More from Jen the Dietician - Jan. 12, 2011

Jen also gave us a glimpse into what life will be like during radiation treatment. For people with nasopharyngeal cancer getting radiation, the following is what typically happens. Of course everyone is different and so reactions to treatment will be different.

• Phlegm in throat means your throat is healing
• Phlegm will be worse during the night
• Do mouth care throughout the night
• Keep club soda beside the bed - it is like saliva so is good to help with dry mouth
• Get rid of phlegm before eating breakfast
• Oatmeal for breakfast is good because it helps get rid of phlegm
• DO NOT EAT ANYTHING LOW FAT
• Fruits and vegetables don't offer much in the way of protein and calories, plus they are hard to chew and acidic
• Don't eat any junk food, it will do nothing for your body
• Make every swallow count!
• Use cream sauces on pasta instead of tomato sauces - tomatoes are acidic plus the cream is fattier so better
• Radiation treatment is like having a sunburn in your mouth, even eating a banana may hurt
• Eat desserts with high calories
• For me as the person living with the person with nasopharyngeal cancer getting treatments, I should not ask if he's hungry, I should just make a smoothie for him, offer it to him and if he even takes 2-3 sips that's great!
• I should not take it personally if he says stuff tastes bad
• I need to neg him to eat gently
• I need to wake him up and ask him to eat
• He should keep a food journal
• No alcohol and no alcohol mouth wash - it's drying and dehydrating

Jen was great. We learned a ton from her. But, I did have to request that she be at the initial appointment. I would highly suggest requesting a meeting with a dietician. I'm sure we'll be seeing her again!