To anyone who knows about a diet on throat radiation treatment

On 4/24/2007 Stephaniewhite wrote:

My dad is the most important person in the world to me other than my fiancee'. He just finished his radiation treatment on his neck. His throat is the worst it has been so far. Sometimes he has trouble even drinking water because the inside of his throat is so raw, and there is so much phlim built up. He has been able to only get down water, Boost, Ensure, and asparagus and some creamy soups. He  has lost so much weight I am really concerned about his nutrition. I have tried to think of anything I can, any way that I can go buy and prepare something healthy that he can get down. Tonight I am going to go buy turnip greens or collard greens and cook them till they're real soft with a smoked turkey leg or something. I figured if he is unable to eat the greens he could drink the "pot liquor" and get nutrients from that at least. I've been trying to think of stuff that would taste good that maybe I could buy and cook and then blend. I have to be careful though because even green tea at room temp. he said feels like fire in his throat. I've got to think of stuff that is creamy and base-rich that will go down in a soothing fashion that can be served neither hot nor cold. Anything cold burns. Any creative ideas from anyone who has had experience with this with maybe a little more culinary experience than I have would be greatly appreciated. By the way his taste buds are almost gone. They are supposed to come back. But I was thinking of blending canned beets and trying to think of some way to blend cooked liver. The combination of the two has successfully raised his red blood cell count from 6 all the way back up to normal in the past. But because of his throat he hasn't been able to eat them and I'm real concerned about is red blood cell count since he;\'s had problems with it getting low before. Please help. We really need support. Thank you.

On 4/26/2007 Feelndown wrote:

I went through radiation and chemo for throat cancer on the lower back part of my tongue last year. I developed every mouth sore possible to go along with the burned up throat. I became dehydrated due to not being able to swallow anything at all. I had a stomach tube put in and lived on a prescription nutrition drink called Jevity for about 3 months. It saved me. When I first started eating or drinking anything I discovered that water was very difficult to swallow as it is so thin. Buttermilk worked well for me to help get food down, plus I didn't choke on it so much since it is much thicker. I finished my last treatment in March of 2006 and my sweet taste buds still aren't back fully. I also had the cancer in my lymph nodes on the left side and my saliva glands on that side were burned up and thus I have very little saliva. I use Biotene mouthwash all the time now and carry a small bottle all the time to rinse with to help with the dry mouth. During treatment I used a pink liquid that was made up of Maalox, benedril, and some numbing agent(possibly lidocaine) or something like that that was supposed to make the throat numb enough to swallow, but mine was too bad although it helped me be able to talk better for a while after use and rest better. I slept in recliner for several months. Nothing will probably taste good for a while. Scrambled eggs are a good source of protein and can sometimes be swallowed easier than other things. Malto Meal worked fairly well for me when I was able to begin eating a few things also. I hope some of this helps. It is a horrible thing to have to go through, but I am starting to feel better finally after about 13 months. Doc said it might take a year and a half. I had just turned 60 when diagnosed due to a swollen lymph node. Keep the faith and may God

My husband had his tonsils removed March of '07 and they found a malignant tumor. Three weeks later we almost lost him when another tumor that was on his carotid artery burst. Thanks to God, he was saved from bleeding to death.  He was unable to have the surgery at that time to remove the lymph nodes in the neck, due to the surgery to patch the carotid artery, so he was sent for radiation and chemotherapy all last summer. He had the port and the peg put in for feeding purposes. The last treatment was July, last summer, but my husband continues to exist only by blending oatmeal, milk, whey protein, Ensures, yogurts, fruit - they go in the blender and then in the feeding tube in his stomach. He has lost over 60 lbs. He was able to eat small amounts of pudding (the only thing he could tolerate by mouth) this past January, but in recent months, he has developed an ulser in his throat (from the radiation), and the mucus has increased as well as the pain. We need some help. It has been over a year with the feeding tube now, but my concern is that he is no longer making progress...I am scared and put this out as a means of finding any help.- Thank you and God bless you, Karen

On 4/13/2008 sparkle wrote:

 

On 4/26/2007 Feelndown wrote:

