Hi,
im 5 weeks in to chemoradiotherapy for tonsil cancer & my mouth is very swollen with lots of sores & ulcers.I’ve had to move to a fluids only diet as solids irritate my mouth too much. To ensure my nutrition stays at a suitable level I’ve been advised to drink 4 fortisips a day.
my question is; is 4 enough ? I’m male & 96 kilos). Can I drink more than 4 a day?
many thanks.
Hi Puliboy1,
Thanks for getting in touch with us, and welcome back to the online community.
I’m so glad to see you are getting a lot of support and advice from other members of the community. It’s good to also read your posts, it can be a great help to others reading about your experience.
It’s quite common to have trouble eating after chemoradiotherapy for cancer of the tonsil. Fortisips are oral nutritional supplements, they are nutritionally complete high energy drinks. As you probably already know they are prescribed for those who are unable to meet their nutritional needs from other foods.
Your dietician would have prescribed these to maintain a healthy weight for you. It’s possible to take more than 4 per day, but if you are worried at all you should talk to your dietician or GP. They will be able to review your diet and offer you further support. You might also benefit from a referral to a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) if this has not already been done.
You don’t mention if you are taking other supplementary “fluids” such as milk shakes or soups with your Fortisips, you might find this information, The Building up Diet helpful.
It’s important to speak to your Clinical Nurse Specialist (if you have one) or your GP if you still have pain in your mouth, they will be able to prescribe some pain medication for you. You could also speak to a Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist too.
I hope this information is helpful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you need further support. You can also give us a call on the support line if you would like to chat.
Best wishes,
Lorna
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
