Thats funny!!! Even though I hate to admit it, I have a cat named Bob too! Bob has several variations of his name... most commonly known as Boo-Boo, Bobby Boo0Boo, Robert (only used when he's being naughty). Ive had him since he was 8 weeks old. Bob is 12 years old, a black and white tuxedo kitty with the silkiest long hair fur. I guess being a woman in her 50s, living alone while owning cats puts me in the right demographics for being a crazy cat lady. LOL!!!

Its not just texture that relearning to eat depends on. Acidic foods do NOT work for anyone who has had rads until at the very least they're a year post rads. The returning sense of taste is fleeting and comes and goes like crazy. One day chocolate milk is the best thing ever, the next day its like drinking thinned out chocolate pudding thats rancid. Most patients who recently finished rads will find the first bite or two are surprisingly pleasant and tasty but then very quickly every bite after tastes progressively worse. The Easy to Eat food list is what most patients have been ok to eat after rads.

Creamed soups like cream of cauliflower put thru a blender to puree is one of the best ones, cream of butternut squash also works great at being mild, smooth and something many will be able to eat. Degree of thickness is dependent on how far along the patient has gotten with returning to eat normally again. This phase can be VERY frustrating!!! When you are starving for something, you just cant get the craving out of your mind so you finally give in an try it. Surprise!!! That first bite tells you everything you were trying to avoid by ignoring the craving... unfortunately you just discovered your newest ,most hated food post rads. But 2 days later its something you love but only for about a week until it loses its flavor and you try it again 3 months down the road and its finally ok.

After rads, when I was relearning how to eat again I found a solution to my fleeting sense of taste. I went to the buffet style, all you can eat restaurants. I asked the manager if I could get a special discounted price as I was just relearning how to eat again and barely ate anything, and 90% of what they served wasnt possible for me. Usually after explaining what oral cancer is
and how much OC patients struggle to eat again, most managers were all too happy to give me the childs price. At buffets, its ok to take 2 tiny slices of cooked carrots, 2 green beans to mash up along with the staple teaspoon of mashed potatoes with gravy along with my glass of chocolate milk in case of something being overly spicy. I quickly discovered I could no longer tolerate Italian and Chinese foods which was such a major disappointment as I loved it all before OC. Buffets are perfect place to experiment and take all the time you need to eat. Id always go around 1 or 2pm so the restaurant wasnt so busy and I didnt have to rush to eat before all the dinner rush started.

In all the ups and downs, recovery can seem to take forever. Sounds like you all are giving it a heck of an effort and doing very well. Much better than I did taking care of myself!!! Dizz, you will get there in time, it just takes more patience than most patients have. The fear of choking will eventually go away too. You have been one member Ive watched in awe of how well you have mentally adjusted and clearly seen what unknown path you must take to conquer your cancer. Im soooo impressed at how logical and upbeat you have been thru everything. You really did get thru it much better than many of the people we help thru it. I account that to how well you did with your intake and at excelling in keeping a positive attitude. Helping those newer members who are just beginning their cancer battle warms my heart . Thank you so much for everything you contribute to OCF and all our members who are learning from your stellar examples. Excellent job Dizz!!!

Eileen, Im soooo sorry to read about Bobs newest cancer condition. The Opdivo new immunotherapy has had outstanding results and helped a great many even those who did not have the options Bob was given. For recurrences or any 2nd cancers you may want to consider getting a second opinion if for nothing else your own peace of mind. Im a firm believer in CCCs, especially for situations like Bobs. We're all here to lean on as Im certain you both are overwhelmed and horrified at the same time. Nobody wants to see themselves or their loved one in the situation you both are dealing with right now. Be good to yourself and take a break for some "me time". Taking an hour just for yourself could help make everything easier to deal with. Even once a week lunch with friends or a manicure, movie, long walk weather permitting or a new hobby... doing something completely seperate from your daily cancer/patient/care-giver focus is needed more than people think.

Best wishes with everything!!!