Question about cancer

[ndbeckner1]

My dad has colon cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments. Since his hospitalization, he has been craving food items with tomatoes in it. I have alway heard that the human body will crave what it needs. What in tomatoes would cause this craving. I am just curious.

[zophiel]

It could be anything, depending on how the chemo is effecting his body chemistry. Could be the acidity, the lycopene. . .

 

When I was on chemo, I craved bacon-- for the nitrates, of all things.

 

I also found that for a few days after each round, I had this icky film in my mouth that made it hard to taste a lot of things, and kept me from being hungry. The only things I could eat those days were hot wings, extra spicy Doritos, and ginger ale. And Bacon. because the flavors cut through the film, which then stimulated my appetite. It may be that tomatoes help stimulate his tastebuds as well.

 

Granted, I had lymphoma, so I'm sure my chemo was different than his, so I'm sure he's got his own set of symptoms.

 

I'll keep him in my prayers.

[Christy]

It might be the potassium in the tomatos.