QUESTION:
My daughter is 15 years old and has been diagnosed with sarcoma. She is receiving chemotherapy. One of the side effects is terrible mouth sores. The only "food" she will consider are vanilla milkshakes. I am very concerned about good nutrition for her during her therapy. Can you give me some other suggestions of foods I can prepare for her?

ANSWER:
Your daughter is on the right track with milkshakes. It's soft, easy to chew, and it's a high calorie, high protein snack. In order to provide some variety with different food groups, you may want to try bananas, applesauce, watermelon, canned peaches and pears. Pureed or mashed vegetables such as peas and carrots are another option. Nice and easy to eat starches are mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cooked cereals such as oatmeal and cream of wheat. Good protein sources are cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, or pureed meats. Desserts that are high in calories and protein are custards, puddings, regular and frozen yogurt, and ice cream. Caloric liquids such as milk, soy milk, nectars, and liquid supplements such as Ensure, Sustacal, Boost, Resource can also provide extra calories.

Cooking methods and altering textures can also make a difference in making foods easier to swallow. Cook foods until they are soft and tender. Cutting foods in to small pieces and using butter, thin gravies, and sauces will make it easier to swallow. Don't be afraid to use the blender or food processor to puree your food.

Temperature of foods can also make a difference in tolerance to food. Foods that are cold or at room temperature may be better tolerated. Hot or warm foods and liquids may irritate mouth sores. Using a straw to drink liquids may help by preventing irritation of mouth sores. Avoid foods that irritate your mouth such as citrus fruits and juices, spicy or salty foods, rough, coarse, or dry foods such as raw vegetables, toast, and crackers.

Good oral hygiene is also important to promote healing the mouth sores. Rinse the mouth with water often to remove food and bacteria. If her teeth and gums are sore, your dentist may be able to recommend a special product for cleaning her teeth. Also ask your physician about anesthetic lozenges and sprays to help numb the mouth and throat long enough to eat meals.

QUESTION:
My father has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He has recently started taking DHEA because he heard it prevents cancer. I have also heard that DHEA can also prevent aging, heart disease, and help you lose weight. I find it too good to be true that it has all those curative powers. What is DHEA? Are there any harmful effects?

ANSWER:
DHEA is dehydroepiandrosterone. It is made from cholesterol, and is a substrate for the production of estrogen and testosterone. It is a major steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. No one knows what DHEA does or how it works at this time.

The claims that manufacturers make are numerous. Unfortunately, these claims have not been substantiated by strong scientific evidence. The merchandisers have taken preliminary animal studies and have exaggerated the claim for its anti-aging effect. As for the anti-cancer claim, there is no evidence at this time that DHEA can prevent cancer. The anti-cancer claims are based on studies that involved only rodents. There is a claim by a merchandiser that a British study found that women with DHEA blood levels less that 10 percent of the expected amount for their age group all developed breast cancer. The researcher who helped direct this study refutes this claim. He reports he cannot think of how someone could come to that conclusion based on their study.

The safety issue of long term administration of DHEA is inconclusive because it may take years for adverse effects to become evident. DHEA is a powerful steroid hormone. There is a strong possibility that it may produce a wide range of side effects. In women, DHEA has the potential to produce acne, increase facial hair, and breast tenderness. There is also some evidence that it could lead to liver damage. Instead of preventing cancer, it could potentially stimulate prostate cancer in men and increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer in women.

QUESTION:
There is a new antioxidant called Pycnogenol. What is it? Should I start taking it in addition to my Vitamin C and E that I take for cancer prevention?

ANSWER:
Pycnogenol is a mixture 40 polyphenols and other phytochemicals, derived from the bark of a pine tree native to the coast of Southern France. This compound has been used in Europe for years to treat a wide spectrum of disorders such as varicose veins to diabetic blood vessel disorders.

Recently, it has received attention by researchers in Europe and the U.S. as a potential antioxidant. However, researchers are the first to point out that the scientific evidence for understanding how Pycnogenol works is unclear. In addition, the FDA states that there is no evidence that Pycogenol is effective against specific diseases.

Since it is unknown at this time whether Pycogenol can prevent or treat diseases, or what dosages would be safe, it would not be advisable to start supplementing your diet with it. Your best bet would be to consume a diet rich in blueberries, apples, oranges, tea, onions, kale, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, beets, and red grapes to nourish your body with polyphenols, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and fiber. This potent combination found in food cannot be found in vitamin, mineral, or dietary supplements.