2000 Jul-Aug;(5):121-3. Ukrainian.
PMID: 11031472 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLIN
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=R
etrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=11031472>

Popiela T, Kulig J, Klek S, Wachol D, Bock PR, Hanisch J. Double-blind
pilot-study on the efficacy of enzyme therapy in advanced colorectal
cancer.
Przegl Lek. 2000;57 Suppl 5:142.
PMID: 11202281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=11202281>

Hanul VL, Smolanka II, Ponomar'ova OV.
[Application of systemic enzyme therapy in combined treatment of
patients with pulmonary cancer and malignant thymoma]
Klin Khir. 2000 Jun;(6):17-9. Ukrainian.
PMID: 11288269 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=11288269>

Kaul R, Mishra BK, Sutradar P, Choudhary V, Gujral MS.
The role of Wobe-Mugos in reducing acute sequele of radiation in head
and neck cancers--a clinical phase-III randomized trial.
Indian J Cancer. 1999 Jun-Dec;36(2-4):141-8.
PMID: 10921218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=10921218>

Wald M, Zavadova E, Pouckova P, Zadinova M, Boubelik M. Polyenzyme
preparation Wobe-Mugos inhibits growth of solid tumors and development
of experimental metastases in mice.
Life Sci. 1998;62(3):PL43-8.
PMID: 9488106 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=9488106>

Wald M, Olejar T, Pouckova P, Zadinova M.
Proteinases reduce metastatic dissemination and increase survival time
in C57Bl6 mice with the Lewis lung carcinoma.
Life Sci. 1998;63(17):PL237-43.
PMID: 9808069 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=R
etrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=9808069>

[No authors listed]
[Wobe-Mugos: a proteolytic enzyme combination for tumor therapy.
Documentation No. 7]
Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1987 Dec 15;76(51):1430-2. German. No
abstract available.
PMID: 3326110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=R
etrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=3326110>

Signature

Matti Narkia

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Steph - 24 May 2007 02:57 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> specific foods that are easy to eat/digest when you have this condition.
> Even with the pills he is still having some problems.

That may be advice for a 'healthy diet", but not necessarily for someone who
is already ill.

Reply to this Message

Kelli - 24 May 2007 17:45 GMT

> > His dad is not a huge vegetable and fruit eater right now and we know we
> > need to work on that. We know that the general advice is more vegetables,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> That may be advice for a 'healthy diet", but not necessarily for someone who
> is already ill.

That's why I'm asking the question. If you have some advice or can point me
to a web site that might have some good advice, I would really appreciate
it.

Right now all I know is what I heard second hand what was said at his first
nutritionist appointment and what I've seen online at a few web sites that
I've found. I know that he has some digestive symptoms that he had thought
were from other unrelated medications he has been told are related to his
condition, hence the Creon.

He will be seeing the nutritionist again when he goes to MD Anderson for his
final consultation and determination of his treatment program, but I am
trying to find some more detailed information that he can use to help him
get through until then. As I said, prior to his illness he has not been
following the healthiest kind of diet that he could anyway and many of the
things he eats are higher in fat and to my understanding not good now.

Thanks!

Reply to this Message

J - 24 May 2007 18:42 GMT

> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Thanks!

Kelli,
His diet and treatment should depend on his staging and appetite and/or eat
diabetic.
Has he lost a lot of weight?
(often a presenting sign of advanced pancreatic cancer)
J

Reply to this Message

Mike Radcliffe - 27 May 2007 21:12 GMT

>> > His dad is not a huge vegetable and fruit eater right now and we know
>> > we
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> Thanks!

The only diet you will find that really works is for him to eat and drink

Whatever he wants
Whenever he wants
As much or as little as he wants

Trust me on this he will know what he can't tolerate he will know he can't
eat too much without feeling sick and every calorie is a good calorie. A
simple vitamin supplement will provide those essentials to get the best out
of the food he does eat.
MIKE

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