Hello,

I would suggest that you ask for counselling to help you come to terms with your depression.

I lost half my tongue and my soft pallet. I cannot eat at all and and only my wife can understand

me when I talk. It has been this way for 9 years. We live in France and I loved wine.

I would prefer my condition over being blind. I have always been  grateful to still be here.

Life is good, be grateful and enjoy the fact you are still here.

Colin

Hi colin

thankyou for your reply, you are so right from now on I am going to look to the future not live for the past. Compared with yourself I am very lucky at least I can still eat. I realise now that out there there is always someone worse off than yourself 

thankyou colin

Hi

I've had tongue Cancer and right neck dissection in 2014. My taste buds are still not good and something's are just too horrible to eat now, like chocolates and fruit, but I've changed my diet to suit my month and I never think about the foods I used to Like any more. I struggle with anything cold or dry but have adapted to still be able to have good nuitriician, like fruit smoothies yum. My foods are all soft, like shepards pies and scrambled eggs. Fish I find has a good flavor too, I often have fish pies with plenty of mash.  It's really about trial and error now to see what tastes come through to enjoy, try something new but stay off the dry biscuits and bread etc they just get stuck in the throat to much. 

Best wishes 

Carol 

Hi Carol,

It is so good to see someone who is making such good progress and has such a positive

attitude, Well done!

I used to enjoy wine, but it was like drinking firewater. I have recently tried about a 10 percent

mixture in water. It looks red and I can enjoy some of the taste. I can only manage an eggcup

sized glass as I have to pour a little in and tilt back my head to let it run down my throat.

It also helps clear the mucus from my throat.

If you used to enjoy wine it is worth trying.

Best wishes.

Colin

Hi Colin

Thankyou for your kind words, a positive attitude is needed with this aweful cancer. You are right when you say nobody understands except your wife, my husband is marvelous with his understanding and completely gets my new way of eating.

The problems I get are not being able to chew or swollow  grainy meat, dry foods etc, they just get stuck and I have to cough them up again, very embassassing when I'm out so I avoid most eating out except soup or Shepard pie sometimes. My jaws get cramped very easily and I have severe pain both sides of my neck from the nerve damage. My collor bone is painful too but I'm sssured it's all normal. As for the wine, the stuff just burns my my mouth, so I avoid that too unless I water it down like you. So nice to chat to a serving 9 year patient, brings comfort to know life does go on as we all have that demon in our head that we try to ignore 

My very best to you and your wife

carol 

Hi Polly Ann

I'm glad you have found this site and welcome! We have all been where you are or somewhere in between. I had the dreaded 30 radiotherapy but had a neck dissection plus chemo. All very gruelling !!! but I’m 5 years in January so pleased I have survived and enjoying  my grandchildren too!

I have to be honest I still have lots of side effects of the radiotherapy and surgery but you just learn to live with it really, what else is there. I’ve had some teeth crowned so my molars are slanted on the tongue side to stop me biting it (on my good side)  I had the right side removed, but no flap was needed for me. I can talk fine so that’s good. My tongue does get sore easily and feels swollen  if I eat the wrong foods or talk a lot on social occasions, so please don’t worry to much if you feel some things as you will begin to know it’s “radio therapy damage  pains” rather than  “ oh no is it coming back again”. My consultant was very good to make it clear that things move and change in your mouth and I mustn’t think it’s the dreaded cancer again. I know that’s  easy to say at your stage but try not to worry every day, try and be positive as I really believe it helps, especially as you have been told your cancer free! 

I hope you continue to get back to a new normal and enjoy your grandchildren!

best wishes Carol x

Hi guys I've recently recovered from tongue and throat cancer 2019/2020 I was extremely fortunate to get my taste back almost straight away my tongue is still extremely raw I also have a large ulcer which restricts my eating. My portion size has gone down massively.I lost thre and a half stone, I'm still struggling to swallow but find milk helps me wash my food down.any sort of spice is a absolute no no pity I loved curries lol but I'm grateful for what I have. ️ ️ ️ ️

Hi , I had the same cancer  as you . Finished my radiotherapy  and chemo. Dec. 2017. Have the same problems  .but I can not eat anything . I am on 8 furtisip a day. Mixed with fresh milk. Other than that water and coffee. 

The probIm have is every time I try to drink  or when I try to eat .it mostly comes out of my nose. Mouth very dry to the point of soreness.  Skin in throat cracks and splits .  Furtive sip is making my teeth very soft  I lost some before treatment started.

Every day is a battle . But I am still here to battle.  I keep saying new treatments are found  on a regular  basis. So just hope one day .they find a cure for the treatment.  

Good look .keep intouch . 

Hi,

i had base of tongue cancer in 2016 and had chemotherapy and radiotherapy to my neck. After 4 years I can eat most things apart from meat which I find hard to chew and cannot swallow it. My biggest problem is coughing and clearing my throat. I always seem to have a tickle in my throat. I do not cough at night when asleep but as soon as I have eaten something in the morning I start coughing. It seems as my coughing reflex is damaged. Should I be coughing after all this time? 

Thanks