How to gain weight after H&N Cancer treatment ends?

Hi Sandralea58,

My story is similar to your husbands. I am 90 days post treatment and just got my PET scan results yesterday. Same status as yours. Some residual metabolic activity which could be inflammation, scar tissues\, or residual tumor. My tumor board meeting this week to discuss.
Very nerve racking isn't it? I had breast cancer 15 years ago and don't remember it being this stressful/worrisome. Mainly because BC is more common and resources everywhere.
I too have lost additional weight post treatment (overall 30 lbs but 7 lbs post ). Swallowing issues impede me from eating freely in public and whatever I want. I did learn a new trick and that is to pour olive oil on your food. I dipped my veggie burger in it and it gave it all the fat and moisture to pass the hatchet smoothly. Pour this in your smoothies and oatmeal. Over your quinoa/rice/beans. Good Fat. I was also told to put powdered milk in your regular milk to add to your coffee/tea/smoothies. Adds protein & extra good stuff.
I agree with other posts that our bodies are healing which is why we need additional calories and our sleep. We need to be gentle and kind to our healing bodies and give it as much as healthy calories as it needs. Not sure I would gobble up a bunch of sugar just yet though unless your see your rib cage ( not joking...keep an eye on this and if you see ribs...eat ice cream!)
I look forward your posts to see how you July Pet comes out. I wish you a quick recovery.
Shiela

I finally finished my neck radiation and chemo treatments on April 7th. I was overweight and lost 55 pounds. I’m not trying to gain weight. I’m just here to give you some friendly advice about being a caregiver and helping your husband. I just started eating plates that look like a small child’s portion. It’s the end of May! I can’t stand certain smells or textures of food. My tongue is still raw and certain spices kill me. Work on just getting him to eat whatever he wants. I’m sure slowly he’ll start eating more normally and gain weight. My husband didn’t try to force me because that would have made me more resistant to eating. I’m not saying that’s what you’re doing, I’m just pointing out that as a H/N patient (tonsil) it’s REALLY hard to get back to eating anything much less things to gain weight. Sending prayers to you and yours.

Mine is coming up too at the beginning of July and I’m scared to death. I keep thinking I already have reoccurring symptoms like before treatment and the cancer is coming back again. Don’t fret! We’ll get through this either way. We did it once right? Let’s just live for today and cross the bridge again tomorrow if we have to.

Misery loves company so I'm with you about being a nervous wreck about this. I also feel the tumor is exactly where it was originally as well. Pain in the same place. Hence I'm not confident about the inflammation thing. I've been journaling from how many coughs I'm having to my sleep patterns. Not sure if helpful but at least I can see my progression. I am thankful for no metasteses. I'm working on visualizing my immune system being a good girl and getting the enemy. The body wants to get rid of it.
Your are not alone. Lets keep fighting for life so we can find a cure to this darn thing!
May God continue giving you strength and closure of this chapter.

If I had a nickel for every time I thought my cancer was coming back, well, I’d have a lot of nickels. I think after about seven to ten years you stop fretting about a return of the big “C”.
And those idiotic PET scans weeks after treatment, I don’t understand what the thinking is because naturally you are going to have scar tissue that will show up as cancer or scar tissue. The question we should ask is “ has there ever been a PET scan early post treatment that came back clean?”
We need to take it one day at a time. We take two steps forward and one step back for months and months. This is normal. It will or should get better over time. Just keep in mind you are on the mend.

Thanks for the sound suggestion of getting him (my husband) to eat whatever he wants. Exactly what I am doing and he finds that very supportive. I also ask him what kinds of foods he is liking now, disliking now, etc. so I better understand. This type of communication between us is very helpful to each of us in our roles as patient and caregiver. Thank you for the prayers and we are sending them your way also.

Eating is going a lot better. Bigger portions and more variety. And yes yes to those root beer floats - he loves them! Recently gained 5 pounds. WooHoo!!!

I see several people are using Ensure and other Boost drinks, these drinks give me diarrhea so I switched to a NOw Pure formula The best is Protein/ Egg white and mix it with milk, etc, more protein, seeing a little more weight and better than loading up on carbs alone with too much sugar.
I have UC along with my cancer and just haven't been feeling like eating too much and lost some weight. This is my third round of Chemo, the first two were ok, didn't feel too bad but this time really knocked me out, and now some mouth sores, so will try Magic mouthwash.

The main situations I still work so now I have to reschedule my infusions and pump so I can recover over the weekend.

Any recommendations for trying to get ahead of this a little, like spending more time in the gym?thank you

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New symptom! Starting this week my husband now has black tongue. Not sure where that came from but I was wondering if dry mouth is contributing to it? Any ideas?

Black tongue? That’s totally a new one on me. Has he been to a physician? I would be curious about this such as infection, loss of blood supply, or ? Has he kissed a Brazilian tree toad?