Hi Joann,

I can only partially relate to your husband's situation. I didn't have surgery so kept all of my tongue (my tumour was on my tonsil). I had 33 radiations (I cancelled the last two due to very bad reaction to chemo/pain meds/steroids or just the whole thing), and three sessions of Cisplatin. Your husband lost half his tongue and I also don't know which chemo he had.

In my case, 9 months since treatment my saliva is slowly coming back (but they tell me it will never be what it was before treatment), I can taste again quite well, and I'm back on solid foods.

I do tend to gravitate towards certain food that are easier to eat; salads (with cheese and/or a bit of meat for protein), oatmeal, toast with plenty of butter and jam, spaghetti, fruits. I, too, find food in the corners of my mouth, and I attribute that to the low saliva levels, but certainly your husband may have additional trouble with his half-reconstructed tongue (I can only guess).

I can only suggest encouraging him to try some of the foods I've listed above, but I would not be surprised, based on your description, if he simply doesn't find it worth the work and trouble, considering he can't really taste the food anyway. I remember when my taste buds were on strike, I found it very challenging to eat. I was surprised by how important taste was to wanting to eat (I thought if I was hungry I'd want to eat, but at least part of wanting to eat must be based in the pleasure/experience of taste). I'm still drawn to stronger flavours, I guess wanting more bang for the buck, as it were.

I don't know if any of that will be helpful. If he's content on his liquid diet, maybe it's not worth worrying too much about?

Good luck

-Seth