Cancer, base of tongue and one node, stage one. Just finished 5 weeks of radiation, two every Friday over the Monday to Thursday treatments. I thought, in the very beginning, how challenging can this be? Well, I received an eye opener. Between the thick saliva, dry mouth, skin issues, throat pain and loss of taste Ive handled as best I could. My main concern is the weight loss, 20 pounds so far, and falling. I’m forcing food down and drinking protein drinks but can’t hit 2000 calories or 100 G protein. Can anyone suggest a high impact suggestion? I find if I drink too many Boosts, Fairlife I start to feel nauseous. I struggle to swallow anything of substance. It’s not that I can’t swallow. It’s more that my mind can’t wrap around swallowing something I can’t taste. Any advice would be appreciated.
Don - Canada
Hi Don
You ate doing blindingly well to be swallowing anything at all this far into treatment. You’re right 2K calories isn’t enough. The advice for most men here in U.K. is 3-3.5K during treatment.
The internet has lots of recipes for high calories high protein shakes you could try
Avocado / banana / peanut butter / full fat milk or ice cream can get you 2K in one glass. If you try this one add the peanut butter last in small amounts or it just sticks to the blender blades
Hold on. Taste does come back but very slowly.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
