Sometimes a small tip or additional piece of information can make all the difference. In this section we have brought together information and tips which patients and carers have found helpful.
If you would like to contribute please > contact us.
Publications
Get a Headstart Eating and Drinking
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Much has been written and spoken about
the impact upon quality of life for a person
diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
Quality of life surveys undertaken worldwide
repeatedly show that the main problem is
a temporary or permanent damage to the
ability to eat, drink or swallow.
Where better to seek advice
about what helps and what does not than
straight from the mouths of head and neck
cancer patients?
In 2005, most of our Headstart members completed a questionnaire
providing information which forms the backbone of our book. This in turn
inspired members to share their personal accounts of their experiences in
coping with eating and drinking difficulties.
The result is this simple, free 100+ page booklet packed with ideas and experiences from patients and carers. Just as each individual is unique,
so will be their illness and treatment regime and thus their experience.
Hence, some of the contradictions in advice. Often there appears little
concrete, straight-forward advice to give to a patient. Much is trial and
error and always perseverance.
Download the free booklet here (pdf, 1.69Mb)
NOTE: A revised version of the booklet is on the way, with additional materials and some corrections to grammar and spelling etc!
If you have any feedback or comments on the booklet, please let us know.
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This month's tip
This month's tip from the booklet is:
There is little doubt that for most the site of a pureed meal can be a
complete turn off! But it needn’t be. Food moulds can be supplied into
which pureed food can be pressed to give it a solid shape.
Making food more appealing and adapting it to make it easier to eat is
invaluable, as it is so important to maintain regular good nutrition to keep
healthy.
Here are suggestions to help you:
- Set the table
- Sit and eat
- Use colourful vegetables and herbs
- Mash or blend vegetables separately and use an ice-cream scoop to place them on your plate
- Heat the plates
- Have a large glass of water
- Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of your food
- Use extra seasoning
- Always add extra sauce or gravy, or place in a heated jug next to you to add when necessary
- Put warm milk on cereal to make it soggy quickly
- Add more butter and/or olive oil to food to help you swallow more easily
Make very soft fillings for sandwiches e.g. tuna and mayonnaise with grated
onion/onion powder, egg mayonnaise, ham spread with extra mayonnaise,
mashed avocado and cream cheese, jam. Soft white bread is usually the
easiest to eat. Cut off the crusts and cut into bite size pieces.
Cut up sponge cake into bite size pieces and arrange on a plate.
Ron Bryans writes:' I've read the book about 5 times now, its heart wrenching stuff & your pieces are really sympathetic. Having spoken to fellow patients, I noted that we all had loads of prepared foods left over & they were non-returnable for all sorts of reasons, but I found that animal charities will accept it as long as you can deliver it to them. Can you pass this on.'
