GAG | eating life with head & neck cancer Ep 60 - 120 (Yvonne McClaren)

* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜

Before this horrible journey started I was a very social person. I was ( or had been) an event manager, worked in and around food and wine all my career, and even turned down an audition opportunity for MasterChef here in Australia. 

I had Head & Neck Cancer ( subsequent treatment) and a PEG tube feeder in my stomach for over a year. I didn't eat orally for 15 months. 

Getting back to social eating was one of my BIG goals and today's episode I talk about

• Steps I took to get there
• Conquering anxiety
• Communicating in advance

Join me on my very first episode ... Come live the journey with me, I wish for you to live your BEST food life too.

Free Resources HERE

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 Episode 2  PEG - Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜

I talk about my love hate relationship with my tube.  We broke up eventually! 

1.  Why and what are they for - and as a patient  how you should view their insertion. 
2.  What can you put in your tube? 
3.  Do they hurt? 

The nofeedingtubes.com  movement is about encouraging medical professionals to think about real food and its use in PEG feeding.  Today's episode I crack that open and talk about loss of spontaneity with eating, the stigma attached to having a PEG, the mental fight & coming to terms with your lot. 

You can purchase my book - Easy Follow Easy Swallow on Amazon HERE

Sign up for my e news HERE

Check out my website HERE

Talk to Claire from natural tube feeding HERE
or Lina  Tube Dietitian HERE
 

Helping you live your BEST Food life! 

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* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜�

What am I going to eat, what can I eat? How am I going to manage to eat ?

All very valid questions when transitioning from PEG to oral eating or just eating generally after HNC treatment. It can be brutal as we all know.

In this episode I outline the top 5 considerations when creating a meal plan and you can apply these at the beginning, middle or later in your healing journey.

1. Nutrition
2. Texture
3. Portion Sizes
4.Seasons
5. Staying Connected

They form an important  part of your eating journey and can be applied to how you set about creating an eating plan and ensuring you create your BEST food life.

I  talk about the "ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM" - Carers take note!
We need to recognise that eating is more than nutrition. Loosing joy in food. 

This episode forms part of the "Food talk - pain series" and you can look here for more free RESOURCES

You can sign up to my e news HERE

You can undertake my Mind Food Body Program

IDDSI International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative 

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* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜

 Before this horrible journey started I was a very social person. I was ( or had been) an event manager, worked in and around food and wine all my career, and even turned down an audition opportunity for MasterChef here in Australia. 

 I had Head & Neck Cancer (subsequent treatment) and a PEG tube feeder in my stomach for over a year. I didn't eat orally for 15 months. 

MEAL planning Series 2 - Food Talk Pain Points

Dreaded Meal Times - 3 core things that are happening and how to address them at dreaded meal times -Little flavour, no pleasure and no interest.

 In this episode I am discussing:- 

1. Loss of pleasure in food 
2. Increased effort & burden of food
3. Isolation & anti- social nature of food 

What I did to address these issues as a foodie and as someone who had to pivot their whole life.
You can download the mother sauces here What are the 5 Mother Sauces 

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

Find out how to do all that and more here

* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜

 Episode 6 
How to expand your food repertoire for dysphagia. During or post HNC treatment is a  difficult time and in this episode I discuss how I went about the journey and the food strategies I used. 

1. Principles of Cookery
2. Learning the foundations
3. 5 mother sauces 

You can grab your Free Copy of the Stock & Mother sauces here 

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Podcast Episode 7

How to eat an elephant with HNC treatment side effectsHow to eat an elephant ... A popular proverb in the 1940's & 50's and was accepted to be of Chinese origin. The job may be lengthy, but in the words of the great Kung Fu Tze - "A man can eat an elephant if need be, one bite at a time". In this episode I discuss:- 

Recognising the elephant in the room - grief, fear and failure

Motivation and inspiration 

Plan, commit and activate

You must take things one bit at a time. Be kind to yourself, it's a slow journey, but bit by bit you can gain a better food life. 

Support the show

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* I am not a medical professional but I am a lived experience patient*💜

 Episode 8
My 3 top strategies for Easter Eating 

1. Physical & emotional well being 
2. Plan ahead
3. Have you tried this? 

You can grab your Free Copy of the 6 Easter Eating Strategies here 

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This episode I discuss the testimonials from people who have undertaken the Mind Food Body program as I am about to launch a NEW Basic program for those wanting some food coaching on their HNC treatment journey.

Fatigue, grief and future are all issues we can relate to on this journey and the Mind Food Body Basic  is a step by step process to help you manage not only these issues,  but help you set some goals for your BEST food life going forward.

Listen to what others say. How it helped them! 

You can get in on the private group and find out more about the special launch price by subscribing here 

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◥◥ Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource The 3 step process to meal planning 

Going through head & neck cancer treatment is hard enough. What do you do when your partner leaves you pre - during or post treatment? or just single by choice.

The importance of the roles others play when you are single and healing, going through treatment.

Doing this solo and need motivation ? Today's discussion is all about:-

• Staying motivated 
• Self Care
• Mental Health
• Importance of self motivation, eating well even when you are single and eating alone. 

Staying on course, the importance of self motivation and solo eating.
How you can incorporate your daily tasks as self care.

Mental Health - who you surround yourself with IS important. 
Planning to be successful even through grief. 

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Eating & Drinking with others

It's a huge topic so I have created this new resource and just uploaded the video here  and you may download the resource here

Series 3 Guide 2 - Eating & Drinking with others is part of the "Doing Series" as a FREE resource to help you create your BEST food life.

Here's what I added:-

How to manage the process of eating socially again.

1. Plan
2. What to expect
3. My top 8 tips

The things you need to know which are not talked about. 
Social implications, food memories and the insular experience.

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◥◥ Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource
The 3 step process to meal planning

This week's episode has launched ... it's about embarrassment with eating! 

It's important to stop being embarrassed about your eating and being different. 

I talk about confidence, acknowledgment and exploration. 

Side effects of head & neck cancer and what dysphagia treatment might mean for you. 

What that might mean for you and how to tackle the guilt and shame.

 (Watch here) 

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The 3 step process to meal planning

Choosing recipes to build out your meal planning based on your particular circumstances after head and neck cancer treatment.

How do you select recipes?
How do you know what will work?
What if I have dietary requirements? 

In this episode I talk openly about how I got through recipe selection struggles! 

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The 3 step process to meal planning
Who am I and what do I do? 
Sharing knowledge, solutions & communicating the good stuff. 
Everyone is unique with their recovery but food knowledge, application and manipulation holds the key.

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The 3 step process to meal planning

Likely a polarizing episode but consider these 3 things when engaging, looking for support and answers on social media and on the internet generally. 
Warning: I am not a fan!

