12 weeks post treatment

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Hi

I’m heading into week 12 post treatment. I had 30 radio & 6 chemo sessions for tonsil & lymph node hpv cancer (after surgery which was in Jan). I have PET CT next week & am so anxious about it. I can eat various sweet foods ok but struggle with savoury. Mainly having soups. I have a supplement Scandishake daily to make up calories. There is no joy in eating anymore, I feel depressed every day & constantly angry & anxious. Still on pain relief & trying various things for dry mouth. Is all of this  ‘normal’? Will I feel happiness again? Does eating get easier? Had the PEG out last week so that was good. I just want to feel ok, ‘normal’ again. 

  • Hi Blod. It’s not unusual to have no appetite treat fuel food as fuel and the mantra to eat to live not live to eat got me through recovery 12 weeks is still fairly dry mouth last for quite a while I had a regular auricular  acupuncture it is worth looking into this as well it did kick start my saliva to help me with my dry mouth and I’m nearly 4 years pass treatment now life does get better am living my life almost  as I was previously.Normskm eating does return slowly meat can take longer now i onky have issues some days with chicken breast and roast  pork which are both dry textures. I can happily enjoy a bacon and sausage sandwich which way back when I never thought I started to reduce my pain relied around week 9 I did a long slow withdrawal finally down to paracetamol. My blog below might give you an idea of what I found to ear plus will,post a link for a good recipe book.

    www.yumpu.com/.../cookbook-by-andrew-gaylor-head-and-neck-cancer-survivor-2022

    hooe it helps. 
    good luck with scan 12 weeks is fairly early to scan I had mine at week 18 As we know all hospital trusts have   different policies
    . Hazel x

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • Hi Blod, you are still early days into your recovery, and things will seem like it's 1 step forward and 2 steps back. Things will get better for you, I felt the same about eating I thought I would never enjoy food again. Just try different things to eat, however something that tastes ok 1 day may taste awful on another day, it's all trial and error really. Your appetite will come back and you will enjoy food again. It's ok to feel angry, and you can have a good old rant on here, anytime you want to, we all understand how it is. All the best.

    Regards Ray.