Depression, cancer and loss of appetite

[debka]

My mum has secondary breast cancer, which is terminal, but it is mostly in remission at the moment. However she is getting more and more depressed, has been over-using her valium, and has been losing weight. She has spoken to the doctor who is changing her anti-depressant, and she will be having some counselling from the hospice, but as her carer I want to try and help her as well. Any ideas to bring her out of this pit she's in and get her eating again?

I'm very sorry to hear your mum is so poorly.

Hopefully the new ads will help soomewhat with the symptoms of depression but they can take a while to "kick in"

re food,could you ask for a dietician referral for her?It is also worth bearing in mind that the disease itself could be causing appetite loss as well as the depression.I would say try small attractively presented meals that she fancies.Full fat milk instead of lower fat ones,butter instead of other spreads,proper ice cream etc etc.The dietician may be able to get her px nutritional supplements such as fortisips if she can tolerate these or you can get Scandishakes which you mix with milk to make milkshakes.Also stuff like "Build up" soups.hth