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#188420 02-25-2015 12:05 AM
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poiuyt Offline OP
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A SPOHNC member recently recommended Juven (made by Abbott) to me. She said it helped her a lot during rads and had been recommended to her by her RO nurse.

I searched the forum for Juven and saw it mentioned quite a few times but nobody really said how well it worked for them (or didn't work) so I thought I'd ask those of you who have used it to please share your experiences with it. Did it help? How much did you take and for how long?

I asked my RO about it and he was neutral about it. He said to go ahead and try it if I wanted to but he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it.

A couple of guys I know are serious weightlifters (lots of no pain, no gain iron pumping several times a week) who use similar products such as whey, protein additives, etc. They're very particular about what they put in their bodies pre- and post-workout. After reading up on it, both of them said Juven sounded like it would make a great recovery (post-workout) drink. They're also healthcare workers and said they could see how Juven might be helpful for head/neck rads patients.

Can any of you guys recommend for or against it? Thanks for your input.


Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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Thats difficult as there are hundreds of prescription nutritional formulas on the market. Juven is one of the more common ones which Ive heard of.

I havent personally tried it but have used several different ones and found them all to be very similar. Where Ive discovered differences is in how many calories each can has, how easy it is to tolerate and if it has fiber or not. Every persons tolerance is individualized so what works for one might not be so great for another.

Give it a try and if it doesnt work there are many alternatives available.


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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Glutamine was used by weightlifters for years for muscle tissue repair, I used it too, but more recently in 2012 I was given several boxes of Juven by my radiation oncologists staff, maybe the dietician, during chemoradiation treatment for tissue healing for mucocitis, neuropathy. It's main ingredients are Revigor, and amino acid's Arginine and Glutamine. It tasted pretty neutral, at least the punch flavor, comes in individual packets, and mixed easily with water, but it should not be used as a sole source of nutrition like Glucerna or Ensure, just supportive to a balanced diet. I have Glutamine powder alone also, there are many brands, and tastes pretty nasty. You can also use it for a mouth rinse and or swallow. I wouldn't say it's an answer or cure all for everything, just another product for your arsenal.

Hope this helps.


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






Joined: Jan 2015
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poiuyt Offline OP
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[quote=ChristineB]Thats difficult as there are hundreds of prescription nutritional formulas on the market. Juven is one of the more common ones which Ive heard of.

I havent personally tried it but have used several different ones and found them all to be very similar. Where Ive discovered differences is in how many calories each can has, how easy it is to tolerate and if it has fiber or not. Every persons tolerance is individualized so what works for one might not be so great for another.

Give it a try and if it doesnt work there are many alternatives available. [/quote]Thanks for your reply but Juven is not a prescription formula nor is it to be confused with most of the typical nutritional formulas on the market. According to the manufacturer's website, Juven supports tissue building and increases lean body mass in cancer cachexia, among other things. As Paul notes in his post, weightlifters have been using it for years for its tissue building properties. I've also read that in addition to tissue building it's also effective in tissue healing and repair, so it's definitely not simply another nutritional formula. Thanks again though.


Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 37
poiuyt Offline OP
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[quote=PaulB]Glutamine was used by weightlifters for years for muscle tissue repair, I used it too, but more recently in 2012 I was given several boxes of Juven by my radiation oncologists staff, maybe the dietician, during chemoradiation treatment for tissue healing for mucocitis, neuropathy. It's main ingredients are Revigor, and amino acid's Arginine and Glutamine. It tasted pretty neutral, at least the punch flavor, comes in individual packets, and mixed easily with water, but it should not be used as a sole source of nutrition like Glucerna or Ensure, just supportive to a balanced diet. I have Glutamine powder alone also, there are many brands, and tastes pretty nasty. You can also use it for a mouth rinse and or swallow. I wouldn't say it's an answer or cure all for everything, just another product for your arsenal.

Hope this helps. [/quote]Thanks, Paul, that does indeed help. I was already aware of most of that - I was glad to hear that the punch flavor tastes OK. I had read somewhere else about it being effective against neuropathy so thanks for seconding that. Did you have neuropathy and did it help you?

The only thing I'm taking for my neuropathy is Gabapentin which doesn't do much other than take the edge off the pain and helps manage it/make it tolerable. If Juven can help with that, it'd be great.

