Hi Billy,

I am a three year survivor of oral cancer. I had a mandible free flap replacement of the lower jaw, floor of mouth and lost about one fourth of my tongue. I must mention that I am a retired chef. After dealing with a feeding tube for months, I decided to start experimenting with soft foods, but still wanted to eat what my family was eating. I found that if I cut all of the regular foods up real small and used sour cream with the foods, they "slid" down the throat without any problem. If you cannot deal with the taste of sour cream, try mayo or the likes. Cream soups are also wonderful. Even "chunky" soups can be used if you have a stick blender. Just cook the soup as normal, but before serving, use the stick blender to puree the soup...still giving you all of the flavors, but in a liquid form without chunks. I have been out of radiation now for over three years, and I am about to get dental implants in my lower jaw, so hopefully, I should be able to chew again. It has been a long and hard road, but keep the faith and keep fighting. IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD unless you allow it to be. I was told I would never be off the tube, but I am. I was told I would never get teeth again, but I am. My doctors atUCLA have no idea how I have survived this long with as serious and advanced my cancer was, but I am still here and still giving the world hell every day. Do NOT allow this set you back and make you complacent. You CAN recover from all of this to enjoy life as you used to.
Our prayers are with you and all the other survivors out there.

God Bless,

Chefron