Hi, PLTLea
you mentioned "very sensitive to even ketchup and things that most would say is not spicy at all ia extemely spicy to me". My guess is that the culprete is capsacin (found in chilis, red pepper, and paprika) which acts directly on the nerves. I have been able to make mexican salsas for my husband using bell peppers instead of jalepano's. Can you tolerate fruit juices at all?
Maria

Here is a list of easy to eat foods. Most of the foods are milder and a smoother texture. Hope you find something on this list to help make your eating a little more enjoyable.

List of Easy to Eat Foods

Thanks to you all for the suggestions. I am finding it all very helpful and it is nice to know that other people have the same issues it is not just me. It seems like there is a lot of info out there for other types of cancer but not so much for throat or oral cancer or else I've just not been in the right places to look.
I think I have tried all the foods mentioned and they are the ones that I usaully eat. I didn't mention that i"m a 65 y/o female. Never smoked, only occas had a drink. I did not have HPV. I have had issues with reflux both before and since the cancer dx. My mouth is just extremely dry now even with the biotene, oral balance, freq sips of water etc. I do find that eating small amts freq helps to stimulate a little moisture in my mouth. Sugar free candy and mints only seem to make my teeth break or a filling come out. Never fails me. To answer Maria about the juices. They burn my mouth and so does fresh fruit. I can eat really sweet fruit like in pie sometimes but fresh fruit tastes terrible. Someone mentioned veggies and yes I agree I can eat almost any veggie that is cooked and I do enjoy eating them. I had a hard time with potatoes for a long time because the fiber in them felt like switchblades going down but now if they are really smooth they are good. So many things that one thinks would be good are terrible. I remember at the intial time of the treatment and afterwards anything cold at all was not tolerable. Ice cream tasted awful but thankfully that is gone now. Jello was terrible as was puddings all just tasted horrible and felt horrible in my mouth but that has gotten much better. Just recently jello has started to taste better and so has pudding. I do try the Instant Breakfsst and that is good with ice cream. I find that eating out or even with family is hard because they are done before I even hardly get started. It takes forever and I have to chew and swallow very slowly and everyone else is done and gone. It is hard for them and for me. I enjoy going out but feel like I"m holding everyone else back. Does anyone else feel that way. I'm just enjoying being able to talk to other people that have this issue. I wish I"d known about this sight a long time ago.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and hopefully I can help other too. So many really good stories about what you have been thru and still are hanging in there and doing things. I feel very fortunate as well. I am still hanging in there and for the most part active though very frail. I also have osteoporosis and have had frequent broken ribs and sternum and a fractured pelvis. The coughing causes the rib fx's. But that is life. I did continue to work as a nurse for several years after my treatment for the cancer but the treatment for the lung issues took a toll and i finally had to stop working. I do think it is really good to stay as active as possible though. It helps you mentally not to get down.
Again thanks to all.

My husband also feels like he eats too slowly, so you are not alone in that. Here is a suggestion for going out or eating with family: have a protein shake or something filling before going out. When you are out, you can order something like a cream soup (and pick at it) or pie ala mode (and enjoy it). Back in the old days (think Gone with the Wind), fancy ladies were not supposed to eat heartily in public, so you can just be like Scarlett.

You might be able to enjoy a shake made with canned peaches or pears mixed with vanilla ice cream. The fruit is cooked in the canning process. When you buy the fruit, and make sure the only ingredient in the syrup are water and sugar. Start with just a slice or two of fruit in the shake, and see how it goes. Be sure to use full fat ice cream as that will help calm the acid in the fruit. If peaches or pears go well (they are the mildest) you can try applesauce in a shake.

Hope we can expand your dining experiences!
Maria

Thanks Maria the shake is a good idea. I can usaully do canned fruits it is just fresh fruit that really is sour tasting to me. I do usually try and get soup when I go out to eat because it is much easier to eat and I like soup. Sometimes they don't have soup though so you have to have a salad or a sandwich and it is just a slow process for me. I usually end up taking most of it home which is ok. It is just I always feel like the people I"m eating with think I'm wasting it or don't like it. But Oh well. We do what we gotta do. Hope that your husband is doing great. Sounds like you take very good care of him.

Most restaurants will have either chicken noodle soup or cheesecake. I have alot of eating issues too so I can usually get one of these items. You can always check the kids menu too. Many restaurants will have applesauce. I add a little sugar which helps to cut the acid in it.

I love homemade chicken noodle soup but the canned stuff I can't do. I had that a lot at first and now just can't do that. The cheesecake has a kind of bitter or bad taste to me too. I do get the children's mac n cheese a lot though or a grilled cheese. When I go to the Mexican restaurants with my family I get the grilled cheese. They all give me a hard time but it goes the best for me. I like beef stew and a lot of soups really. I will try the applesauce again with the sugar. I can tolerate it but it isn't my favaorite.
Do you do the swallowing exercises or have you gone for swallowing therapy? I have been in the past and trying it again. I'm not seeing much now and they said it was somehting that you have to do the rest of your life everyday. I'm still on the fence about it though.
I know you said you had your teeth out do you have implants or dentures? Sounds like you have really been thru the mill. I appreciate your input and admire your courage and everyone else's as well.

How about flan at mexican restaurants? I love flan! I have not had swallowing therapy or even barium swallowing tests. I do not have teeth and no hope to get any every so chewing isnt easy for me. Im missing left cheek and half my lower jaw which further complicates my eating issues. I can only eat certain things which I feel I am lucky I can get down so Im satisfied with what I am able to eat. Some people arent so fortunate.

Please add a signature when you can. Click on the "My Stuff" tab then on the drop down menu select "Edit Profile". Scroll to the bottom and type your info in the white box and submit. It really is a huge help when getting to know new members and offering advice. Thanks!

Excuse me....how about Flan from a Cuban restaurant like the world's famous Habana Cafe? My wife's Cream Cheese Flan won the 2003 Southern Living magazine CookOff Contest out of 35,000 recipies in the Signature Dessert category. Just saying...

David, next time I get to Florida I will make sure I have the time to get over to your side of the state. That flan sounds like it was created just for me

I am thinking of heading down there in Jan or Feb. I know its tax season so I will just have to visit with your lovely wife while you are crunching numbers.