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20 weeks Post Treatment What to Eat?

Posted by johnbonani @johnbonani, Nov 13 9:32am

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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jonesja | @jonesja | Dec 6 8:28am

I finished in July 2023 as well like Chris. I could hardly eat anything after my 30 rounds of radiation treatment. Yes I remember searching the grocery store for anything I thought I may get down. I lived on creamy mashed potatoes with butter. Cottage cheese. Egg’s anyway cooked, peanut butter and jelly , banana , power shakes with powdered supplements and boost , apple sauce, baby food jars, soups and noodles, Boost/ ensure cans pack a lot of good calories. I had to FORCE myself to eat. Salt throat rinse several times a day helps. It took about 9 months to get most of my taste back and Eat well again. Today I’m about 90% back to normal but it has been a slow climb back. I can eat anything I want now including Pizza, steak, breads, etc. I eat a little slower and have a little bit more water with my meal but not a big deal. Hang in there. Pizza is in your future!

REPLY
ladydi8982 | @ladydi8982 | Dec 6 11:03am
In reply to @7881188 "My dear husband went thru chemo and radiation and finished about 20 months ago. His pharyngeal..." + (show)
@7881188

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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So sorry to hear that he giving up but I understand. I am in my second bout at 70. Not willing for them to chop me up and take all my parts just to exist. It’s hard for family through the holidays and especially for you. Just to know he will be free from this disease should give you peace of mind. One day at a time. . God be with and bless you with His strength and His peace that surpasses all understanding.

REPLY
1 reply
7881188 | @7881188 | Dec 6 11:18am
In reply to @ladydi8982 "So sorry to hear that he giving up but I understand. I am in my second..." + (show)
@ladydi8982

So sorry to hear that he giving up but I understand. I am in my second bout at 70. Not willing for them to chop me up and take all my parts just to exist. It’s hard for family through the holidays and especially for you. Just to know he will be free from this disease should give you peace of mind. One day at a time. . God be with and bless you with His strength and His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Jump to this post

Thank you very much for your kind response. Yes it is an awful experience all around. But he is at peace now as he is pain free due to medications from hospice. We don’t know how long he will still be with us but any hour is now a gift.

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rosie100 | @rosie100 | Dec 6 1:55pm
In reply to @lilypilly "I am 12 weeks out of treatment and still have the phlegm issue. However it has..." + (show)
@lilypilly

I am 12 weeks out of treatment and still have the phlegm issue.
However it has improved greatly. So I think it will for you just taking longer.
Did your phlegm become hard at any point?
Good luck and know it will get better.

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I have the plegm also to the point of drooling I had chemo and radiation for cancer of the tongue. Radiation rose heck with my tongue. I am still getting infusions of ketruda and one other thing every other week. Cancer is improving. Drooling getting a little better. Guess I have to do more exercises. It is a slow process. Good luck and many prayers for all of us. God Bless us all!

REPLY
1 reply
lilypilly | @lilypilly | Dec 6 3:38pm
In reply to @rosie100 "I have the plegm also to the point of drooling I had chemo and radiation for..." + (show)
@rosie100

I have the plegm also to the point of drooling I had chemo and radiation for cancer of the tongue. Radiation rose heck with my tongue. I am still getting infusions of ketruda and one other thing every other week. Cancer is improving. Drooling getting a little better. Guess I have to do more exercises. It is a slow process. Good luck and many prayers for all of us. God Bless us all!

Jump to this post

May I ask what state your tongue is/was in and how long?
My tongue is swollen which interferes with my speech amd chewing. My scan came back clean and I was told it was edema. I don't know what to do! Some days I am so depressed about this feeling like...will I ever taste food again. Currently on feeding tube and swallowing liquids.

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