Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, but feeling grateful can be hard when a loved one is battling malignant mesothelioma. By focusing on the joy of being together and building memories, you can upend sorrow and enjoy the holiday. The holiday feast at the center of Thanksgiving can be very difficult for a mesothelioma patient who may be struggling with side effects or fatigue from treatment, or with the symptoms of the disease itself. Here are some tips for making the holiday gathering more enjoyable for any guest who may be struggling with cancer.
Rich Foods Can Create Discomfort for Mesothelioma Patients
The food served at traditional Thanksgiving feasts can be too rich for patients dealing with malignant mesothelioma — yet they may want to enjoy their favorite holiday food. How best to allow them this small enjoyment while still meeting their nutritional needs? Much of the answer lies in balance. Enjoying turkey provides the proteins that the body needs to heal itself, but dark meat with its high-fat content should be avoided and healthier white meat chosen instead.
Mesothelioma patients often struggle to maintain weight, but choosing foods that are nutritionally dense rather than filled with empty calories is a must in the face of diminishing appetites. If your loved one loves sweet potatoes, go ahead and serve them, but leave out the butter, sugar, and heavy creams or toppings that could easily overwhelm a sensitive stomach. Make sure that you provide plenty of water to keep the patient hydrated, and avoid alcohol.
Be Aware of Side Effects from Mesothelioma Treatments
No matter how thoughtful you are in your food preparations, there is a good chance that the mesothelioma patient will find your healthy options unappealing. Chemotherapy can make food a challenge for cancer patients, affecting taste, creating nausea, leading to difficulty in digestion, and even causing sores in the mouth or throat that make eating painful. Be patient and understanding and remember that the food may be the effort, but it’s not the reason that you’re gathering.
Though it is normal to feel sorrow or grief in response to a fatal diagnosis, Thanksgiving offers a rare opportunity for the entire family to gather and celebrate life. Taking the time to tell your loved one what they have meant to you may feel unnatural or uncomfortable at first but is something that will touch them and that you will be glad to have done in the future.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can provide you with the information that you need. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
