Waiting Game!!!!

Hi

Sorry your family is on this journey. The waiting is awful! Hopefully the rest of the staging procedures will be done soon so you know where things stand and which course of treatment will be best. 

In terms of food, from my own experience I'd suggest small portions (more frequent smaller meals) of soft foods like scrambled eggs, nut butters, soups,  smoothies, yoghurts , raspberries, etc. I chewed everything very well. Personally I found rice and bread tended to get caught in my throat even if I chewed them fine. I also stopped eating meat unless it was in something like lasagna or spaghetti bolognese.  I should say that my swallowing difficulties were relatively mild so your dad may need to experiment a bit to find out what will work for him. I know my appetite declined so I had to be mindful that I what I was eating was nutritious. 

Very soon your dad will have a team of different professionals around him including a dietician. He'll need his strength for what is to come. I'd recommend speaking to the GI Nurse and possibly asking to be referred to the dieticians. I know that for some who are really struggling to eat there is the possibility of a feeding tube. I had an oesophagectomy in January and I have a feeding tube and I don't find it a big deal.  There have been a couple if teething problems otherwise its okay.  

Sending positive vibes.

Take care 

Hi

i was asked by the consultant not to goggle but use sites such as this one and the nhs.  The figures are scary but the treatments have improved since they were last measured as well as lots of ifs and buts about the individual.  

Sorry to hear you think it has spread I really hope that is not the case 

Soft foods, I struggled with solid meat so buy the slices of roast beef, chicken etc. mince can be ok. I also found a fillet steak cut up small could go down as it breaks up. I found stir fry’s with thin noodles ok if he will eat that type of thing.  Some fish, eggs, cheese and biscuits, cereal with full fat milk etc. it can be a bit trial and error and finding things he can enjoy I was told nothing is off limits it’s important to try to keep a steady weight for what’s to come, if he can. 

Take care