I introduced myself at one time but have mostly been a lurker. You can see from my signature a brief synopsis of my plight.

I've already been through hell with my ovarian cancer (beaten all the odds) and then when I found out that the maintenance drug (99.999% certainty) i was on on may be the cause for the H&N ca you can imagine how devastated i was.
Once diagnosed there was a 3 week wait for surgery when one of the tumors tripled+ in size changing surgical plans the morning of. A flap was needed. Great - all the margins were clean just do a little radiation to be certain. Surgeons were confounded because i healed so fast - i was home in a week's time.

However I overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) so the radiation didn't work. Two more tumors appeared while I was on rad - one on my jaw, one under my chin. I started taxol & Erbitux & radiation but after 10 more rads I had a fever/infection and was hospitalized for over a week. The chin tumor drained some and then plopped into my hands one day- guess something is working. Now I'm back to just chemo - have had 6 taxol & 3 Erbitux and finally I'm seeing some acne and dry skin. Kinda relieved to see the side effects as I gather that it's good to have them.

Still primarily on Scandia and Ensure/Boost w/protein powder mixture. It's been weeks since last rad and my taste buds are still not where I'd like them to be. Pureed cauliflower, turnips, carrots and sour cream are my favorites. Tried some lentil soup last night - too spicy. Looks like ice cream is a ways off.

My jaw has been misaligned since surgery so chewing is out of the question. And can only open mouth about two fingers worth.

So, it's very frustrating but I guess that patience is needed. Thanks for listening.

Sorry to read your history included such a difficult time. Its so unfortunate to hear how many hurdles you have had with this. Hope you are feeling better and better each day.

Hope you are doing jaw opening exercises to improve your trismus. Here is a link for easy to eat foods that require very limited chewing. I also have trismus and Im without teeth and can handle most of these foods. Hope this helps.

http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=94621#Post94621

What drug are they saying caused your H&N cancer?

Also consider Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC as it has 560 cals in the same 8oz can.

Thanks for the list Christine.

I have tried a lot of those items - my problem is I refuse to eat things that don't feel or taste good. So until my taste buds return fully I will have to pick and choose.

Also I do some of my own exercises - haven't used a contraption yet but probably should look into it.

David,
I've been mixing Ensure or Boost with ScandiShake packets plus some protein powder. I was told to drink more than 2000 calories and to take in 70+ gms of protein. Sometimes I mix in Carnation INstant Breakfast powder but I've never seen it in cans. I'll look for it.

Carnation VHC can be bought from the Amazon link here on the forum. It will give OCF a small kickback, every penny counts to help this site keep running.

Yes you can only get the CIB VHC through a pharmacy (no prescrip needed) or over the internet and as Christine has pointed out we get a small kickback if you use Amazon. I lived on that stuff for over a year.

David, in my area, the Carnation VHC is impossible to find. I asked almost every store I went to and not one would order it for me. Thru the Amazon link, I buy a case for $32 + $12 s&h which is very reasonable. My prescription formula is $75 per case.

Back in the day, 2006/07, I ordered it from Walgreens which called me within 2 days max for me to pick it up. It cost $30 to $32 a case. CVS also carried it but they wanted much more than Walgreens.