12 weeks post radiotherapy

Hi Lucy. Welcome to our group well done on completing treatment. Recovery can be varied in scheme if things 12 weeks is early. Dry mouth is common side effect snd can linger. I found carrying water everywhere and using sugar free gum helped me. It’s important to use sugar free gum as lack of saliva can cause dental problems. No appetite Is also common I like you took the attitude for a good 6 month that the mantra food is fuel worked for me. It was a good year before food  became a pleasure. I aimed for 2000/2500 calories a day in early days many of them came from ensure drinks I had 6 a day which left me free to try snd eat without loosing any more weight. Eggs are a good source of protein arla yoghurts and make smoothies try adding peanut butter again calories. Proper honey from local bee keepers if you can is good. Well done on ditching the feeding tube. 
At night time I use xyimelts you have to buy online they dissolve slowly in the night. Now I use 1/2 of one   Thjngs fo get better just takes time. 
hope thus helps Hazel 

Hi Lucy and welcome from me too. 12 weeks is still very early days. You have the right attitude. If you can eat it get it down. It’s fuel. I wasn’t interested in food for months. It does get better. I’ll second the sugar free gum. It stimulates whatever salivary function you do have so do try it.

Best wishes 

Hi Lucy

Congratulations on finishing treatment. I thought when I finished my treatment that I would get back to normal really quickly but as the others have said it can take a while and you have to take it step by step. You make gradual improvements day by day and then all of a sudden you can see the difference. You just have to be patient.  You then adjust to the ‘new’ normal and any changes that have occurred.

 Unfortunately there may be some permanent changes but hopefully they are limited. Dry mouth is one of those but it does improve over time to varying degrees. (By the way if you have dentures don’t try the chewing gum option. I did and I spent ages trying to get it off my denture.)

With the dry mouth I have found sips of water and Biotene dry mouth spray works well for me during the night and Xylimelts work well during the day.

My cancer is not the same as yours but I also had part of my palate removed. I have Fortisip as my supplement and tried to get away from a completely sweet based diet so started on home made pureed soups made with stock. Smoothies made with milk and different pureed soft fruits also work well as they slip down easily.

Hang in there as things definitely improve.

Lyn

Hi lucy

i am 12 weeks on like you.  I have definitely had ups and downs.  One thing I have every day is a blended milk smooth with a banana and half an avocado and a few blueberries and silken tofu.  This tofu is tasteless but high protein.  Another food that I have had every day is weetabix, soaked in milk overnight with added cream (for calories) with half a mashed banana.  Neither of these things causes discomfort for me.  I hope this helps. 
lizzie123