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Come for dinner? Then what?

◥◥ Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource
The 3 step process to meal planning


Fellowship of the same table.

This episode I hope, is helpful  not only for the person suffering HNC side effects but also the friends, colleagues and family who want to know what to make or how to help people with altered eating when dining out or eating socially. 

Eat to survive
Eat to live 
Eat to maintain 

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◥◥ Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource The 3 step process to meal planning

Have you got food goals you want to achieve following head & neck cancer treatment? 

Do you ever wonder whether you will be able to eat certain foods again? 

Do you have a plan to find out? 

Today I want to share my 7 goal criteria as  a way of a food stock-take for the end of financial year.

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◥◥  Live your BEST food life download your FREE check list here 

Ep 16 I created this e-book and SECL check list (Social Eating Check List) to help others:- 
A roadmap ( guide) to food & social eating after or during head & neck cancer treatment.
I developed this guide to help you ..

1.  Take control of your food journey - to be involved.
2.  To prioritise time when you have most energy
3.  Provide positive reinforcement that you are making  progress.
4.  Reduce mental overwhelm by reducing your need to think about all the  tasks you need to undertake to get back to your BEST food life.

You can download the FREE checklist above - EAT Well! 

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◥◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Checklist

When it comes to eating with the side effects of HNC treatment - I refused to be limited by it.

I have dysphagia and some days are better than others. I also have an issue with speaking, breathing and eating at the same time. 

 Lots of people don't understand why it's difficult. 

There is no silver bullet, but I do know there are boundaries to push and experiences to be had. 

 This was one of the hardest areas I had to tackle. 

There is a lot of focus on retirees and people not in the workforce and increasingly this is affecting younger people and those still having to work in corporate environments, front line workers, professional educators. Anyone still working & having to travel/ commute on a daily basis.

This week's episode is about eating at work. What to eat, how to eat and taking the stress out if it. 

What's your food work environment like? 

 This is  about expanding your life and not allowing food to dictate your activity, or at the minimum reducing your altered eating's effect on your chosen activity be it work or travel. 

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◥◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Check List    

What do I do if I can't access the food you are using in your meal  planning? 
I don't know half the food you are using - what do I do? 

Interpret the methodology using food local to your region. 

Today's episode I talk about swapping out food that is available in your local region. 
What can substitute some of the foods you are required to eat. 

If you would like to purchase my food guide email me and I'll send you the link or comment more info below.

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◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Check List   

Become a culinary explorer.

Food can become very boring when you are relegated to just eating soup, soft food  or tinned "something".

Work out what your mouth can tolerate? Explore and try things.

Transitional foods, culinary exploration and accepting altered eating - an elevator pitch is discussed in further detail in my E-book A roadmap  for living your best food life with head & neck cancer treatment. 
Contact me if you'd like to purchase a copy here yvonne@yvonnemcclaren.com 

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 ◥◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Grab your FREE Social Eating Check List     

Food grief is a very real thing during and after head & neck cancer treatment. 
In this episode I talk about the barriers, food fall out and the psychological issues that become blaringly apparent. 

Join me to discuss beyond eat & swallow. 

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◥◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Check List    

How to eat at work part #2

As a focus of World Head Neck Cancer Day (July 27) 
We need to focus  on the reality of food grief. 

How to make food activity positive. 

How I managed four days away from my kitchen and relied on a hotel / conference to feed me for four days. Eating off the grid and how I communicated the type of food I need. 

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◥◥ Focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Check List     

How choking changed my life!

1. Eat to survive
2. Eat to maintain
3. Eat to live

There are 3 diets with HNC treatment - knowing where you are and which diet you are currently on is important to know to ensure you can live your best food life. 

I talk about my new E-book "A guide to living your best food life with head & neck cancer treatment" why I wrote the guide, the 3 step process I discovered to living my best food life. 

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL - Social Eating Check List     

No chew food - what is it and how are you using it? Know your basic building blocks and learn how to flavour layer with mirepoix, stock and basic sauce.

Know your IDDSI 
Know your cuisine options

No one puts baby in the puree corner! 

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There's more to this than just sipping water - 
(Tip) I always ask my ENT person to wet that wooden stick before they put it anywhere near my tongue. 

Puree's,  know how to mix and match. Eating with dry mouth can be made a little bit easier by knowing that just because a food is SOFT doesn't necessarily mean you can eat it and most importantly swallow it. In this episode I talk about what I did and do to make dry mouth ( now for me vastly better).

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Why does everything taste like wet cardboard? 
It is a really hard part of treatment. Not only can you not taste anything, your appetite takes a hit too.
I discuss what worked for me.

Know your 5 key flavours when cooking.
 
Research
Mental Health 

Rubyberry  https://www.rubyberry.com/ they are helpful when you are going through the worst of it.

Know what you are missing and the tastes you need to look out for!

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

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Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource The 3 step process to meal planning

Today's episode I discuss how big business thinking can affect the quality of your food life after or during head and neck cancer treatment. 

There are a lot of similarities between the two.  Healing after treatment and to ensure you are living and eating your BEST food life in my experience involves a BIG BUSINESS thinking mindset. Managing your medical team is part of it. 

Find out if you are applying the right mindset to ensure success.

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◥◥  Grab your FREE  Social Eating Checklist

If you like the show and are enjoying my take on head & neck cancer, remember you can support me buy purchasing me a coffee, cup of tea or these days a glass of wine!  There is a support button to Pay Pal down below. 

I discuss the impact on others and the impact on you - self worth & confidence.

No matter how dire your situation - take control of your food life. 

•  How to deal with relationships 
• Are they your carer? Romantic - spouse
• Family - what do you tell them?
• Social life - what affect has it, what to do about it and how to evaluate it 

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Recognise the length of time it takes to eat anything - be prepared and tell others

1. Portion sizes - how to explain to a restaurant, café, pub you can't  eat big portions and why ( yep get graphic) 
2. Talking, eating & breathing - you just can't. It's almost impossible to try and have a focused conversation and eat and breathe at the same time. 

 Recognise that the parameters of your eating have changed and you must change with them. 

 No point in pretending they are not happening because they are. 

Meet them head on and be well armed to manage them 

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Purchase my Book here Easy Follow Easy Swallow 

My top 3 

Lymphodema - cold laser, massage, lymphatic drainage massage 

Dry mouth - water, soup chasers - acupuncture - it worked for me! 

Stiff (concrete) neck likely due to side effects of radio therapy 

Dry needling , massage, yoga 

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List     

3 things I suggest for PEG Tubes generally ...

