I had 30 days of radiation for 60 Gy and followed Christine’s advice - I actually gained weight (20 lbs, which I have now lost) and I think that made all the difference in my recovery, due to nutrition.

I ate regular soft foods until the last week of radiation and then switched to homemade protein shakes. I did not use ensure or medical shakes.

I was on high doses of gabapentin to control pain. The bigger challenge to me was everything - including water - tasted awful and salty. I had a dry erase board with a list of water, calorie, and nutrient targets and forced myself to hit the goal daily. By the end of treatment this meant a lot of ice cream for calories.

Up your protein intake (shakes are fine) as the body needs it to repair damage from radiation.

Best of luck!
Stef



Keep fighting friends!

Me -- currently 53 years old
SCC diagnosed 3/7/2017 at age 48
Staging SCC HPV+ T0,N1 primary unknown
PET 3/16, no activity, biopsies 3/23 benign
TORS surgery identified 2mm tumor in BOT (vallecula)
Cancer restaged T1, N2, M0
Begin 30 sessions of radiation (60 Gy) 6/13
Completed radiation 7/24/2017
1st MRI clear 10/23/2017!!
2nd MRI clear 10/17/2018!