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#21194 09-28-2006 01:31 PM
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I am new to this group. Brian asked me to join and I hope I can contribute as well as learn. I am a 58 yr old male, non smoker, casul drinker and avid manual biker, appx 100 miles per week. Always was a health and exercise nut. I am 1 month out of treatment for Stage IV SCC. We found 2 cancer lymphs on my left side with no initial primary. Later found primary at base of tongue. Decided to be treated at Moffitt Cancer Institute in Tampa, appx 40 miles from my home. I had concurrent chemo (3 cisplatan) and 35 IMRT radiation treatments. One of my main problems was forcing myself to swallow 6 Ensure Plus' while my throat was raw and the nausea was uncontrolled regardless of what they tried. I have recently discovered Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC which has a whopping 560 calories in a 8oz can. That's over 200 more than the same bottle of Ensure Plus. Since I am now on a 3000 calorie "diet" I only have to worry about 5 VHC's whereas I was having to take 8 Plus'. I have only tried the vanilla and it "tastes" about the same realizing I have hardly any taste. You have to order it through your pharmacy and it costs the same as the Plus and your pharmacy can get within a day or 2. If you use a CVS or Walgreens their supplier is Cardinal Health, at least in Florida. Make sure you specify VHC as Carnation has many similar products. If you, like me, were (are) having problems maintaining weight this will cut down on the number of times you have to swallow and keep liquids down. I wish I had had this months ago and I hope some of you may benefit from this posting.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
#21195 09-28-2006 02:37 PM
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David, Welcome and thanks for joining us. Thanks also for the Carnation INst. Breakfast information- it beats the 475 per can 2Cal John is on, so we are going to try it for a change of pace. We wish you a continued good recovery and miles and miles of bike rides. Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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#21196 09-28-2006 03:19 PM
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Dear David,

Thank you for the info on Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC. My Aunt had her PEG reinstalled two weeks ago and it's being removed this coming Monday because it's driving her nuts. I was just chatting with both my Aunt and Uncle on the phone this evening and I promised to find my Aunt something with higher calories than the Boost she's been using because she can only manage to get a few cans of Boost down the regular way per day and she's getting thinner and thinner with every passing week. My Uncle can pick this up this weekend.

For anyone who needs higher calorie liquid nutrition, you can go to the Nestle-Nutrition website, plug in your zip code and they'll give you a few options for places to buy VHC.

Thanks again David and thank you Brian for bringing David into the family. David, I wish you success in your recovery. Give it time, have patience and I'm sure you will achieve what so many other brave warriors have achieved on this forum.

Hugs.......


Niece to Aunt Ro- Dx: 4/03. SCC Stg 4 BOT with mets to fl of mth & crvcl lymph node. AdenoC 1 sal gland. Two add. reconstrc. surgeries for adhesions. Recurrence 7/06- Sub-Mand AdenoC. Mets to both lungs. Lost her battle 5/4/07.
#21197 09-29-2006 12:40 AM
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This is a good recommendation for those of us struggling to swallow enough calories to get off the tube. Thanks.


SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
#21198 09-29-2006 02:06 AM
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Some people love Ensure and Boost - to me that stuff would gag a maggot (along with all of the protein drink crap). I think it was a texure and consistency issue as well. I lived on Carnation Instant Breakfast. I actually could taste the Espresso flavored one but you had to purchase the 3 flavor package to get it. I tossed the strawberry and added Hagan Daz coffee flavored ice cream to the vanilla. Milk and dairy based products just seemed to work better for me.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#21199 09-29-2006 02:36 AM
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Not only do I like the taste of Boost (but not Ensure)...I have a Hi-Protein strawberry every morning after breakfast and 2 to 3 Hi-Protein chocloate Boosts during the day, I have given bottles to my curious golf companions who have seen me drinking it on the golf course, and a few of them now buy it and take it on the golf course too. Although I have gotten back to my ideal weight and have no need to gain any more, the stuff makes an ideal and easy to eat/drink snack for me when I get hungry between meals.

Danny G.


Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
#21200 09-29-2006 02:38 AM
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To Lisa... If you try to find alternative outlets you will pay double what your pharmacy will charge (I know) and the pharmacy can get it for you in a day or two w/ you just picking up the phone. Get you Dtr to give you a prescription and your ins may cover it.

To Gary...I hate the "taste nad texture" of all those products BUT they do give you the most bang for the swallowing buck and also include all the Vits and mins you need. So for now I will swallow and hope I control the gag reflex. Again w/ the VHC you down 560 cal per 1 8oz can so do the math, whether you are on the tube or down the hatch you require much less time and energy. Maybe Carnation should pay me...Anyone listeneing, I could use the extra cash flow now.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
#21201 09-29-2006 04:11 PM
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Danny G--sooo- has the Boost improved your swing and your score? Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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#21202 10-03-2006 03:10 PM
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David, I picked up my case of VHC/560 today. Good thing I can't taste it, cause I'm sure I would hate it. Anyways thanks for the tip, since I can still swallow its thick enough as not to cause too much pain. Hopefully it will get the Dr off my back and help me heal up. I have two more XRTs then I'm done and I had my last chemo today.

I paid about $30 for it(VHC), you'll have to contact Carnation for you commission :-)

Tim Stoj


Tim Stoj
60 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
#21203 10-03-2006 04:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
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Free shipping if you order from the Nestle web site. We use another Nestle product (Nutren 1.5 which has "only" 375 cals per 8 oz) and I order it on the Nestle site. The price is competitive (and half of what the home health service of our hospital charges) and I assume they offer FREE SHIPPING on all products. For anyone who can't find a convenient retailer, this is a great option.

Joyce


CG to Tom dx SCC 5/06; right neck lymph nodes removed, dx right tonsil and tonsillectomy 6/06; rad and chemo started 7/06; treatment COMPLETED 9/06 33x rad; Erbitux (8x); Cisplatin (2);
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