Head and Neck Cancer .looking for any advice

Hello there and welcome to our group.  You're certainly having a tough time, and that's one birthday present you'll want to forget!  I'm sorry you're going through this, and I can only sympathise as my partner had a different cancer with not as many symptoms affecting his mouth.  

Have you spoken to your dietician about recommendations for calorie rich foods that would be easier on your throat?  They might even suggest a different type of feeding tube that isn't visible, like a PEG or RIG, if they're concerned you aren't getting enough nutrients.

I'm sure others on the forum will be able to offer better advice, but unfortunately not many are around at this time.  Don't worry though, as your post will be picked up in the morning and hopefully you'll get some answers.

Wishing you all the very best with your recovery.  Gill xx 

yes, I'm currently having dental issues.. a sudden random, sharp pain for no reason at all in one of my front teeth,, a filling that kept dropping out.. now having a crown fitted, and sensitive teeth on bottom jaw, treatment side.. never spent so much time at the dentist.. 

Hi KDavis  

You are just 7 weeks clear of treatment which is really early still.

looking at my experience and recalling others here in the Community 12 weeks seems to be a turning point but we are all different and there isn't a road map for recovery. I was on morphine till 12 weeks and I too suffered wit a closed up throat in there mornings. I was so hoarse I could hardly speak and I had to swallow three times with every sip to just get that first cup of tea down. My oncologist told me it was lymphoedema which seems the right explanation as it improved through the day.

Post treatment was the beginning of my obsession with oral hygiene. It will be a lifelong routine to keep my teeth.

What sort of routine have you got into?

As far as food is concerned , it's trial and error. Pasta with creamy sauces. Add butter and cream to soup.Potato was a no no but sweet potato was fine. Fatty lamb slow cooked. Dunk biscuits in tea. Toasted teacake with masses of butter.

If you really have a day when you can't be bothered whip up a smoothie with Avocado, banana and peanut butter. It will give you masses of calories and most of the nutrients you need in one cupful.

It's a slow plod with backward steps but things do get better

Hi, and welcome to the group! I had a very similar diagnosis to yours. Currently, I am exactly one year post-radiation and chemotherapy, and thankfully, I have no dental issues at all. I struggled with swallowing, and since you are still very early in your recovery, I want to share that I found the four weeks following the end of my radiotherapy to be the toughest time for mucus in my throat. Even after 12 months, I still find solid food challenging. I try to eat solid food once a day, but it’s usually soft options like an omelet.

In the mornings, I have a high-calorie smoothie packed with fruit and seeds such as chia, hemp, and nuts. It’s very refreshing and cold from the fridge since I prepare it the night before, which is soothing for my throat. I use milk with added protein, like soy protein or almond and oat milk (without sugar). These help me start my day with a good calorie boost. I also add Greek yogurt, which usually brings my total to between 500 and 600 calories. I boost my calories with Aymes prescribed initially by the dietician and now by my GP. 2 each day topped up with 200ml of milk per serving. These are a great help when my NGT was removed. 

I still struggle with swallowing and experience a horrendous dry mouth. I rely on Xylimelts both day and night for dry mouth relief, and I couldn’t cope without them. Wishing you a smooth recovery, and feel free to ask as many questions as you’d like. I wish I had found this forum during my treatment. Good luck! X

Hi KDavis. 

like you, I was 38 when diagnosed and it came as a complete shock. Surgeries and RT for me. The treatment is tough, as you’re finding out, but it’s still relatively early in terms of having completed it. You’ll get there! 

in terms of your questions, I would advise to have full cream added to meals when possible. Get those extra calories in. I got a blender and used that a lot. I had a steak pie, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy a few times. Full fat milk. Yoghurts that aren’t too acidic. Mashed bananas. Scrambled eggs, again with added thick cream.

im 7 months having finished RT and my throat feels ‘thick’ almost every morning. I routinely get up as soon as I can after waking, have some water and do some neck massages to help with draining fluids. It seems to help for me. Hopefully it helps you too. Chris 

Miclee said:

I rely on Xylimelts both day and night for dry mouth relief, and I couldn’t cope without them.

Have you tried Salivix pastilles for daytime? You can get them in prescription if they help you. 

Beau Chapeau said:

a filling that kept dropping out..

Hi Loz 

yes standard filling material won’t bond to irradiated teeth but there is stuff that will

No I haven't but I'm willing to try anything. I noticed today someone mentioned bee propolis, is this good for mucus and in what form. I'm assuming a spray would be best for me. The prices vary so much too. Anything to look out for please 

I’m a beekeeper. I know that propolis has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. Bees use it to seal up cracks in their home and to seal babies into their cells to pupate. It keeps disease away from the colony. 
Where it is useful in people is to help heal the mucosa which is why it can be helpful in the active stages of RT and afterwards to deal with mucositis which is the ulceration we get. 
Im not sure about any action on mucous itself. This is the one I tried. Make it up with soft water or else all you get is a waxy resinous scum floating on the top 

I don’t have any experience with the spray 

Miclee said:

bee propolis

There’s a thread on it here 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/head-neck-cancer-forum/f/updates/240653/my-experience-with-propolis