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Appetite loss and weight loss - getting a bit worried

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User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 17:03

Hi All,

Looking for advice from anyone who experienced weight loss due to appetite loss during apalutamide treatment. Husband is stage 4 with mets that were starting to have effects on his health before he started his hormone therapy. He's now only just 11 stone, down from 12st8lb Nausea tablets are not really working. Can't stomach food much, had been a vegetarian for many years and tried some fish and chicken to try to get protein, but his stomach is not playing ball. As a result he's extremely lethargic and increasingly anxious, which is a vicious cycle. Any advice would be very much appreciated. 

Edited by member 13 Mar 2026 at 18:09  | Reason: Wrong measure

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 19:46

Thanks Chris,

Helpful as always. It might be worth discussing going down to three then like you. He's on the one big 240mg per day of Erleada since mid Jan and things aren't settling. He's on Prostap too. His BP is managed, but his taste has changed and he just can't keep certain things down. Late effects from RT are pretty bad digestion wise, so it's all a bit of a struggle. Yes, he's had a similar journey to you I think. Hoping things are okay for you overall. 

Rachel 

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 22:47

For protein intake, it might be worth giving protein powder a go. Daily protein requirements almost double with both ageing and prostate cancer and it's hard to consume enough protein even with a "normal" diet. You can avoid body builder type formulations and use the powder in drink form, which is relatively palatable. From what you say, your husband's stomach might not agree though.

Jules

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 23:03

R, I was aware they were introducing the Single 240 mg tablet. I get my next prescription delivered on Monday, be interesting to see what gets delivered. I know some pills should not be cut because they have a coating.  Since restarting the apalutamide I now take  one in the morning and one at night. Not sure if that is right or wrong but it works for me. 

Thanks Chris 

 

User
Posted 14 Mar 2026 at 21:39

I wonder if you could do something like making  protein powder enriched icecream? Some sort of blended or smushed mixture. The ice factor in icecream could be useful .... ?

Jules

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User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 18:41

Hi, I have been on decapeptyl and apalutamide for around a year. I can't say it has affected my weight, food doesn't feel the same in my mouth. While on 240mg( 4 tablets) the effects were debilitating with fatigue and low mood swings. The blood pressure was high and I had the stop the meds for a few weeks, I felt so much better. After getting the BP under control I reluctantly started on one 60 mg tablet , three weeks ago I upped the meds to 2 tablets and still feel good.

On my telecon last night I suggested to the oncologist that I try going up to three tablets, he disagreed and was quite happy me to continue on two. The PSA is still under control at 0.03.

My bio lists my treatments. Some similarities to your OH.

Thanks Chris 

 

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 19:46

Thanks Chris,

Helpful as always. It might be worth discussing going down to three then like you. He's on the one big 240mg per day of Erleada since mid Jan and things aren't settling. He's on Prostap too. His BP is managed, but his taste has changed and he just can't keep certain things down. Late effects from RT are pretty bad digestion wise, so it's all a bit of a struggle. Yes, he's had a similar journey to you I think. Hoping things are okay for you overall. 

Rachel 

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 22:47

For protein intake, it might be worth giving protein powder a go. Daily protein requirements almost double with both ageing and prostate cancer and it's hard to consume enough protein even with a "normal" diet. You can avoid body builder type formulations and use the powder in drink form, which is relatively palatable. From what you say, your husband's stomach might not agree though.

Jules

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 23:03

R, I was aware they were introducing the Single 240 mg tablet. I get my next prescription delivered on Monday, be interesting to see what gets delivered. I know some pills should not be cut because they have a coating.  Since restarting the apalutamide I now take  one in the morning and one at night. Not sure if that is right or wrong but it works for me. 

Thanks Chris 

 

User
Posted 14 Mar 2026 at 06:49

Hi Jules, yeah he's definitely not getting enough protein. We tried some Huel, and he kept it down but it was not pleasant for him as the texture was making him wretch. Trial and error diet-wise. At this rate he'll be a 55 year old living on jelly and ice cream and orange squash! 

User
Posted 14 Mar 2026 at 15:47
This happened to my husband earlier in his PC journey and I was very worried. The nutritionist was grasping at straws trying to help us find food he could eat, but in the end it was energy shakes that got him back on track. He tested a lot of flavours before finding the ones that he could drink. Managed to add foods little by little. good luck!
User
Posted 14 Mar 2026 at 19:59

Glad you got it sorted. He's managed one Huel vanilla and a small bowl of Jelly and ice-cream today. Obviously zero energy, has a temperature of 39 every evening and barely any sleep. He's finding it very tough. Next appointment with onco on 26th so hopefully something can be done. I'm trying everything to keep him calm about the food  but his late RT effects are causing major issues too. Fingers crossed 🤞

User
Posted 14 Mar 2026 at 21:39

I wonder if you could do something like making  protein powder enriched icecream? Some sort of blended or smushed mixture. The ice factor in icecream could be useful .... ?

Jules

 
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