1. Forgive yourself - there seems to be a STIGMA with PEG Tubes there should not be!
2. Embrace the PEG 
3. Have a plan to get off the PEG 

Slow feeds, allergies, travel restrictions I cover it all.

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List
Whether you are travelling, working or like me,  just going out for a days' hike  how do you pack food to eat?

1. Be prepared
2. Know your fall back options
3. Cope with and manage anxiety

I am also undertaking a meditation course which I have found has reduced my anxiety a lot!

https://www.wakingup.com/ -  @SamHarris
Find or follow my trip Portugal to Spain here  

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List  

Not knowing what you are walking into can be a real issue after HNC treatment.  Is it stopping you from doing things (activities) you use to do? Why? 

What you can do to mitigate the negative process that seems to come with treatment.

Be bold, make decisions quickly and get on top of the fear, anxiety & solitude.
I know, easier said than done! Listen in to how I do it and did it. 

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List    
Facing the public with dysphagia 
Coughing up mucus (frog spawn) as I like to call it. 

• Using a PEG tube to feed in public
• Dealing with public scrutiny 
• Covid - bodily fluids and how that might work 
• Culturally acceptable
• Socially acceptable 

What do you do with all that excess mucus in public? Listen in as I discuss everything about this treatment that is rarely discussed - well publicly anyway! 

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Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource The 3 step process to meal planning

Coming to terms with who you are following treatment. 

Acceptance of the different food person you are now and finding small ways to  improve your food life.

I get it. This is hard and it took me a really long time to come to terms with it. 
But come to terms with it you must. There is no other way and no way out. 
It's ok - let's do this together. 

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List     

In this episode I discuss working out what your needs are, communicating your needs ( to whom & how) and recognising if this is creating your BEST food life.

If you have not already listened to Episode 18 - now would be a good time to do that -It's all about food goals. Check it out ...

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Live your BEST food life. Download my FREE printable resource The 3 step process to meal planning

Change from eating to live to living to eat. Your relationship with food and how you think about it makes a difference.  

Best ways to stay connected to food even if you are not eating. If you are a carer this episode is for you too. 

1. Purpose of food for you
2. How you think about food 
3. Ways to stay connected 

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List     
In this episode I discuss the importance of self motivation, finding ways of (resources) to manage food anxiety. Self talk and communicating your needs to others.

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL -
Social Eating Check List     
In this episode I discuss the importance of meal planning and getting the basics right so you can manage the challenges of unfamiliar territory when it appears. 

I talk about food confidence and how meal planning plays into that. 
My 300km walk through Portugal & Spain and how I managed my food whilst burning up to 2000 calories plus a day. 

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

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◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL
Social Eating Check List     


This is the first episode of series 3. 

Introducing 5- Notch Friday - subscribe to get the information straight to your inbox every Friday! 

Living with the diagnosis of dysphagia following HNC treatment means many things to many people. 
I talk about the 3 biggest things I discovered, managed, and to this day continue to work on. 
My new look e news is launched with this episode ...5 - Notch Friday.  Subscribe to receive helpful information and what I do on a weekly basis to ensure I am living my best food life four years out. 

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

Find out how to do all that and more here

◥◥ Get your FREE resource to focus and work toward your food goals with this SECL
Social Eating Check List     

Hear what we talk about behind closed doors. 
The online Mind Food Body Program, 5 modules and 20 lessons to motivate  & guide patients to achieve their food goals.  



Listen here 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1960023/11138958

Watch here 

https://youtu.be/NBpUUCealVUt 



https://youtu.be/USknvnC-ubk   Special link for LinkedN 

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Down load the cookery principles here

Top 3 cooking techniques for head neck cancer side effects. Moisture adding methods, download the principles for cooking as a BONUS. 

You can read the blog here 

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Download your FREE 6 Christmas Strategies guide here

I discuss what I did and how you can make the festive season a little more comfortable. 
I hope you have the best food you can manage over the Christmas period.
Be kind to your self and try to make the most of it ! 

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Down load the cookery principles here to add more value to your food life and cooking repertoire. 

Motivation
Explanation
Continuation 

Staying motivated, explaining what's happened and continuing on with life. 
This episode I talk about how I did it, the things that influenced me and what I was not prepared to have happen.

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◥◥  Grab your FREE  Social Eating Checklist

I took todays episode from learnings of  Tony Robbins. 

It's why I am not a warrior and never refer to myself as such. 
It's about decisions and laser like focus. 
 

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◥◥  Grab your FREE  Social Eating Checklist

This episode  is likely going to upset a few people, well SLP's mostly but it's how I feel and I wish SLP's would focus on guiding food choices and not dishing out recipes and specific food items. 

There is a reason for my "opinion" and that's what I discuss here in this episode.

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

Find out how to do all that and more here

Episode 49

Cancer gave me a better life!

Why I have positive thoughts about head & neck cancer.

◥◥  Grab your FREE  Social Eating Checklist

Find my other resources here🎈


I discovered a silver lining or 2 with head & neck cancer treatment and the cancer itself. 
In this episode I discuss the positive aspects of the treatment. 

What I hang onto when the going gets really tough. 

Friendship circles, goals and meditation.

Your listening to me here, you can also subscribe, watch on You Tube, follow me on socials, buy me a glass of bubbles and or ask a question.

Find out how to do all that and more here

In an effort to support, simplify and produce sincere work I have recently launched Gag. The newsletter

An honest appraisal of life with head & neck cancer treatment side effects, a way to find a silver lining, inspiration, motivation and thought provocation to continue to live your best food life .New and continued resources for you to purchase can be found on Gumroad

The Three Deadly Sins of Snack Suggestions for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

If you or someone you know has gone through head and neck cancer treatment, you know how difficult it can be to adjust to a new food life. As a head and neck cancer survivor and chef, I understand the importance of mindful snacking and cooking techniques that are suitable for each individual's needs.

However, there are three deadly sins of snack suggestions that I see all too often. First, many images used in dietetics and speech language pathology textbooks are not practical for patients who may have difficulty swallowing or chewing. Second, not all cooking techniques are created equal. Patients with loss of tongue, saliva, or teeth require specific techniques that accommodate their needs. Lastly, not everyone has access to culinary knowledge that can be a valuable tool in their recovery and overall well-being.

That's why I started my new newsletter, "Gag - Eating with head & neck cancer," which aims to discuss and talk openly about the experiences and challenges faced by head and neck cancer patients. I want to share my own experience and culinary knowledge to help others live their best food life following or during head and neck cancer treatment.

So, if you or someone you know is going through head and neck cancer treatment, don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and learn from trial and error. And if you need a little guidance, check out my affordable guide, "The Principles of Cookery," which covers the best culinary techniques for head and neck cancer patients. Remember, taking care of yourself and others starts with what you eat.

