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New cancer 2 months after TORS Surgery chemo+radiation
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
Hi ! 69 with tonsil and lymph nodes stage 3. Finished 5 chemo and 35 radiations june 9 this year. Still on feeding tube. I eat a very little every few days. I feel more tired each week and wondering if this is normal. The eating part is physiological.
And I am pretty depressed. Thanks for any help
Replies to "Hi ! 69 with tonsil and lymph nodes stage 3. Finished 5 chemo and 35 radiations..."
@craigj1957 Boost has a 530 high calorie drink which my husband uses as he lost 13 lbs in a week. You should try it to build up some weight, hope this helps!
@craigj1957 Hello and welcome to the head and neck group.
Stage three is pretty rough. Recovery after chemo and radiation is a much slower process than one would think it would be. However, you must eat, either by feeding tube or preferably swallowing. You are most likely tired because you lack nutrition. Your body is trying to heal but you are withholding the protein needed to heal. So you feel like crap and you are tired because you are starving.
If you are tired of the feeding tube, as anyone would be, those fifty swallowing muscles need exercise to get back to normal. You will have to concentrate on each swallow, no talking or distraction. Soft food only until you get to chewable food, at which point chew well.
Eat whatever floats your boat, preferably something with protein and fat like ice cream, yogurt, applesauce, soft boiled eggs, oatmeal or an entire custard pie if you like. The taste may not be the same as you remember. Try something new because of the taste change.
As for posting on Connect, you jumped on a two year old conversation / discussion. Go ahead at any time to start your own discussion with a statement or better yet, a question such as “What can I eat after all they did to me?”. You will get many eyes on your own discussion and help from a lot of good folks who have walked in your shoes and been humbled by cancer and specifically head and neck cancer in this fine group of medically damaged goods.
I myself went through this in my forties and like you, lacked the fight to get whole again, at least for a while. It is understandable, especially at our age now. But giving up isn’t a good option either. Take it week by week and note the progress, small as it may be at first. Eat! Three or more times per day. Watch comedy movies on tv and learn to laugh again. No popcorn! Milkshakes are great.
And above all, Courage.
Looking forward to your next post.
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@craigj1957 please try to eat more often,maybe try Ensure? It's very normal to feel depressed.