unpalatable food

Hi I'm looking  for  advice with eating normally with a dry mouth. I had cancer at the base of my tongue. I finished treatment in Feb. 2020 but find food difficult.  I know I should stick to soft foods. but what ever I try at the moment is unpalatable because my mouth dries out. I can manage weetabix with milk and soup  but and am struggling with food generally 

  • Hello Jdp52

    Welcome to the forum although I'm sorry that you fnid yourself here.
    We do have quite a number of members here who have had some type of oral cancer and I'll tag in [@RadioactiveRaz][@Taff123]‍ and [@Anchor1707]‍ who may be able to offer you some advice to help. 

    We also have some information on our website here which may be useful and you're welcome to call our team of nurses as well. I'm sure that they will be able to offer some support and information. You can call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

  • Hi jdp I'm in the same position as your self, I finished my treatment in dec 19, and I'm still having trouble eating although it gets a little bit better each month, I still can't eat meat my mouth is so dry, I had my peg removed about a month ago, but still drinking 2 cal to try to keep my weight from going to low, I've done a blog if your interested mythroatcancer.home.blog  Hope this helps my username is taff123 if I can help anymore

    stay safe

    Derrick

  • Hi jdp5,

    Understand that eating can be a challenge on recovery and I stuggled quite a bit as well.

    Option is to drink Ensures supplementary drinks but the fact you are eating at all is a generally good sign.

    Other foods I experimented with included scrambled eggs, creamy mash, rice puddings and plenty yoghurt.
    Dry mouth is an unfortunate side effect that can linger a bit and my mantra in my blog was to drink plenty water, drink again then drink some more.
    I'm a great believer in that drinking as much water, even if small sips, is one of the best medicines in treatment and recovery.

    Kind regards

    Ian

    radiotherapythroat.home.blog

  • Hi jdp52 This is Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz I am niw 20 month post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes,I’d yiu finishes in February and Managing to eat  weetabix and soup you are doing really well .Are you on any high calorie shakes like ensures or  Forrrisips . Yiu ideally need to be taking 2500 calories a day. 

    From about week 3 post radiotherapy I tried to introduce various foods some with success most without ,one thing which surprised members modern than anything I could eat well buttered toast the cheaper the bread the better. Yuck I know. Just cut them into quarters ,I have a few tips on my blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com .

    soft poached egg on top of toast as well or soft boiled egg ,I had to wash most food down with like warm herbal tea or  green tea . 

    any questions  please get in rich and like I said well done in weetabix and soup 

    Hazsl x