Well intentioned food lists for head and neck cancer patients. There are a few I have seen that are just not suitable. In this episode I discuss the 3 areas I believe we need to focus on in terms of how we communicate food and meals for the future of HNC patients. Who should be doing this and some resources to help the process.

The principles of cookery here

and an

E guide to food with head and neck cancer treatment

We need to be targeted about ensuring the best food life for patients.

I was asked to present a day in the life of me as a head & neck cancer treatment patient.

For those in the dark about who I am and what happened to me - the short version is I was living in Saigon with a very sore throat. Fast forward a few months and I had 1/3rd of my tongue removed, both tonsils, the tumor, a neck dissection (removal of 30 lymph nodes) chemotherapy and had my neck radiated like pork crackle all of which resulted in a loss of 25kgs and eating via a feeding tube for nearly 2 years.

Anyway, I am always banging on about how we need to ensure, as a collective group of people that we continue to fight to live our BEST food life, even when we can’t swallow nor breathe, talk and eat at the same time.

Food is a very big part of every day life, social connections and has a name “commensality” it is the one thing that binds us socially as a species.

The vernacular of head & neck cancer. It’s a brutal journey.

I talk about mediation in this episode and use Sam Harris’s Waking Up

Have you ever wondered why my podcast is called "The No Feeding Tubes Show?" Well, in this episode, I'm going to share with you the personal story behind the name and why it means so much to me.

During my head and neck cancer treatment, I had to have a feeding tube. It was a difficult experience, but I was determined to get rid of it. I documented my journey of transitioning off of it and used my skills as a qualified chef and writer to create resources, including this podcast, to provide support and information for others going through similar experiences.

One of the things I discovered during my journey was the lack of information available on peg tube feeding. That's why I'm excited to share with you the work of dietitian Lina Breik, who advocates for fresh food in feeding tubes. Her work is changing the game for those who have to rely on feeding tubes.

The goal of this podcast is to provide real-life experience and support for those who have had or will have feeding tubes, particularly in the context of head and neck cancer treatment. I hope that by sharing my story and the stories of others, we can create a community of support and understanding.

As always, I'll leave you with an impactful quote from one of our guests: "Feeding tubes don't define us. They're just a tool to help us get through a difficult time."

If you or someone you know has had or will have a feeding tube, I encourage you to listen to this episode and join our community of support.

Thanks for listening,

Yvonne

You can find my facebook community here

Every thing Yvonne here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link

Instagram

Resources to purchase

In this episode of the "No Feeding Tubes Show," I share my personal experience with artificial formulas and feeding tubes after cancer treatment. I discuss the limitations and side effects of relying on feeding tubes and emphasise the importance of fresh food, phytonutrients, and fibre in a healthy diet. I also talk about my journey transitioning from a peg tube to solid oral eating again and encourages listeners not to be fearful of their feeding tubes and to continue researching how to transition off them if possible. I discuss how this whole process was the catalyst for writing Easy Follow Easy Swallow - the guide and cook book to how I transitioned form PEG TUBE back to oral eating.

Thanks for listening,

Yvonne

You can find my facebook community

Every thing Yvonne here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link

Instagram

Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

If you or a loved one has gone through head and neck cancer treatment, you know firsthand the challenges of managing eating and swallowing difficulties. As someone who has personally experienced these idiosyncrasies, I want to share my story and offer advice for coping with them.

One of the most important things I've learned is the impact of external factors on swallowing. Changes in weather, exercise, and mental health can all affect our ability to swallow. By being mindful of these factors, we can better manage our swallowing difficulties and reduce frustration.

Another valuable insight I've gained is the importance of communication and advocacy. I've struggled with communicating my specific needs to service staff in restaurants, but I've found that mentioning my head and neck cancer diagnosis can increase understanding and support. By advocating for ourselves and educating others, we can improve our overall quality of life.

I also want to introduce my new (soon to be launched) platform, GAG | eating for head and neck cancer, as a valuable resource for patients, caregivers, and medical practitioners.

This community allows us to learn from lived experience and improve our ability to manage eating and swallowing after treatment. By sharing our stories and strategies, we can find support from others who understand our struggles.

In conclusion, I hope this episode has offered you insights and resources for coping with swallowing difficulties after head and neck cancer treatment. Remember to practice self-care, advocate for yourself, and seek support from others. We can improve our quality of life and find hope for the future.

Thank you for listening,

Yvonne

You can find my facebook community

Every thing Yvonne here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link

Instagram

Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

Show Notes

In this podcast episode, I discuss the importance of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) as a resource for people with swallowing difficulties.

I share my personal experience with dysphagia and how I discovered IDDSI, expressing frustration with the lack of promotion of the resource by healthcare professionals.

I note that IDDSI is person-focused and provides information that can be applied to an individual's personal eating life. I commend the volunteers and sponsors of IDDSI and encourage individuals to continue eating well and taking care of themselves.

I talk about my Mind Food Body Program that includes the use of IDDSI and how it helped me transition back to oral eating.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

In this episode of "The No Feeding Tube Show," I discuss the importance of nutrition for patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment. I share my personal experience of having a peg tube for 15 months and transitioning back to oral eating, highlighting the challenges of interpreting medical advice about high protein, high energy, and nutrient-dense food when dealing with changes in the mouth, tongue, and teeth. I stress the need for patients to understand basic nutrition and food groups, and to consider their ethnicity, interests, and passions when communicating nutrition. Additionally, I provide practical tips for shopping for food and avoiding waste.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

In this episode of "The No Feeding Tube Show," I discuss the emotional and social impact of head and neck cancer treatment, specifically the feeling of loneliness that can arise after treatment ends. The lifeline that head and neck cancer nurses provide.

I share my personal experience and emphasise the importance of recognising and addressing this aspect of the patient experience. I also highlight the role of social media in connecting with others who have gone through similar experiences and the importance of creating a positive food experience during and after treatment.

As I reflect on my experience of going from being the centre of attention to feeling like I was nothing, I realize that it was a significant turning point in my life. It was a time of great change and adjustment, and it affected every aspect of my life.Physically, I had to learn how to navigate through my daily routine without the constant attention and validation that I was used to receiving.I had to learn how to do things for myself and not rely on others to do them for me. It was a challenging process, but it helped me become more independent and self-sufficient.Mentally, I had to retrain my thought process to not constantly seek out approval from others and to find confidence within myself. I had to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin and not rely on others to validate my food worth.It was a difficult process, but it helped me become more self-assured and confident. It was and continues to be a pathway of constant learning.Emotionally, it was a rollercoaster ride. I went from feeling on top of the world to feeling lost and insignificant. It was a challenging time, and I had to work through a lot of difficult emotions. I had to learn how to cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation, and I had to find ways to build my self-esteem and self-worth.Overall, it took time and effort to work through those emotions and come out on the other side feeling more grounded and secure in myself.It was a challenging time after treatment was complete, but it helped me grow and become a stronger person.

I invite listeners to share their own stories and experiences with loneliness after head and neck cancer treatment.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

In episode 60 of the "Gag. eating with head & neck cancer" podcast, I discussed the challenges of communicating food to head and neck cancer patients. As someone who has personally undergone head and neck cancer treatment, I understand the difficulties that come with the process of transitioning from a peg tube to oral eating. In the episode, I emphasised the importance of resources, nutrition, and transitional foods for patients.

During my own journey, I created a program to document my experience and help others with the mental and physical challenges of transitioning from a peg tube to oral eating. I found that effective communication, emotional support, and understanding the patient's mental state during the process were crucial to success. I encourage healthcare professionals to consider individual dietary requirements and provide patients with necessary education to make their own meals at home.

In addition, I stressed the importance of emotional support throughout the process. Patients may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or even scared during this transition, and it's important for healthcare professionals to understand and address these feelings. By providing patients with the necessary resources and support, we can help them feel more confident and comfortable with the process.

Overall, my experience has taught me that effective communication, emotional support, and understanding the patient's mental state are key to helping head and neck cancer patients transition from a peg tube to oral eating. By providing patients with the necessary resources and support, we can help them feel more confident and comfortable with the process. Starting your best food life starts early in the treatment process. How we communicate and the vocabulary used is so important.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

yvonnemcclaren.bio.link

As someone who has gone through the experience of having a PEG tube and using commercial formulas for feeding, I am compelled to share my story on this episode of "GAG | Eating with Head and Neck Cancer Treatment" podcast. I know firsthand the mental and emotional challenges that come with having a feeding tube, and I want to offer some insights and practical tips for those who may be going through a similar experience.

First and foremost, it is important to accept the peg tube as a means to an end. While it may be difficult to come to terms with the fact that you cannot eat normally, it is crucial to remember that the tube is there to help you get the nutrition you need to heal and recover. It is also important to remember that the tube is potentially temporary, and that there is a plan in place to transition back to oral eating.

One of the things I found most challenging about using commercial formulas for feeding was the lack of variety and freshness in my diet. While these formulas are designed to provide all the necessary nutrients, they can be bland and unappetizing. I found that incorporating fresh foods into my diet, even in small amounts, made a big difference in my overall well-being and mental health.

Another important aspect of using a peg tube is having a plan to transition off of it and back to oral eating. This can be a daunting task, but it is important to have a clear pathway in place to achieve this goal. For me, this involved gradually introducing small amounts of food back into my diet, and slowly increasing the amount over time.

Overall, my experience with having a peg tube and using commercial formulas for feeding was challenging, but ultimately a necessary part of my recovery. I hope that by sharing my story and offering some practical tips, I can help others going through a similar experience.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase - the good stuff

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book - How I did it

You can find my community here and more about the following below: -

Mind Food Body Programme

yvonnemcclaren.bio.link

As someone who has gone through the treatment process, I can say that food plays an incredibly important role in our lives. It's not just about nourishing our bodies, but it's also about our social abilities and our ability to reintegrate back into society. Being able to get back to work, travel, and enjoy life again is a huge part of the treatment process, and food is a critical component of that.

I feel like sometimes the importance of food gets overlooked in the scientific, disease-focused approach to treatment. It's easy to get caught up in the medical side of things and forget about the patient's experience. But for me, food was a lifeline during my recovery. It gave me something to look forward to, something to enjoy, and something to share with others.

That's why I think it's so important to arm people with the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy, nourishing food at home. It's not enough to just tell people what to eat; we need to show them how to do it. By providing food education and resources, we can empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing, and ultimately improve their quality of life.

In this podcast episode, I want to share my personal experience with head and neck cancer treatment and discuss the power of optimism and resilience. I recently wrote an article called "Dolphins Laughter and Resilience," where I talk about how I chose to react differently when I received news that my treatment had not worked as well as expected. It was a challenging time, but I realized the importance of being mindful and finding what is truly important to me in difficult situations.

One piece of advice I have is to avoid seeking validation on social media. It's easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others or seeking approval from strangers, but it's not a healthy or productive mindset. Instead, I encourage you to be selective about the information you consume and focus on surrounding yourself with positive influences.

I also want to mention my website, where I have a new "Ask Yvonne" feature. I answer questions about life after cancer treatment and provide support and guidance to those who may be going through a similar journey. It's a way for me to give back and help others navigate the challenges that come with cancer survivorship.

In conclusion, I want to remind you that you have the power to choose your reactions.

Life may throw unexpected curveballs, but by cultivating optimism and resilience, you can overcome any obstacle. Surround yourself with positivity, be mindful of what you consume, and remember to prioritize what truly matters to you.

Show Notes

In this episode of "Gag ", I will be discussing my personal experience with trismus, a side effect of head and neck cancer treatment that causes difficulty in opening your mouth wide enough to eat.

I will share my journey of stretching to improve my mouth opening and discuss the pain and challenges associated with trismus.

It is important to persevere with the stretching exercises and maintain flexibility & to continue with daily activities such as chewing and swallowing. I cannot stress enough the benefits of maintaining good mouth opening for dental appointments and hygiene. If you want to learn more about trismus and related topics, be sure to check out my blog and bio link for additional information and resources.

In this podcast episode, Yvonne discusses the concept of elevator pitches and applies it to eating socially for individuals undergoing head and neck cancer treatment. She introduces her new website at Substack, which features podcasts, posts, and a section for listeners to ask her questions. Yvonne explains the idea of elevator pitches and how to create a personalised one for communicating specific needs and challenges when dining out or engaging in social activities. She emphasises the importance of practicing the elevator pitch and encourages listeners to visit her website for more resources and to connect with the community.

In this podcast episode, I discuss the business aspect of head and neck cancer treatment. I emphasise the importance of treating the treatment process like a business, with a team of professionals working together towards an end goal. I mention the different professionals involved in the treatment and the need for patients to manage their own care. I also talk about our own program, the Mind Food Body program, and the importance of research, celebrating wins, and having things in place for success. I share my own struggles and milestones in my journey and encourage self-care and continuing to eat well.

You can find my community here and more about me here yvonnemcclaren.bio.link Resources to purchase

Easy Follow Easy Swallow Book

In this episode of the "Gag: Eating with Head and Neck Cancer" podcast. Today, I want to delve into the importance of practicing speech and share my personal journey with speech therapy.

Here’s my recorded bathroom practice that I refer to in the episode.

During my cancer treatment, I found myself facing the daunting task of relearning how to speak, breathe, and eat. It was a challenging and frustrating process, but I was determined to regain my abilities. One technique that proved to be incredibly helpful was filming myself as I spoke and enunciated words.

I vividly remember setting up my camera in the bathroom, feeling a bit self-conscious at first. However, I quickly realised the immense value of this practice. By watching the recordings, I was able to identify areas where my speech was unclear or where I struggled with pronunciation. It allowed me to pinpoint specific sounds or words that needed improvement.

Filming myself became a regular part of my routine, and creating these podcasts and filming myself for my YouTube channel would mean spending hours analyzing the recordings, making notes, and practicing specific sounds.

This practice not only helped me improve my speech, but it also boosted my confidence. Seeing tangible progress through the videos was incredibly motivating. It gave me the reassurance that I was on the right track and that my efforts were paying off.

I want to emphasize that this technique may not work for everyone, but it was a game-changer for me. It allowed me to take control of my own recovery and actively engage in the process of regaining my speech abilities. So, if you're facing similar challenges, don't be afraid to explore different methods and find what works best for you.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of "Gag: Eating with Head and Neck Cancer." Remember, you are not alone in your journey.

Eat well

can access the workshop information here

I promise you links within and here they are my lovelies …

Mind Food Body Program

E Guide to living your best food life

Kelly McCormick Podcast

There's a a full transcript available.

This episode I talk about my reason for being and why I create these resources for you.

Here are the links I refer to during the podcast:

Gumroad Resources Check out the latest E guide and the Mind Food Body Program

Rota Vicentina Travel - Ricardo

Housekeeping: Hello there, if you are new here be sure to check out the podcast too, link on the GAG.| eating life homepage.

Soup.

It’s a noun but one I use as a verb and an adjective. Rightly or wrongly.

I am working on improving my gut biome.

There’s nothing glamorous about gut biome for most people, but for me it’s a fascinating and challenging view on food we don’t often consider, and now for me one that requires extra special attention given my inability to eat most fresh fruit, berries, salad, seeds and nuts without some serious culinary intervention.

Post head and neck cancer treatment (aka radiotherapy) sometimes I can eat that, but on other days, those ending with a “y”, I can’t.

Or one week I am absolutely fine with a certain soup, the next week not so much. It makes it incredibly hard to meal plan and prep in advance. So improving gut biome has been challenging.

Radiotherapy and the alterations it leaves to a “functioning swallow”

I have had stages of difficulty of swallowing from the start to current day. I had a PEG tube inserted before I left hospital following radiotherapy, surgery and the nuance of swallowing was lost on me for the first 15 months, that is the nuance of texture, melt point, grip, slide and inhale risk. The things we learn.

Cancer booklets on suggested food items available way back when, unhelpful in their suggested trail mix to keep protein levels up, baked beans on muffins (skin issue let alone the “muffin” issue) keep snacks in the car - ridiculous to think that any HNC patient was going to eat in the car. Five years on I have never eaten a snack in the car, I now, where possible plan phone calls around eating, meetings around eating and any face to face encounters around not only what I eat but my proximity to a mirror, bathroom and my water pikster.

Back to the beans in question.

In my quest to improve gut biome I have gone all out to eat more fruit, vegetable, nuts and seeds as 98% of my diet.

I have just completed month one. I feel amazing, I have lost 3kgs in weight (6.62 pounds for those that operate in pounds) and I am starting to notice some very subtle changes to bloat, swelling, skin tone and eye clarity, and the dreaded radiotherapy frog spawn. It’s ever so improved, just the tiniest bit.

Salads were lost to me for so long, previous posts I have talked about the bricks and mortar of my salads. I make hummus with chickpeas, organic tahini (seeds), loads of garlic and lemon juice and sometimes added fresh beetroot just for colour.

My sister kindly donated some homegrown eggplant that were made into babaganoush again with added garlic, tahini, cumin and smoky paprika.

These dollops of gloop held the structure of salad together for me. I’d add quinoa, pearl barley, roasted vegetable and oven baked pita wraps to scoop up the gloop!

Avocado, roasted butternut squash and black beans, with purple onion, fresh herbs and vinaigrette dressings with olive oil, dijon mustard

You get the idea.

I had to experiment with beans - so I purchased navy beans and soaked them for 8 hours and then simmered them until tender for another 1-1.5 hours.

I couldn’t manage them.

Grainy, skin issues, like eating grit off the bottom of a budgie cage. I turned to my hike in Portugal, well Galicia actually and turfed those beans into a pot with beef broth, loads of sliced green cabbage, celery, onion, garlic and simmered away until it resembled one of the soups I had on my pilgrimage hike across Spain and Portugal. Then I blitzed the lot with a hand held blender until smooth and creamy.

Success with the navy beans finally.

Eating more fruit a bigger challenge again, I long gave up biting into an apple. Strawberries with their summery lusciousness have to be pureed and seeded, watermelon for me almost impossible, mango better but banana requires a great deal of concentration.

Smoothie bowls of tinned peaches, silken tofu, organic chia seeds and topped with dairy free coconut yogurt and sprinkled with pan roasted pepita seeds, dessicated coconut, slithered almonds - all toasted just to the right texture to enable swallowing.

Is this dedication to eating worth it? For me yes, I am not going to lie to you, it takes some time to get the hang of it, but I note the food shopping list remains constant with enough variation to mix up meals, I am eating a load more fruit, vegetable, protein and as a result a lot more nutrient dense food.

I have all but eliminated bread, biscuits, sugar (other than a sneaky Biscoff - who ever created those things is a genius! ) and I have forgiven myself for not eating like I use to.

I love soup and always have, now I embrace the fact they are the one constant food item in my eating repertoire.

Eat well.

GAG.| eating life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Soup can be a noun referring to a liquid dish typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in stock or water. As a verb, it describes the action of preparing or consuming soup. Finally, "souped" can function as an adjective, often used informally to describe something enhanced or modified, as in "a souped-up car." So, soup is versatile—it's not just for eating but also for describing actions and modifications.

For those of you who have been here with me for a while, know that I hike, and when I say hike, I mean hundreds of kilometres. It saved my sanity, my life whilst healing from Stage 4 Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This will be my third hike in Europe in as many years. This will be the longest one yet.

The Camino Frances which will test my food confidence and my early ORN just enough to make it really annoying.

I have a fundraiser with Head and Neck Cancer Australia so If you can afford to, please consider donating which will motivate me to continue to train and bring you updates.

I’ll be honest I am still working out how I am going to record this trip but if you feel as though you want to know more about my hiking life - I have a You Tube channel which I created to document my hikes for my personal record and enjoyment.

