Hi All, I'm new and looking for some guidance and anything that can help my Dad.
He has throat Cancer, diagnosed March 2019. We're about to undertake a grulleing 7 week schedule of 5 days a week Radio and twice a week Chemo.
As it's the neck that they are targeting the list of things that will happen to my 70 year old Dad is endless. His swollow glands will need to be trained daily, his saliva glands will be damaged severely and won't recover, his speech and language will be affected and eating will become painful and near impossible. Que the nutritionist and feeding tube that he's having inserted this week.
I work in health supplementation manufacturing so see alot of these meal replacement drinks that doctors prescribe to ensure patients maintain some form of calories when they can't eat. However, they don't really hold any nutritional value, just dense calories. I have found a brand online called Huel Nutrition and have done alot of research on their ingredients. I was wondering if anyone has used Huel or another type of meal drink that has some form of vitamin blend and nutritional value to it while going through treatment?
I'm not a doctor so will obviously listen to what they have to say. But I also can't help but think that my Dad needs to maintain other vits and minerals to try and stay as strong as possible.
I'm open to all suggestions and stories of things that may help. As a family we're about to undertake the scariest 7 weeks of our lives and I want to be sure I am being as helpful as I can to not only my Dad but my Mum as well.
Thanks xx
Hi and welcome to the Online Community, although I am so sorry to see the circumstance that brought you here and so sorry to hear that your dad has been diagnosed with Throat Cancer. This is a hard time for your dad and all the family but clear information can help everyone navigate the various challenges and control the whirlwind between the ears that a cancer diagnosis brings. So talking with people who are on the same journey will help a lot.
My cancer journey was rather different but if you follow this link to our Head and Neck Cancer Forum you will be able to connect with people who understand the journey your dad is on. You can ask the folks questions about treatments, what to expect and how to help him during this time.
Follow the link and join the group. Hit the 'Start a Discussion' tab and introduce yourself to the group - you could just copy an paste what you put in this first post.
Remember to go to the right on the group home page and select how you want to receive email notifications when someone answers your posts.
We also have these forums where you can connect with others supporting family and friends through their cancer journey: Carers Forum and Friends and Family Forum
You may also find our various Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00 to be very helpful even if all you want to do is talk with friendly person that can help in lots of ways.
We also have our ‘Ask an Expert’ section but please allow a few days to get an reply.
We also have our Online Information and Support Section where you will find some great pages covering the cancer diagnosis, treatment and information pages covering most types of cancers - just go to the bottom of the home page and have a look through the list.
Talking to people face to face can help a lot so check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support Groups in your area or a Maggie’s Centre as these folks are amazing.
If you haven't yet completed your profile when you have a minute could you pop something about your journey so far into it. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine profile by clicking on my username.
All the best.
Well done, I see you have found the Head and Neck group when I was putting up this post - all the best.
