My mum has had her afternoon tube feed cut out completely, but is still on the Jevity fed through her NG tube at night, although this is also being cut down and she's maintaining her weight.

Her RT finished in August, but I think she is still struggling to eat and I think it's maybe in her mind, as well as a physical problem. Her progress seems to have halted.

Did anyone else struggle to get back to being self sufficient with food ? I think the NG tube has become a bit of a crutch to her.

How long did everyone else take to eat "normally" enough to sustain themselves ?

(She's also got cellulitis in her leg at the moment and the antibiotic capsules, being plastic-like, seem to get stuck against the tube - she can swallow non-capsule tabs. She's off back to the docs for antibiotic syrup or something this p.m.)

I feel so sorry for her. She has done marvelously well so far, but she said yesterday she was as down as she has been all through the treatment and was crying.

Bless her Winnie. Please let her know that it is still very early days yet. Unlike patients with other cancers, head and neck cancer patients have far worse after effects to recover from. People just don't seem to realise this and expect them to be back to normal once the treatment has finished. My husband Robert finished his treatment in November last year and still struggles to maintain his weight let alone put any on. He often just doesn't have any appetite at all.

It is a long haul but she will gradually improve. And like you said she has done marvelously well.

Lorraine

i can sympathise with your mum,my treatment finished in april this year and i still cant eat.i have no tastebuds to speak of and i now have a peg tube instead of the n.g tube.i was crying last week as i miss food so much.they tell me it does get better.sending hugs to you and your mum.love shirl xxx