• Registered: Tue, 29 Sep 2009
  • Posts: 264

Topic: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Hi All,

I highly recommend checking out this book, "The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen", by Rebecca Katz.   She has recipes for specific side effects of cancer treatments i.e. for those who are having trouble with a sore mouth or difficulty swallowing, anemia, weight loss.... I am currently tasting my way through chapter 3, Nourishing Soups and Broths.  She even has a chapter called, Dollops of Yum!.  She also offers menu planning for treatment days of chemotherapy and how to enhance flavors and dealing with taste changes. 

Betsy

  • Registered: Thu, 28 Oct 2010
  • Posts: 105

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Thanks, Betsy for the tip.  I have also found the cookbook "One Bite at a Time" very useful...wonderful soups and main dishes.  The basic vegetable broth to use as a base for many of the soups is very healthy and can be made in large batches and either refrigerated or frozen for later use.
Kathy

  • Registered: Sun, 01 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 493

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

What wonderful suggestions. Thank you both. My husband particularly struggles with foods tasting too salty or too bitter. I bet one of these books would be very helpful.

  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,160

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

thanks Betsy and Kathy.....do you have any favorite dishes you would like to pass on?  Also, is there anything specific for weight gain?  Often times we have members looking for tips regarding increasing calories.
Thanks a bunch,
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
  • Registered: Tue, 29 Sep 2009
  • Posts: 264

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Hi Marion,
I really liked the Roasted Red Roma Tomato Soup and the Chicken Magic Mineral Broth Soup and the Kale with Carrots.  And yes, there are lots of recipes for combating weight loss as well as constipation, diarrhea, neutropenia (what's that?), dehydration and fatigue.   She also goes into great detail explaining how to make food more palatable - if you have a metallic taste in your mouth try adding a little sweetener like maple syrup, a squeeze of lemon...

I'm going to try more of the vegetable dishes and then work my way through the smoothies.


Betsy

  • Registered: Thu, 28 Oct 2010
  • Posts: 105

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Hi!  There are wonderful soup recipes and perhaps the Chicken Magic Mineral Broth Soup is the same as the one in One Bite at a Time as she has a Magic Mineral Broth which you make in large batches and then use in the other soups.  I just made a soup yesterday from the One Bite...book..with cannellini beans and kale.  I used to turn up my nose at kale, but find that I love it in these recipes.  Our neighbor put together a book at Christmas time for me of recipes using all kinds of greens. I'll post recipes that I find especially delicious as I go through his book.  What a wonderful gesture from my neighbor which I appreciate.  He belongs to CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) and every week gets massive amounts of greens, so I consider him to be an expert on greens!

  • Registered: Thu, 28 Oct 2010
  • Posts: 105

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Ding! Ding!  It's the same author for both books!!  I didn't know she had another one!  No wonder the magic mineral broth!

  • Registered: Sun, 01 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 493

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

We do great with smoothies at our house. We use 4 oz of yogurt, 1 cup of ice, 1 cup of fruit juice, some fresh or frozen fruit and voila. Sometimes we add a packet of store-bought smoothie mix. Good luck with those.

  • Registered: Thu, 01 Sep 2011
  • Posts: 11

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

hello everyone. My dad was diagnosed on May and had surgery on August. As he had positive resection margins and a 1mm malignant nodule on his diaphragm he has to do chemotherapy (cisplatin and gemzar) for 4 months. Prior to the surgery he had stents placement and as a complication he developed pancreatitis and consequently type II diabetes. I don't know what to do as regards nutrition because we were advised to avoid fatty foods. Therefore, he keeps on losing weight because his calory intake is insufficient because he is not allowed to eat fat or sugar. How will he gain weight and be strong enough to tolerate chemo? I am also concerned about vitamins and generally dietary supplements and their interference with chemo. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Please help me help my dad.

  • From: Revelstoke BC
  • Registered: Sat, 01 Jan 2011
  • Posts: 552

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Hi Nancy T,  Welcome aboard.  Due to your dad's pancreatitis and diabetes I would suggest a meeting with a nutritionist or dietician.  When my husband was losing weight I made him drinks with whey protein powder to put the weight back on, but with your dad's complications I would check with an expert. I saw on your other post you asked about cisplatin/gemzar. It seems to be the most popular choice of chemo for cc. It is usually the first line of defence chosen. Wishing your dad good health. Nancy

Loving my husband from afar.
  • Registered: Thu, 01 Sep 2011
  • Posts: 11

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Thank you so much for your quick reply. W

  • Registered: Thu, 01 Sep 2011
  • Posts: 11

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Thank you so much for your quick reply and useful suggestions. It is really encouraging to know that I am not alone in this emotional rollercoaster. I tried whey protein (low in sugar) and ensure (low fat) but he doen't like them sad
Today I bought the books: "one bite at a time" and "the cancer-fighting kitchen". I hope that the new recipes will increase his appetite and consequently he will gain some weight.

  • Lainy
  • Lainy
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  • From: Phoenix AZ
  • Registered: Fri, 13 Jan 2006
  • Posts: 8,209

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Dear Nancy, welcome to our wonderful family but sorry you had to find us. My husband had a Pancreatic problem before his Whipple surgery and after the surgery I gave him Carnation Instant Breakfast. I do not know the sugar content. He loved them. They have enough nutrition that if a meal is skipped they can take the place of that meal. I used to mix fruit in, Teddy's favorite was a Vanilla with Banana and I would just use the blender for a few seconds. After surgery I made comfort foods as spicy and fried were a big no, no. Homemade chicken soup, chicken paprikash over noodles, pasta...things like that. Teddy's Diabetes did leave after a month or so as it was caused by the Pancreas being practically destroyed from a leakage of dye. It is a slow recovery from surgery and I hope you will see your dad starting to eat more as he feels better. No, you are not alone on this site, we are with you and use us to vent, ask or advise. Please keep us posted on your Dad's progress. Be strong!

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHING
Any suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.
  • Registered: Thu, 01 Sep 2011
  • Posts: 11

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Thank you very much for all your suggestions. He's already doing better, he eats a bit more, so hopefully he will get strong enough to tolarate chemo.

  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,160

Re: The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Nancy....that is great news about the weight gain. May it continue.  Are there any special recipies your husband likes best?
All my best wishes,
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER