Hello everyone,

I havn't been on this site for a while, bit I like to chck in occassionally to keep up with other peoples stories.

I am still doing well, we are now back in our house after being flooded last summer, I don't reccommend living in a caravan for any length of time!!

I was just reading the posts about dry mouth - and how I sympathise - it's probably the worst long term effect of the whole cancer experience.

My diet these days is qute limited, but I have recently started to try more things - the worst thing is going to a restaurant - I hate having to draw attention by asking for "more sauce with that please" then I come home and have to eat again because It takes so long to eat anything and everyone else has finished so I just give up and never finsh a meal.

Still working - unfortunately _ i wish I could afford to give up but I can't 8 years till I can retire - but will there be a pension fund left!

Sorry not musch cancer chat going on here is there - but it just shows how you do move on.

Love to everyone

I still have problems eating out Rose. I normally give eating in public a miss and just stick to drinking . I dont have a problem at home though,weird how you can conquer the big stuff and get affected by the smaller things. Hagg.

Same here. My son and I make jokes out of how many times I have to ask for more gravy. Buffets are best because you can fix things up the way you want them.

Dear Rose,

Hi - its not a question of not too much banter on cancer happening here. Whenever, anyone has a question, you will find everyone responding and you will be surprised with the true feelings each one puts in to what they have been though and what you could do.

In my case, I am an ideal guest at any party as its been eight years since I last had a solid meal or a drink of water as both my air and food passage have permanently closed down. The only extra gravy is all that I can have without the main meal as it is liquid enough to be put into my peg tube which has been a good friend of mine since 2000.

Even when I go out with the family or friends to a restaurant or any other place, I used to really feel miserable but that was then. Now I have become so used to my situation that it hardly bothers me if anyone is eating or drinking in my presence. I guess with time even "eating" in a different way becomes normal.There are a lot of cuisines that I would thrive on in my precancer days and loved trying out various dishes of various countries that I would travel to. Now all I can do is think back with nostalgia but its no longer with frustration to wanting to eat again. I can still go and get my voice box removed and eat normally but I took a desecion and have stuck by that - my voice in exchange for solid food. If I ever want to taste any dish orally, I do put it into my mouth and after taking in all the flavor, I bin it. I feel bad as I feel I am wasting the food but it does give me some satisfaction as the same food is then pureed and in it goes to my stomach via the peg tube.

There are a lot of people here with the same problems and some with much more. However, each one lends their shoulder whenever one is in need of some advise or comfort. Its more as though you are with family - which is even stronger then friends. Family will always remain but friends come and go.

Take care,
Ananth

Hi Rose,
We are over 18 months down the line with Neil's tonsil cancer and inevitably he has eating problems - given the choice I think he would live on Nestle Build-ups and soup but I try and tempt with lots of different stuff. Current favourite is salmon mousse and avocado which he manages very well and of course lots of puddings. Meat, potatoes and bread are really a no-no. We have had the sweet end of the diet compounded recently with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes but he is now on medication and his blood sugar levels have settled down. Another minor hiccup last Friday - he had a mini stroke and his right side has been affected - we are assured that this will get better and he has been put on statins and aspirin to help thin the blood. More tests and a brain scan next week to see where we go from here - I just hope they can find the brain cell!! He is under very strict orders from me to kick this nuisance into touch as we are off on a cruise in 6 weeks - a prize we have given ourselves after all the unpleasantness! Fortunately we are going with a group of very close and dear friends who understand his eating difficulties and the cruise line assures me that his dietary requirements will be met - I hope they are good at mashing bananas!
I diverse for a moment - I just love all the jokes there have been on the site recently - great medicine!
Anyway I'm sitting at my desk - supposed to be working - so I guess I'd better get on.
Love to everybody on the site - keep on trucking
Margaret

Thanks for your posts guys, as I said I don't get chance to go on this site vey often, but I have just started a new job and I now get home around 3.30pm .

Ananth - I remember having a peg whilst I underwent the radiotherepay and it was a godsend in some ways I almost wish I still had it it solves the problem when there's not much in the cupboard that you can eat and can't be bothered to cook anything just for yourself! Before I was ill I was never much of a foodie anyway.

I read an article in The Express yesterday about a man with Non Hodkins Lymphoma, but something I read in there worried me a little - it said that cancer cells were almost impossible to eradicate completely - does that mean that this cancer is very likely to return even after 2 and a half years since cessation of treatment?

At the back of my mind is always the niggle - what if it does come back - with all the surgery and radiotherapy that I have already had, is there anything else that can be done if it does return?.

What is the up to date outlook generally?

Regards to all

Rosie

Good Evening Rosie,
I think that perhaps you did not understand the article correctly, in the case of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma there is no cure but that particular form of cancer develops slowly and can be kept in check for long periods. My brother in law was diagnosed about twelve years ago with NHL and in that time two sessions of Chemotherapy have held things steady and he enjoys life to the full.
Hope this helps to stop you worrying.
Keep Smiling
John

Thanks John, I did wonder whether the comment was only specific to that type of cancer.

Im hoping that any cancer cells in my body have been well and truly killed off!!.

Keep well
Rosie