We have similar situations. I asked what my 95 lb father should eat to gain weight and it appears protein powder (there are some good ones) mixed with heavy cream. Also bananas. And sweet potatoes smothered in butter. Dad appears to be able to digest these well where as meat has been tough for him to eat.

Also, we put my dad on medical marijuana and eats it in lemon bars they sell at the club. They have been instrumental in increasing his appetite.

My mom had early colon cancer and couldn't eat hard foods after removing part of the intestine. Is your mom in the same condition?

If it's a serotonin-secreting carcinoid (by far the most common, and treatment with octreotide suggests it is), she'll likely become niacin deficient (serotonin and niacin are made from the same tryptophan precursor), which could lead to pellagra. Pellagra is classically described as dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death if untreated, but more specifically: red rash and sensitivity to sunlight, often with a swollen red tongue, hair loss, and swelling of extremities; insomnia, weakness, and confusion; hypersensitivity to light, sound, smell, and sudden movement; stumbling, hyperactive reflexes, and aggression.

Consuming foods rich in niacin (B3) and avoiding leucine (excess has been implicated in carcinoid syndrome) might help. I'm unsure about tryptophan ... it makes sense that avoiding it while consuming niacin would inhibit the creation of serotonin, but I don't know how this works out in practice. Dr. Kruse, what's your take on tryptophan intake in carcinoid? Helpful or harmful?

She's 76. At this point, your mom no doubt knows what she likes and what she doesn't and knows what works for her.

It sounds like calories is what she needs (95 lbs!) and not a whole lot else. Tell her to eat what she likes and enjoy it; no matter what she does she's at the point where the end is far closer than the beginning. A weird regiment of food management is the last thing on the list of needs.