Copy eat and travel write

Other hikes about food confidence can be found here and living in Vietnam when it all went horribly wrong here

or my first Camino Portuguese here

I plan on writing and sketching this hike in memory of my artist mother, Moira McClaren.

I am taking her sketching pencils so that a little bit of her comes with me, mum loved Spain and she and dad never had a chance to go back so I am making up lost time and opportunities.

More to follow.

Eat Well.

I don’t often eat ice cream anymore, I find the melt point a little bit difficult to manage, back when I first had treatment for Oropharyngeal stage four cancer, the ice cream use to burn my throat, it felt gritty and as a result, unless it’s top shelf (high fat content) and expensive, I don’t enjoy it.

I started making my own “ice cream” with just frozen bananas and that with some seeded strawberry puree is the bomb.

You’d think this would be relatively easy to eat in public and it was, except I was sitting in my car and not having to talk to anyone. I avoid eating in public quite a bit now unless I absolutely have to. In part because I can’t tolerate having food stuck to my teeth and or gums and I get so tired trying to eat, converse, keep myself looking like an adult and managing dental hygiene. It all just has too many moving parts.

Today, quite uncharacteristically I bought an ice cream (its dead of winter here) and ate it in the carpark whilst I waited for my meeting. Cones made of wafer are pretty good as I still can’t tolerate wooden sticks in my mouth.

Nope, can’t stand the ‘feel’ of them any more, I often tell my surgeon when he’s giving me an endoscopy and checking my throat - please rinse that wooden tongue depressor under running water before putting it any where near my mouth.

Wooden cutlery / bamboo cutlery I’ll have none of it thank you very much.

Airlines and on board cutlery is my next challenge.

Eat Well.

My Google Translated Elevator Pitch …

Side effects of head and neck cancer treatment means I have trouble swallowing food & drink.

It’s happening.

I am about to navigate 6 weeks of eating on the hoof, away from my kitchen and most importantly, away from my country of origin. I am travelling half way around the world to walk across the Pyrenees and Spain. The Camino Frances

I have experience of course, two previous Caminos under my belt, my very first Camino hand selected based on the food alone. The Portuguese Coastal way, think soft fleshed fish, BBQ vegetables and soup instead of crusty bread, cheese and meat, like ham & bacon. The perfect bacon I had all but given up on, presented itself on the buffet at the hotel I first stayed in Porto. Unlike failed attempts to eat “bacon” in Australia, it was soft, flavourful and seem to disintegrate on impact. I put it down to the pig, the way it was raised, my attempts in Australia was akin to chewing shards of glass, little joy in any of that.

That was the plan, it worked well and I ate fish soup, a lot of garlic bread and plenty of beautiful fresh fish with steamed potato and sometimes mayonnaise. I had a lot of stunning coffee (cafe branco) and pastries filled with sweet custards dusted with icing sugar. I consumed tuna and fish pastries and quite unexpectedly I did not choke, sneeze or gag much, if at all. The pastries had enough fat to slide and if and when they caught, I had coffee and or water on hand. Stunning pocket sized morsels that kept me going kilometre after gruelling kilometre.

I chose the Portuguese coastal way as my first Camino for no other reason than my expectation of the food on offer. It turned out that I could manage quite a variety of food, including some breads, some cold meats and definitely the beer and the Portuguese wine - mental note to self, don’t talk yourself into not being able to eat something.

I talk about the food here to some length in takes you to my You Tube channel.

Eating in Portugal go to time stamp 3 mins where I speak directly to thoughts as to why I could manage something like bacon in Portugal but as to why it varied between establishments.

I also love the ocean and the two combined made an ideal active holiday for me. The first one since head and neck cancer treatment and my first in Europe. I spent the majority and most of my adult life in Australia and South East Asia, so to experience Europe in Portugal whilst walking a spiritual path was the perfect introduction for me.

In Portugal I noticed olive oil was served with most things, little acoutrement packages of oil, mayonnaise, mustard, sauce - every where I went that meant I could add a little moisture to food that I sampled. I was surprised with what I could manage and as my confidence grew walking, so did my food repertoire.

The only meal I had which caused me some problems was smoked salmon and avocado in Lisbon. I carefully selected what I thought I could manage off the menu but it came smothered in a seeds and the avocado was too unripe for me to manage.

I couldn’t chew it, break it down nor swallow it easily, it also came with lettuce and we all know how that turns out.

I went hungry that night and there was no kettle in my room so I couldn’t prepare a cup of soup or a cup of tea. Be aware, Spain and Portugal don’t as a rule have kettles in rooms so preparing soup in a cup or noodles when desperate was not possible.

Spain - what’s next.

I am excited and filled with anticipation as to how Spain will unfold. I am only in France for a few days and I suspect that will be a different culinary experience again.

My first two Caminos gave me an enormous amount of food confidence, food confidence I had not realised had been eroded from many months of Peg tube feeding, my relationship with food had changed dramatically and the process of walking and eating became symbiotic and the process to which my new life began.

I don’t panic about what I can eat, I know that there will always be something I can manage even if I can’t communicate internal radiated fibroids in Portuguese or Spanish but what I can say is this …

Los efectos secundarios del tratamiento del cáncer de cabeza y cuello significan que tengo problemas para tragar alimentos y bebidas.

Translated means

Side effects of head and neck cancer treatment means I have trouble swallowing food & drink.

What Spain will provide is part of my food learning journey, I will not pack any additional preconceived food fears, I will pack healthy optimism and the knowledge that I must try to eat at least 3000 calories a day to compensate the 25-30 kms of walking. I know there is considerable amounts of meat available and often selecting any vegetarian options are just easier from a dental hygiene (ORN) and time perspective (eating with others).

I have lost weight on previous Caminos and chocolate, Portuguese custard tarts (Pastel de nata) and wine became a staple in my daily eating and main calories (mostly empty calories) so I try to maintain weight and energy with eggs, potato (frittata), dairy, yoghurt, butter, oil, soups, fish and orange juice. Fruit and salad is always challenging, I miss fresh fruit and things like berries, apples and melon are very challenging for me. Hotel buffets come into their own here and being able to choose across a selection is often the best way to start the day.

Hotels don’t take kindly to pilgrims stocking up their daily meals at their breakfast buffet which I totally appreciate and understand, I have in the past explained my situation and offered to pay for additional food (cheese slices, small tubs of fruit yoghurt, bread rolls I know I can eat, bananas, sauce, mayonnaise satchets) and put these in a clip lock snack bag for the day’s walking. I do lament the almond cake which is often served with coffee, I don’t bother for I know that will be like trying to mix a bag of cement powder with an eye dropper of water.

