| Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 | My husband had a small tumour removed from his tongue in may last year and a neck dissection, sadly a small part was 'missed' and 60% of his tongue and the floor of his mouth were removed and a neck dissection on the other,side in November.. This was followed by 6 weeks radiotherapy. He suffered badly with mucositis and we are now into the third week past the treatment. He has little appetite and of course has lost a lot of weight. Any suggestions please for the best foods for him. We are both aged 73 ( not sure if that is relevant) | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Sue, welcome to OCF! Congrats to your husband on finishing his treatments! The worst of everything should be about over at this point. Most patients will begin to feel a little better at about the 3 week post tx time frame. The best thing that can be done to heal and speed his recovery is to continue to pus the nutrition and hydration. Every single day he should be getting at least 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. If you can get him to take in more thats even better! There is high protein whey powder that mixes easily in water or any liquid that will also help to speed healing. Here is a list of easy to easy foods, they have a smoother texture and less spicy so they should be easier for him. Best wishes with your husbands continued recovery! Easy to Eat Foods PS... Ask the doc for a prescription for magic mouthwash to help numb his mouth for a few minutes. This will help him to eat. Also try using a rinse of 16oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt. Rinse at least 4 times per day with this to help get the ph balance in his mouth back to normal and also help his sore mouth to heal. If it burns cut too much back on the salt. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | In addition to the above, difficulty eating, chewing, swallowing, unplanned weight loss is also muti-factorial, so each needs to be addressed, treated, such as mucositus, dysphagia, trismus, xerostomia, food aversions, sensitivities, anorexia, metabolic changes, and any fungal, bacterial or viral infections that can prevent obtaining adequate nutrition, hydration.
Good luck with everything.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | For the mouth sores, you can also use flat club soda. He can swallow this too and may help the throat heal. If the regular club soda burns his mouth, see if you can get the low sodium club soda. Club soda works in the same way as the baking soda Christine mentioned in her posts. You have the advantage of not having to make a fresh batch everyday.
Gloria She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016. | | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 | Yogurt!! Plus we purchased a high-powered blender (some manufacturers have discounts available) and we make smoothies.. try almonds, olive oil, kale, protein powder, blue berries, ice/water... and more!
Joanna - caregiver (spouse) Init bio 11/12, gloss/neck dis 12/12, rad/cisplatin - 6 wks 2/13
"The most important thing is to keep the most important thing, the most important thing."
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Sue, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's situation and my thoughts are with you both. I used prescription viscous lidocaine to numb my mouth prior to drinking the complete nutritional drinks that on this side of the ocean go by various brand names, the most widespread being Ensure and Boost. But there are plenty of generics and I'm sure you can find some. The lidocaine was the only thing that helped me to get anything down, and I still lost 30 pounds.
Please keep writing and asking questions. We're part of your family now and we're here to help.
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 | Thank you so much for replying. We will press on with all the advice and try everything. Dave does use gelclair, rinse to numb the mouth and oxycaine to line the throat, prior to eating, I expect they are the English equivalents. I suppose neither of us realised how devastating and debilitating the radiotherapy would be, so I'm encouraged when I read that we aren't the only ones. Thank you again, I will keep in touch. | | | | Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 7 | Thank you for all your suggestions and support, we will be trying everything, | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hi there.. I have a morning smoothie that gets me through to 1pm every day. It's fresh fruit, protein powder, almond milk, and flax. TIS awesome. Since it's thick it's easy to drink, the high protein helps healing, and it's low in sugar (natural sugars from the fruit) and filling. I would avoid processed foods as they mostly have a lot of chemicals, salt and sugar in them. Stick to natural foods (veggies steamed etc...) It helps heal and tastes best... for me at least. take care and best of luck.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 | our chemo nurse just gave us the Rebecca Katz book.. "One bite at a time".. check out the Mineral Broth!! She has several books and is doing a book tour for her new book! Good luck
Joanna - caregiver (spouse) Init bio 11/12, gloss/neck dis 12/12, rad/cisplatin - 6 wks 2/13
"The most important thing is to keep the most important thing, the most important thing."
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