What foods worked best during chemo & radiation for throat cancer?

I made tapioca pudding in my slow cooker/crockpot. I found the recipes on Pinterest. Sometimes I ate it warm sometimes cold. Also I found a warm drink helped with swallowing. I'm a caffeine sensitive person so decaf tea with honey was my go-to.

Well as for me I was dependent upon a feeding tube for nearly a year because I couldn’t get anything but sips of water down. 9 years later I still can’t swallow solids without a bunch of water to wash it down.
As for taste he should see some relief after a few months from what I’ve heard.

Hello @jxssicascott and welcome to Mayo Connect. It is wonderful that you are looking for help for your dad. I can see that @mojo244 and @sandy8043 have already responded to your post with great suggestions based on their personal experiences.

You might also find helpful information on Connect's Head and Neck Cancer support group. Here is the link,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/head-neck-cancer/
How long ago was your dad diagnosed?

@mojo244 he’s currently on a feeding tube right now. I was hopeful I could find something that he would be able to actually eat because I know he’s so frustrated with having to use the feeding tube, but he’s having a hard time with everything other than liquids right now.

@hopeful33250 thank you for suggesting the head & neck cancer page, I didn’t see that one when I was looking around for support groups so I’ll check that one out as well! He was diagnosed in early November & will finish treatment on January 21st!

@jxssicascott tell him to hang in there! I know how bad it sucks and then when you see other patients eating it really wears on you as to why you can’t eat. Everyone is different and treatments can be different as well. At least when you use the feeding tube with the prescribed food from the dietitian you know you’re getting the proper nutrition to stay alive!
You can pm me anytime if you’d rather.
Jody

For me, I was told my Mayo's oncology dietician was to concentrate on calories (at least 2500/day) and protein (at least 120 grams/day). I was also told to ignore anything that didn't contribute to these goals, don't worry about eating healthy, etc. In week three, all of a sudden I couldn't swallow solid foods. So for the next 2 months I just had smoothies, either with protein rich or calorie rich supplements. I have recipes if you are interested.

6 weeks after 15 treatments [Proton Beam] I could finally start to eat semi normal. During the 6 weeks ice cream seemed to help as I tried to eat. It probably chilled and numbed the esophagus / junction to stomach where my cancer is.

@stephenrfleury can you give out some recipes please?

Smoothies

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie – High Calorie, High Protein

½ cup whole milk OR a nutrition drink
1 frozen banana
¼ cup peanut butter
½ cup whole fat yogurt
¾ scoop protein powder
2 packs Stevia or a tablespoon of honey
2 tbs cream or half-and-half
Salt (just a pinch)

The recipe as it’s written was good early in treatment, but it got too thick for Steve around week 4. You can add water or use more milk or nutrition drink to thin it out. Thinning it out makes more volume.
Instead of milk, I often use a bottle of Core Power Elite, chocolate or vanilla (14 oz). That seems to make the perfect consistency for Steve, even though it ends up being 2 glasses of smoothie.

Sometimes I use Boost Very High Calorie, Vanilla (8 oz) instead of milk.

I add the cream or half-and-half at the end and stir it in by hand. I’m not sure, but it seems that blending it made the cream get too thick.

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Mango Smoothie – high calorie

1 cup frozen mango
1 cup whole milk or a nutrition drink
¼ cup yogurt
1 tbl honey or 1 pkg stevia
1-2 tbs heavy cream or half-and-half
1 scoop protein powder

I add the heavy cream at the end and stir it in by hand. It seems to get too thick if I blend it in the blender.

I often use Boost Very High Calorie Vanilla flavor instead of milk.

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Mixed Berry Smoothie

1 ½ cups Naked Juice (Berry Blast)
1 Frozen banana, sliced
1 ½ cups Mixed frozen berries
¾ cup Greek yogurt (5% fat)
1 tbl Honey

Sometimes I have to add water to thin it out enough.