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20 weeks Post Treatment What to Eat?
I'm twenty weeks post radiation (35 sessions) for tonsil cancer. Doing well and back to living my life except for eating. I still can only eat very soft or liquid foods. Soup broth, protein shakes, yogurt etc. No bread or anything solid. I have totally come to terms with this and if I have to live the rest of my life like this it's definitely better than the alternative. But a pepperoni pizza somewher in my future wouldn't be a bad thing 🙂
Just wondering if any others are in a similar place and what they are eating.
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My dear husband went thru chemo and radiation and finished about 20 months ago. His pharyngeal cancer was gone. But he could not eat most foods, very difficult to swallow. It never got any better. Now, as of a month ago we have found out he has esophageal cancer. He’s been told he’ll be gone from us within six months. I believe it will be much less than that. This diagnosis came out of nowhere and we are all in shock…
His journey was totally awful after his third week of radiation. He is 78 years old and chose not to fight it this time. He is now getting himself ready to leave us. I am so sad to report this. We didn’t t expect this ending at all.
Keep the faith dear people.
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4 ReactionsSo sorry to hear this, sending hugs and prayers, comfortable is what’s needed, my husband was on dialysis, and he just couldn’t handle it anymore, he was 69, yea we had to just make sure he was comfortable no matter what beingsicksucks
Thank you for your thoughts. It sure does suck! And watching our loved one suffer is heartbreaking ❤️🩹. I wish you well as I continue to wonder what I’ll do without him. 🧡
John,
Sorry to read about your health problems.
My wife had a radical neck dissection and adjunct radiation for stage 4 tonsil cancer in 1997.
Surgery, radiation and no saliva have changed her oral health and eating & swallowing and such.
Not bad for first 10 years but more challenging since but you adapt to the new normal. It is what it is.
Currently on chemo for pancreatic cancer and that’s even more challenging but it adds excitement.
Before current cancer she would blend most things, vegetables, into a soup.
ENT surgeon said the only ones who have long term side effects from surgery and radiation are the ones still alive - made us realize we have it pretty good.
Attitude is everything.
We have experimented with “THICK IT” thickener to help thin liquids (water) as it seems thicker liquids and yogurt go down easier.
We experiment with drinking Pedialyte and coconut water or mix them in place of plain water, hoping the electrolytes or whatever trick the nerves in the neck to let them pass with no coughing.
Maybe popsicle’s or ice in mouth to melt, milk, half n half, heavy whipping cream, Gatorade, carrot, tomato, apple, orange juice?
Maybe vegetable, chicken or beef broth / stock?
Everyday is an experiment to see what works or what helps.
Some may need periodic IV hydration therapy, it has really helped us with chemo treatments.
RN that did the HT via IV said it is so much easier to try to stay ahead of the issue rather than having to treat an ailment caused by the issue.
Wife has more difficulty eating
currently with chemo treatments.
Issue with both physically difficulty and volume of food she can eat.
Current experiment is Soylent nutrition drinks (~400c) in many flavors, which are very good.
We add vanilla MASS GAINER powder by Transparent Labs, which is very good but does add sweetness, and immersion blend to add ~ 375c & 25g protein.
Also use benecalorie by Nestle to add ~ 330c & 7g protein to whole milk yogurt (~200c).
Can add calorie/ protein supplements to almost anything that works for you.
Everyday is an experiment.
God bless and good luck.