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#178176 03-11-2014 10:24 AM
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jneal3 Offline OP
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Hi Everyone,
I'm taking in 8 cans of Ensure Plus to get the 3K calories I need (half through mouth, half peg, swallowing isn't so good yet), but I just noticed that there are 20g of sugar in each one, making for a whopping 160g of sugar/day. Is there a way to get the high caloric content of the Ensures without all the sugar? My near-term solution is to go back to pumping in Osmolite 1.5's which are also 355 cals/each, but at some point I want to be able to ditch the peg and swallow everything(and swallowing Osmolites is not an option), and I haven't figured out what solution has as high a caloric content as the Ensure Plus. I'd rather not drink 10-12 cans of something that has lower sugar but also lower cals.

Thanks.


Joe
SCC BOT T3N0 Aged 36 (1999)
Unknown HPV status (before they knew)
SWOG Protocol - 2 rounds chemo, 6 weeks radiation
Recurrence Age 50 (2013) - same site
SCCa BOT T2N0M0
HPV negative
60% Glossectomy/Free Flap from Latissimus Dorsi Recon,
Neck Dissection + 6wks Rad Tx
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I think there is something made for diabetics. Not sure but Glucerna seems to stick in my head. That might be the name of it or maybe just a commercial thats on TV too often.


For right now try not to worry too much about things like sugar. I know its best to avoid it but it is more important to get your daily calories.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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Yes. Glucerna is sugar free. It is a preparation for diabetics.


Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
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Hi Joe, I would also like a canned shake product that's not based on corn syrup. Seems even healthier shakes, like Orgain for oral or Compleat for tube, still list brown rice syrup, etc. as a dominant ingredient.

You can make smoothies with healthier carb sources. I make a 335-calorie smoothie that's very low in refined sugar and has 27.6 grams protein. PM me if you want the recipe.


53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides
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It is VERY simple to stay away from simple carbs and get at least the same caloric density using protein powders. There are hundreds of flavors and variations. Get some smaller sampler sizes and get off the canned sugar. Both carbs and sugars have the same caloric density. Fats contain twice the calories so if you need weight gain, go for foods with fats.


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com
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jneal3 Offline OP
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Thanks everyone, this is all good info. Of course I've also just read the study about how excess protein intake in your 30's-50's raises your cancer risk, so now I'm doubting whether I should be taking in such high protein amounts. Christine, I totally agree that cals come first, but since this is a long-term issue for me I want to start off with good habits. Mamacita i'll be pm'ing you, thanks.


Joe
SCC BOT T3N0 Aged 36 (1999)
Unknown HPV status (before they knew)
SWOG Protocol - 2 rounds chemo, 6 weeks radiation
Recurrence Age 50 (2013) - same site
SCCa BOT T2N0M0
HPV negative
60% Glossectomy/Free Flap from Latissimus Dorsi Recon,
Neck Dissection + 6wks Rad Tx
Non-tobacco user
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
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I use Glucerna occasionally, 1.5 Cal, 8 ounces, and has 356 calories, 19.6grams of protein, 31.5 grams of carbs, and 17.6grams of fat. It's not sugar free, has fructose. Sugar increases saliva, increases appetite especially when combined with fat, so I'm not too concerned at this point. 3000 calories is kind of high, depending on your height, weight, activity, medical condirions, recovery or wanting to gain weight. For my weight, 175 lbs and height, activity level its about 2100 calories a day I need to maintain my weight. I know protein can cause a hardship on the organs, like liver and kidneys, and recommendations vary up to 1gram of protein per pound of body weight.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Daily intake of 3000 calories for many is not too much considering where they are at in their treatment or recovery stages. Higher protein intake can help with a patients ability to recover. All of this is individualized and goes back to the old saying...what works for some might not work for others, everyone is different. Its always best to ask a medical professional like a doctor or nutritionist for their professional recommendation.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
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Here is an interactive tool from the USDA, for health care professionals, to calculate the daily recommended nutrients, but probsbly not the sole, and only source they go by, I would say.

http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/fnic/interactiveDRI/



10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Posts: 21
jneal3 Offline OP
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I was actually less than impressed with the nutritionists' advice I received (my CCC is Univ of Michigan), they weren't very numbers oriented, just kind of gave me generic advice (monitor your weight, drink x-amount of water, etc) and took down what I was 'eating' at the time, which was about two months post-surgery. It seemed they were mostly concerned with my not losing weight during radiation, which of course they should have been, and almost not at all concerned with 'normal' healthy diet issues, of which too much sugar is one (I'm not diabetic). I'm at a point now (6 months post) where I can just maintain my weight with 3Kcals/day (5'10", 140lbs), and getting more and more active, so I may need even more in the future, and the more I read the more concerned I get with taking in 8+ Ensure-Plus's per day for the next 25+ years (fingers crossed) - lots of sugar, and what seems like double the recommended amount of protein for my height/weight.

I guess as time goes on I'll catch on to what people here seem to do, which is venture out into other foods, just would like to keep the calorie by volume concentration high.

Thanks for the link Paul, it was useful.

Last edited by jneal3; 03-13-2014 10:16 AM.

Joe
SCC BOT T3N0 Aged 36 (1999)
Unknown HPV status (before they knew)
SWOG Protocol - 2 rounds chemo, 6 weeks radiation
Recurrence Age 50 (2013) - same site
SCCa BOT T2N0M0
HPV negative
60% Glossectomy/Free Flap from Latissimus Dorsi Recon,
Neck Dissection + 6wks Rad Tx
Non-tobacco user
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