Head and Neck cancers Support Group

Oral cancer or oral cavity cancer, a subtype of head and neck cancer, is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity. It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the nasal cavity or the maxillary sinus.

102 Members
126 Posts
0 Online
Cancers
/ Head and Neck cancers Support Group

Tips on how to eat with no saliva?

deleted_user
deleted_user
It's been six weeks since my radiation and chemotherapy treatments. My tastebuds are coming back but the radiation oncologist says my saliva glands are history. I am still on a g-tube but trying to eat through the mouth so I can get rid of it. I have accepted the dry mouth during the day and night (what choice do I have?) but am really, really having trouble eating without saliva. Salmon and chicken were once my favorites but now I can' t eat them without chopping them up and saturating them with a sauce of some kind. I find I can eat some chopped up salads as long as they have lots of tomatoes because they are so full of moisture. Any other hints?
deleted_user
deleted_user
things with sauce s and gravy. also I recomend a high enzym pill to go with your food to help do what your saliva galands us to do for you,,,break down your food.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Much thanks...Any particular high enzym pill you could recommend?
mnotmycancer
mnotmycancer
I've been eating foods like meats and things with a sip of water, gatorade, or cocoanut water. Seems to wash it down. However I do find that water seems to dry me out. I think it has to do with washing whatever saliva I do produce away.
deleted_user
deleted_user
any of them will do. even if your doing a high protien that has enzymes, you should still take them. you cant over dose on them.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My salvia glands are also perm damaged from radiation. There are medications that also can help your body produce more spit! lol. Be sure and ask about this. Sometimes you have to try more then one.

Also personally, meat is a real difficult one for me. You need a lot of spit to work on breaking down meat..thats what I think anyways. I use gravy, or sauces or I make sure and take a big swallow of water or drink as I eat. Also be sure and eat smaller bites. My fiance works hard to make meat more tender and he often uses marinating sauces too! Hope this helps...oh also if you need to take pills or something like that applesauce works great!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi, My Mom Bobbie (head and neck cancer)has finished her last radiation treatment on Sept. 4, 2010. She is having a hard time eating due to her saliva glands are gone too. My Mom says everyting she eats and drinks gets stuck in her throat. I mentioned this support group and she asked me to ask where to get the enzym pill to help with her saliva? We have tryed about everything. Thank you, Linda
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes please could someone tell me where to purchase these enzyme pills ,thank you ,I am also new and just trying to get a jump start on all these things before my husbands radiation starts . Queenie
mnotmycancer
mnotmycancer
I never did find and enzyme pill. I was under the impression that the enzyms are for mouth health as that is what the saliva has in it. With no saliva, no enzymes. As you know with dry mouth your teeth are at a greater risk. Not to mention any radiation treatment and your teeth are further compromised. I've been using Biotene mouthwash, toothpaste, and moisturizing spray. It contains enzymes. As for the difficulty swallowing...its been a year since my neck disection and you get used to eating with the added liquids, small sips of h2o with every bite. Soups with every meal are great too.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just drink lots and lots of water. Just started eating meat again it was the hardest. vegs and fruits go down better everthing still tastes horrilbe though
lsmith
lsmith
I use a spray, it's called Lubricity...basically just a saliva substitute but helps A LOT when i use it the way they recommend! I bought mine on Amazon but they have it on their website too
Posts You May Be Interested In
  • deleted_user

    Food Allergy?

    Posted by: deleted_user
    Last Reply: Iafaforallergy
    7
    My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...