I went through radiation and chemo for throat cancer on the lower back part of my tongue last year. I developed every mouth sore possible to go along with the burned up throat. I became dehydrated due to not being able to swallow anything at all. I had a stomach tube put in and lived on a prescription nutrition drink called Jevity for about 3 months. It saved me. When I first started eating or drinking anything I discovered that water was very difficult to swallow as it is so thin. Buttermilk worked well for me to help get food down, plus I didn't choke on it so much since it is much thicker. I finished my last treatment in March of 2006 and my sweet taste buds still aren't back fully. I also had the cancer in my lymph nodes on the left side and my saliva glands on that side were burned up and thus I have very little saliva. I use Biotene mouthwash all the time now and carry a small bottle all the time to rinse with to help with the dry mouth. During treatment I used a pink liquid that was made up of Maalox, benedril, and some numbing agent(possibly lidocaine) or something like that that was supposed to make the throat numb enough to swallow, but mine was too bad although it helped me be able to talk better for a while after use and rest better. I slept in recliner for several months. Nothing will probably taste good for a while. Scrambled eggs are a good source of protein and can sometimes be swallowed easier than other things. Malto Meal worked fairly well for me when I was able to begin eating a few things also. I hope some of this helps. It is a horrible thing to have to go through, but I am starting to feel better finally after about 13 months. Doc said it might take a year and a half. I had just turned 60 when diagnosed due to a swollen lymph node. Keep the faith and may God

My husband is 72 and is three years out of cancer treatment.  He had squaimous cell carcinoma stage 4 on his tongue and throat and lymph nodes.  He is so far cancer free.  He has little or no salvia and has been drinking liquid from novartis.  5 drinks  a day.  His stomach becomes very sick after drinking them and ends up in bed.  We are looking for a solution for food for him that will keep his weight on and maybe make him gain weight.  He cannot swallow much because he has no salvia.  Anyone out there have a solution?

This is uncanny, your story is exactly the same as my husband even to the age.  He has had the same problem, our doctor is reccomending a diatician to blend foods with the proper calorie levels and nutrition.  Will let you know what happens

I was given Isolep to hold in my mouth as long as possible and then swallow it.  It was developed by a Pharmacist that worked at Madigan Army Medical Center, where I get my treatment.  It is pink.  It worked some for me and I still use it.  My tongue gets sore from just about everything.  I can't eat sugary, salty, or spicy foods.  I didn't have any taste for about 8 months.  I lost 65 lbs.  I was grumpy and very unhappy.  I was told to suck on hard candy.  Sometime later, when I was well enough to go to the dentist, I noticed that the backs of my front teeth were brown.  It was all rotted from the hard candy.  She was able to save my teeth by building them up.  It is so much better with my front teeth.  I find regular toothpaste and mouthwash too much for me.  It's been 4 yrs.  I use Bio-tiene toothpaste.  I use Oasis mouthwash (a little) in a cup of water for rinsing and gargling.  I have always brushed my tongue and still do, even if it hurts.  I use Oral Balance at night to keep my mouth moist.  Since I use a CPAP for sleep apnea, I don't breathe through my mouth.  I know that makes a big difference.  Water helps the dryness for the time it is in your mouth, so I use Oasis Spray and I love it.  My mouth always tastes yucky but the Oasis Spray lasts longer and makes my mouth taste much better.  I have to use chapstick all the time.  If I talk for a little while, my mouth gets so dry my lips stick to my teeth.  My husband says I sound like someone who is deaf when I talk when I am that dry.  I take Cevimeline 3 times a day to help me make saliva.  I lost a gland to the tumor.  Since my immune system is so poor and I am so susceptible, I get infections.  Antibiotics give me thrush, so I use Nystatin for that.  I use the Isolep because it numbs it for a while.  The man who invented Isolep was named Pelosi, so he just spelled it backwards for a name.

I get some oral balance gel to use during the day because it is thick and lasts a lot longer.  I wonder if my breathe smells as bad as my mouth tastes.  Long after the taste buds came back, I lost my sense of smell.  Now it is coming back but I only smell yucky stuff.  I still have trouble with some things not tasting like I remember.  When I  have animal crackers, I put one on my tongue and add a little water.  Then it just slides down my throat.  I eat biscuits and toast and cookies dunked in my hot tea.  Only way I can have a treat.  I drink 16 oz. a day of V-8 to get most of my veggies.  I can't have citrus at all.  Bananas and apples are the easiest.  I banana equals 2 servings of fruit.  1 apple equals 2 servings of fruit.  So I am getting most of my nutritional needs.  I drink Instant Breakfast, eat yogurt or cottage cheese or scrambled eggs and hot cereals.  I have trouble swallowing meat, so I get that in soup.  I can't have dry foods.  I fear things will never get any better for me.  I would be happy if the yucky taste in my mouth would go away.