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Radiation side effects with H&N cancer. When will they ever end?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Dec 11, 2023 | Replies (141)Comment receiving replies
Thank you so much for your reply. You are right about the feeding tube. However, he absolutely refused when his doctor recommended it. I cannot seem to reason with him on that subject. He does drink one bottle of Boost+ each day along with vitamins. He eats, but fills up quickly. I try and make sure that he has whatever he wants to eat, whenever he wants to eat. He has had three surgeries so far. We have our fingers crossed that he won't need another. It started with a Melanoma diagnoses. He only had radiation for the first one. That was about three years ago. It seems to reappear every year. I always wondered if someone at Mayo Clinic could help discover what could be done to help him. We discuss his problem a lot, even have two doctors in the extended family. They think that something in his brain has been damaged by the radiation. Again, we thank you.
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Of course go to the Mayo Clinic for another opinion. They are one of the top 3 cancer centers in the country i believe. With due respect to your husband i do not understand why he refuses to have a feeding tube. i had one for 8 months because swallowing after radiation became difficult and i started to lose an unaccepted weight lose per my physicians. I was reluctant at first but found it easy for my and my family to manage. It saved my life. I am able to maintain my weight now ( however 20pounds less then my pre cancer diagnosis):with mostly ensure or boost supplements, ice cream, smoothies and soft fruits and vegetables, I have no appetite either but know i need to eat, drink to maintain my current weight. I still am unable to chew and swallow very well due to dry mouth and having a palatal prosthesis. Many foods i enjoyed before taste different and all meat because of their textures are not tolerated. Life and foods are different for sure but i have found a way to live even without my past normal life. This is what most people call their new normal. Not having a feeding tube is his choice and I'm sorry you are having to worry over his weight along with everything else. Sounds like to me he doesn't want to live. Having cancer is terrible and my heart aches for all of you, please encourage him to fight! God bless and take care of yourself