Mental and Emotional Preparation

As I draw closer to my departure date, I start the mental preparation of the journey. The practical packing, booking and payment processes have been done, now is the time to run through the trip and set myself up for success.

Sometimes the biggest challenge food wise is the flights over (from Australia it can be up to forty hours if not days to get to the destination) and airports in my experience often pose the biggest food challenge. I am prepared with snacks in my carry on luggage I purchased in Australia, teabags and of course dark chocolate.

On international flights I have tried pre ordering Halal, vegetarian and all sorts of special food. For me just sticking to the routine in flight meals often prove to be most successful. Dysphagia is not recognised by airlines as a ‘special needs’ meal and often to compensate for blandness of vegetarian meals it will be over seasoned with something that will make me cough, choke or sneeze.

Always carry your own extra water and I have learnt a nice cotton hanky for such occasions.

I am determined to pave a better food path and better life for people suffering the side effects of head and neck cancer treatment. I hope you come on the journey with me.

Want to find out how I started eating again after PEG Tube feeding for 15 months?

The Complete Guide and how I started that long journey can be found at Gum Road.

You can have a look here

Eat Well.

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I still, very occasionally, get gifts from unsuspecting givers.

Two such items arrived this past week via a flustered delivery driver.

I know both givers, one quite well the other I have spoken only via the telephone and only ever on a professional footing. The trouble I face is I look as though not much has happened to me, although if you peer closely you can see the tell tale signs of radiotherapy, the neck dissection, that ever so slightly drawn look only head and neck cancer patients have, that sort of landed fish look.

Crooked teeth (my once prized possession unbanded) so unless you listen oh so carefully to my speech, or happen to be in the sneeze zone of sharing a meal, you’d likely not know what I have been through.

So you can forgive the uninitiated when they send you a full box of Charlesworth mixed nuts as a Christmas thank you gift.

I know, I know it’s the thought that counts, but I am (and say this with hand on heart) really surprised anyone gifts food of any description in this day and age when every second person seems to have allergies to gluten, peanuts, avocado, fruit, vegetables, Mariah Carey you name it.

Don’t get me started on school canteens and the fact that one is allergic to peanuts we all are allergic to peanuts rhetoric.

I think the giving of food to anyone in the head and neck space is a very bold move.

I recall back when I was still navigating my PEG and trying to work out how to actually eat real food when someone (who absolutely should have known better) presented me with a bottle of sweet dessert sauce. My guess in their thinking was “it’s a sauce” “it has no bits” - “it’s … add in the reasoning and the seasoning”.

I opened it with trepidation and sure enough, whatever was in it made my sinuses swell up and burn my mouth and throat to within an inch of its life. That bottle stayed open in my fridge for the next 18 months and only then I could manage to consume it.

Anything that lasts that long (I don’t do expiration dates - Brie, Camembert, Mariah Carey point in case, are always better after their due date) I am always dubious about, but when you can’t eat or swallow a thing you tend to ignore the obvious red flags.

Here’s a list of what I think is pretty safe in the head and neck cancer gift giving space.

* A cotton Japanese Handkerchief (male or female) those things are big beautiful and soft and make excellent stylish wipes.

* Vitamin E Laden moisturiser / cream with aloe vera - I use Tri -Natural Products

* An enriched lip moisturiser with SPF 50 - great for those small spots in the corner of your mouth (angular cheilitis)

* A Spotify / Audible audio subscription

* A meditation app like - WAKE UP/Head Space

* Scented Candle

* A linen tea towel - a nice one that grown ups have

* Buff (head cover - for sensitive ears)

* An experience - insert zoo / museum / game to attend / race track / lap around a circuit

* A travel gift card (that might be a me thing 😉)

* Warm gloves (again male / female)

* A tray of mangoes if you feel the need to do food or insert “avocado “ pending the point above

* A good water bottle or drinking vessel with the correct opening for drinking

Anyway you get my drift. A quick list off the top of my head to get you thinking.

I arrived home after 6 weeks walking to two very fat cats, but otherwise a very dishevelled house. My favourite Japanese lacquered spoon (gone), my Nutrifleur toothpaste (all used), pots, pans and lids just shoved wherever and not in sets. Mouldy towels, unwashed dishes, a dead garden - shall I go on? Still, the cats were happy.

The one thing that they did leave for me was a huge (and likely very expensive) food hamper, the contents of which I could not eat… none of it - I could just manage the Pukka caffeine free tea bags. It contained the following items :-

* Bag of mixed nuts - No

* Tin of Cadbury Favourites (Chocolates for my non Aussie readers) - No

( FYI - cheap chocolate burns like the all get out and is in no way pleasant to consume) if you are a Chocolate person I do eat dark Haighs at 70% cocoa but that’s taken me years to get to that point and even then it is hit and miss.

* Some slab of indescribable salted Caramel Rocky Road - No

* Chocolate dipped Almonds - Double No

* Trail Mix - for the love of all things spicy - No

I would have prefered they put the money toward a house cleaner, there you go, what an idea, maybe a gift certificate of a clean house.

My point is - know thy market, dont think because its soft, runny, smooth it will work - it likely won’t unless you know the person really really well.

Because a gift received that completely alienates you as a human is not fulfilling its intended purpose. You can forgive those that simply don’t know, but when something is explained in agonising detail and still ignored, you have to question the sincerity of the trail mix.

Eat Well.

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Wow survivorship. The second battle - I didn’t see it coming.

There are people who actually do their PhD’s in this so I’ll leave the details to them.

I guess the nuance of what I write is now based on “survivorship” and as I have documented my journey from day 1 - it’s becomes a useful resource, for not only me but those that unfortunately are coming up the rear of which there are many.

This next stage is where I need your help. Your thoughts, comments and ideas publicly written if possible, that way it doesn’t just become because “I said”.

You know what I mean, so if you can make a comment here on Substack, Linkedin, social media or even just send me an email - and being comfortable with me using your words in the public arena is all super helpful.

Please share this publication - it helps get the message out there …

Becoming a paid subscriber also super helpful. 😉

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Eat Well.

If cancer gave me anything it was a hot cup of tea and a good talking to.

I wanted to read stories from people who had a clue.

I wanted to get some sort of idea about what it was I was going through and what others had experienced.

I didn’t want to get unsolicited advice from a thousand people on social media about the dodgy looking ulcer on their tongue.

Not helpful, non of it.

…and so GAG.| eating life was born.

This is a documented life journal told in story format of my setbacks and comebacks after surviving head and neck cancer.

Now I am a writer and international hiker.

A story teller and still, after everything a foodie at heart.

May it provide the inspiration and clarity you need.

Eat Well.