Episodios
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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.
GAG.| eating life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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House Keeping: Some of the content I share here is really early days for me - literally weeks after treatment so you will notice hair changes, skin changes, speech changes and likely weight changes.
I am going to take you on my healing journey and provide some insight into what I have learnt along the way.
It will hopefully help those at the beginning and those (like me) a little way down the healing track.
I just found this video clip I did for Facebook back in 2019.
Not my best recording, the intent being for close family and friends not for platforms like Substack, still it serves a purpose for those early in their journey, or like me 5 years + out and maybe need a kick start again. A reminder to how far we have all come on our individual journeys.
This was 5 years ago.
I was still struggling to speak and recall I wanted to help people understand head and neck cancer treatment (me included) and I thought (love those drugs!) a mass video would do the trick. Little did I know, that this family video was the impetus for this publication GAG. | eating life that you are now reading.
It never fails to surprise me the progress made and how challenges are faced and conquered. I hadn’t realised I was still PEG tube feeding when I filmed this and that might explain why I look so gaunt. Pouring commercial formula into a tube in my abdomen. I was on a lot of drugs and really I had no idea conceptually what was going on around me if I am being honest. It wasn’t until I started to peel off the individual drugs that reality hit, and it hit hard, right when Covid took over the world. I curled up in the corner and just let it take its course. I healed with the world.
I posted this to help those that might need motivation, that might need to hear another’s journey, if for no other reason than to commiserate.
It does and can get better, I am living proof of that, I still have my tough days and the longer I move away from my treatment year, the more subtle and challenging the new way of living becomes.
Like you, I have had to find my way & manage the days, the nights and I will share with you over the next few weeks some of my recorded journey.
Below is an episode all about dental care and what I have learnt. May 2023 - This is a recorded version of my Podcast - GAG | eating life.
Thanks for joining me here today and as always …
Resources can be found here
Eat Well.
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¿Faltan episodios?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yvonnemcclaren.substack.com/subscribe
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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
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can access the workshop information here
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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