My heart goes out to you and your family. It's often extremely difficult for people to go through radiation and chemotherapy. He sounds like he's in the middle

My heart goes out to you and your family. It's often extremely difficult for people to go through radiation and chemotherapy. He sounds like he's in the middle of that. I would encourage you to keep talking with him and his doctors. Tell the doctors about what he's experiencing. Often there are good ways to ameliorate side effects. Insist that your father's discomfort be allayed as much as possible. Consult with dieticians and nutritionists about good ways for your father to get proper nutrition while experiencing the radiation and chemotherapies. If his physicians don't provide alternatives, consider consulting with other doctors. Often there are emotional issues at play in the face of serious illnesses that aren't addressed by doctors, or even families. Again, encourage your father and all the family to ask questions of the doctors, and get those questions answered. Listen to your father with empathy. Acknowledge and reflect his pain...and most importantly, the uncertainty you are all facing. You might consider counseling for he and/or the family. There is actually a difference between the emotional pain people struggling with serious illness undergo, and actual clinical depression (major depressive disorder). It's not out of the realm of possibility that antidepressant medication might help. I would encourage you and your family to continue down the path of evidence based medicine. You are right. There are a lot of quack "cures" in the realm of "alternative medicine" out there, designed solely to take your money.