One of my RO nurses gave me some samples that I'm using and I think I'll get more to use throughout my rads. It's not cheap but if it works it'll be well worth every penny.

Many thanks, I really appreciate your input.


Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 37
poiuyt Offline OP
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Forgot to mention in last post... While I really appreciate Paul's report, I would still love to hear from more of you who have used Juven. Did it help you? If you had a do-over would you take it again? Pros and cons? Any other feedback (positive/negative/mixed) also appreciated.

While my initial interest in Juven was for oral tissue recovery/repair/healing, I am now also especially interested in hearing from those with neuropathy who have used Juven. Many thanks in advance to all of you Juven users for your input.

Hope everyone has a GREAT day today!


Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
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I wouldn't say it helped through treatment in 2012 being I had neuropathy since 2009, and severe enough to cause muscle paralysis, atrophy. I would take it again, maybe for weight lifting if I go back or for mucocitis being it's an OTC product, and is like drinking Gatorade.

As far as other things helping neuropathy, I tried some vitamins like alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q-10, Evening Primorose, L-Arginine, B6, B12, Zinc, vitamin E and C with no noted change. I also use light dose Gapatentin to take the edge off, lyrica helps the same, Oxycodone, but that makes me sick, and ambiem to help sleep, and relax legs.

Other activities, foods, medicines, weather seems to worsen neuropathy like when snowing or raining, taking antibiotics, eating Chinese food, drinking a few ounces of beer, and I'm talking once every few months, even NyQuil, a long day of dr visits or even walking a longer short distance than I normally do. I find a hot shower seems to help relax the legs, so I take them often, especially before bed.


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






Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 37
poiuyt Offline OP
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Very informative, thanks again, Paul.

Wow, you have a pretty bad case of neuropathy - quite a bit worse than mine. I take 600 mg Gabapentin tid and the doctor said he can bump the prescription both for a higher dose and also for more times per day but I'd rather keep it where it is for now. Not worried so much about dependence but rather I really don't like having to rely on pain meds. I am told I have a high pain tolerance and I don't mind having some pain as long as it's manageable.

One thing I've found that helps me is compression stockings. Soaking my feet in warm water with Epsom salts helps some. I've also learned to walk with my weight on my heels with my toes off the ground which takes the weight off the balls of the feet.

I'm thinking about getting some special shoes made. There's a certified pedorthist with a shoe store nearby. He does custom orthodics and orthopedic shoes. Maybe that will help too.

Anyway, my main reason for asking about Juven was for oral tissue healing/recovery/repair. If it also helps some with neuropathy then that's just a bonus. smile

Thanks again for your input; you've been very helpful and I really appreciate it.



Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
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I used Juven following a partial mandibulectomy. My oral surgeon was pleased, as was I, with my healing. He was rather amazed at how quickly and successfully I healed given that I had osteoradionecrosis with fistulas brought on by radiation in 2005 for my SCC. The orange flavor smells like Tang, but I can't address the taste as I use a PEG tube. It is expensive, about $20 for 8 packets, and the recommended dose is two packets per day.

I have used glutamine over the past ten years when I have had mouth ulcers from radiation or radiation recall, and I have found it to be quite helpful.

All the best to you.


Be well. Zenda
12/04 SCC Tonsil, Stage IV T3N2BM0. Mod RND, resect right oropharynx, free-flap, resect right tongue base. Erbitux,Docetaxel,RT X 33. 6/08 Mets lung, hilar lymph node:Carboplatin, Docetaxel. 2010 2nd clinical trial:lung clear, node stable. ORN,trismus,dysphagia. 8-10/2012 cryoablation,brachytherapy,cyberknife to lymph node. 12/12 NED. 6/13 Mets RLL lung: 8/13 cyberknife. 11/13 NED.
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 37
poiuyt Offline OP
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Zenda, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with Juven. It's great to hear that it was helpful to you with your healing. That's very encouraging, as is your experience with glutamine alone.

I hear you about the cost; it's not cheap is it, lol. It's about $75-$80 for 30 on Amazon or eBay. 30 packets is only a 15 day supply so we are looking at about $150 a month. The RO nurse who gave me the samples said if I liked it she had some coupons I could have to buy more with so it might be cheaper to get it at Walgreens with a coupon than it is to order online.

Glad to hear that it helped you and thanks again for sharing that info. Congrats on your NED, I hope you're continuing to do well.


Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
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