chemotherapy question

[camille660]

My mother has just been diagnosed with squamous cell anal cancer, and is due to begin her chemo for the first time next week. I have looked up some sideeffects, and it seems like it will be brutal. Are there anythings that someone can reccomend me to help her during the treatment, such as food to eat, certain activities, or anything else that i may be missing. she is already very skinny, and it seems she will lose a lot of weight, so what kind of apitite stimulants are available which will not have a negative reaction with the treatment, or be harsh on a sensitive body. Also, are there any anal cancer support groups/survivors that she could speak to anywhere? Thank you.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi. It would help if you could provide us with the particular treatment regimen that your mother is going to receive, so we can give you advice specific for that treatment.  Is she going to receive Cisplatin, Mitomycin or Fluorouracil?  Is radiation treatment going to be done together with the chemotherapy?

In general, have your mother drink lots of fluid (around 10 glasses of water a day).  Adequate hydration can mitigate a lot of chemotherapy side effects.  She might also lose her appetite for the duration of the treatment.  Sometimes this can't be avoided, and she just has to will herself to eat enough.  Taking the drug megestrol acetate (800 mg per day) can help her regain her appetite.  She can also try taking smaller meals more frequently (6-8 small meals a day).  You can also give her some food supplements like Ensure (3-5 glasses a day).  For a few days after the chemotherapy, her white cell counts will go down, so she's going to be more susceptible to catching some infection.  Have her wear a surgical mask, and have her avoid crowded places with a lot of people.

Try to stay positive throughout the treatment process.  Cancer treatment is not an easy thing, but with the proper attitude and support, a lot of people can go through it relatively unscathed.  Expecting the worse from the treatment ("it seems like it will be brutal") can sometimes be a self-fulfilling prophecy.