Sometimes, weight loss is a problem for someone with a brain tumour, but it is relatively uncommon. When medical treatment decreases appetite, the thought of eating becomes unappealing. They may have trouble keeping weight on, or may no longer enjoy or tolerate their favourite foods.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which kill cancer cells, may also cause a loss of appetite, nausea, taste changes, problems with the mouth and throat, fatigue as well as constipation or diarrhoea.
Weight loss may occur when the person you are caring for stops certain steroidal medications, with loss in appetite lasting for up to 4 weeks. This can be distressing; however, their appetite will return over the ensuing weeks.
Helping someone who has lost their appetite
Here are some suggestions for helping the person you care for if they have lost their appetite. You can also ask a healthcare professional to arrange a dietitian referral. Your friend or relative’s GP can arrange a referral as part of a Chronic Disease Management Plan, or the cancer nurse coordinator or specialist team can help.
- Involve them in meal planning. Find out what appeals to them – this may change each day.
- Try giving your friend or relative 6 to 8 small meals and snacks each day rather than three larger ones.
- Offer starchy foods (such as bread, pasta, or potatoes) with high-protein foods, such as fish, chicken, meats, turkey, eggs, cheeses, milk, tofu, nuts, peanut butter, yoghurt, peas, and beans.
- Keep water or juices within your friend or relative’s reach to avoid dehydration.
- If the smell of food bothers your friend or relative, offer bland foods served cold or at room temperature.
- Create pleasant settings for meals, and eat with your friend or relative.
- Try distractions such as television.
- Make a list of foods that are easily swallowed and tolerated. The person you care for may at times be too tired to chew their food.
- Try plastic forks and knives instead of metal if your friend or relative is bothered by bitter or metallic tastes.
- Make small meals as energy-giving as possible.
- Perhaps offer bigger meals early in the day, when they have more energy.
- When cooking, make extra and freeze it for another day.
- Store ready-made supermarket meals in the freezer as a good standby meal.
- Ask for recipes if the person you are caring for used to be the main cook.
“I was blaming myself when Jack was refusing the food I prepared. I thought I wasn’t cooking the right foods or doing it the right way. And he’s lost weight. He used to eat so much! It was causing me a lot of stress.
One of the nurses reassured me that it is the medication and treatment that have changed his interest in food. I think sometimes he just likes my company. There is less stress between us now that I have stopped hassling him about eating. We have found smaller meals and snacks are better for him.
If his weight continues to drop I will ask a healthcare professional to arrange a dietitian referral.”