GAG | eating life with head & neck cancer Ep 60 - 120

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit yvonnemcclaren.substack.comChapter Four introduces the practical adventure of eating at home. This chapter focuses on building confidence independently, using the 5 P’s to support progress, simplifying meal planning, and stocking essential pantry items that make daily eating safer and more manageable.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit yvonnemcclaren.substack.comChapter Two explores the social side of swallowing - rebuilding confidence around food, navigating public eating, reconnecting with favourite meals, and understanding the role of support systems in recovery.Episode SummaryChapter Two marks the shift from internal survival to rejoining the social world of food.Eating is not just physical - it is social, emotional, and deeply connected to identity. This chapter explores what it means to eat differently around others, how favourite foods can be brought back into daily life, and why having the right people around you matters.You will hear practical strategies for rebuilding confidence, preparing for social situations, and reconnecting with the rituals of food preparation and shared meals.This chapter also introduces key tools such as understanding your own swallowing abilities, working with modified foods, and navigating public eating with greater confidence.Recovery is not just about nourishment - it is about belonging.

This is the second instalment from GULP: Taking a Seat Back at the Table After Head and Neck Cancer.In this section, I step back briefly to share some of the background that shaped this book. I don’t dwell on my personal story, but I do offer enough context to help explain where this work comes from and why it matters.You’ll hear reflections on the dedication of the book, the foreword written by my surgeon, and the clinical journey that led me to recognise gaps in care - particularly the spaces between treatment and the everyday reality of living with swallowing changes.I also share a short piece written by a friend and writer who reflected on my life from the outside. That perspective introduced the idea of commensality - the shared human experience that sits underneath illness, recovery, and returning to the table.This section sits just before Chapter One. It provides the foundation for what follows.If you prefer to read, GULP is available on Amazon in both eBook and hardcover formats.Find the book here:[Amazon link]Further chapters will follow.Eat Well. 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

An excerpt from my upcoming book GULP. Taking A Seat Back At The Table After Head And Neck Cancer. I will be presenting at the IDDSI Conference - Monday 20th October 2025. Details here Chapter 2The Rosetta Stone: IDDSIWe Need to Talk About IDDSI: International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation InitiativeTransitioning from a PEG tube back to oral eating is confusing, scary, and fraught with stress and uncertainty. It’s not just about swallowing safely; it’s about rebuilding your entire relationship with food.For many patients, eating more by mouth while maintaining weight and hitting nutritional targets is anything but straightforward. I discovered it involves your mind, your food, and your body - three elements that intertwine and rely on one another for success. I came to realise this firsthand as I stumbled my way through the chaos, trying to make sense of what was happening to me.The Missing Conversation in Dysphagia CareCaring for your thoughts, understanding your options for medical and allied health support, and getting your kitchen, shopping lists, and recipes aligned all matter. Add in the methods required to chew and swallow safely, and you’ve got a full-time job before you even sit down to eat.I documented exactly how I transitioned from 15 months of no oral food - relying solely on my PEG tube - to eventually eating orally again (despite ongoing dysphagia) and completing an 800km hike across Spain, eating whatever I could find on the road.That journey revealed something critical: Dysphagia is one thing, transitioning from PEG to oral food is another beast entirely, and for patients without a love of food, nutrition, or cooking, the hill is even steeper.GULP will be available on Amazon and on my site - ensure you are signed up here when its live. Eat Well. 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

The purpose is to communicate in a logical manner what can be some of the side effects that happen to us as living, breathing human beings during head & neck cancer treatment.In this episode I'm going to be talking about food confidence erosion.I'm going to be talking about beyond the tube and I'm going to be talking about visual value models These value models, what are they all about?They're a way to visually communicate the value steps and outcomes to be achieved by undertaking the self managed online course. Beyond the Tube - A Roadmap to oral Eating. Let’s Begin ….Check out the course here 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

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 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

The air changes in the lead up to Christmas. That smell, just before Christmas arrives, Christmas morning, something special in Australia it’s dry heat, the dark dawn brings soft strains of black bird call & magpie warble. GAG.| Eating life. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Perhaps for you it’s burning cold, padded snow & food dread. Christmas lunch a task to be completed like a dental check up, getting through it and a sigh of relief when it’s all done for another year. That’s the reality for many, it’s not about tension within family units, or who did or said what last year, it’s about the focus of the day, the focus of food and drink and the importance placed on this simple activity that is lost to so many of us. Christmas lunch with its matching napkins and placed bon bons. Bowls of snacks for visitors and family you can never mindlessly eat. Inspecting food to establish what, if anything, you might be able to manage discreetly, without having to gag, spit, or conduct major mouth maintenance.Thick cut meat off roasted bone, alcohol ladened sauce that hides a burn or coughing fit. Skin on poultry a choking hazard, flutes of celebratory bubbles that lie flat, dormant not to be raised. Perhaps a soft roast vegetable swimming in sauce or gravy, maybe fruit pudding drowning in custard. Touches that make it Christmas like brandy, dried or glace fruit, spice, are lost - sometimes forever. Chatter, eating, breathing, strains of Christmas carols made hard with incessant Cisplatin ringing. Breathing simultaneous eating, spontaneity, socialising skills brought to the fore. Silver dragees our personal game of thrones, those dastardly silver balls, cracked teeth, jaw bone, choking hazard - adorned on cookies, biscuits, cakes and gingerbread houses, a game of Russian roulette for head and neck cancer sufferers.Nuts, candy, lollies, licorice, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, bread, rolls, cake, alcohol, icing, ham, pork, chicken, beef, potatoes, pudding, chocolate, coconut - shall I go on? Christmas. Then there’s Marjorie’s husband Ray and thousands like him, who feed through a PEG. Not having to worry about Christmas eating, it’s not happening for them. Spiced mead, eggnog, cold beer, beading French Champagne, it doesn’t matter. You can’t taste it through a PEG, is it even Christmas? It’s a solitary life and experience and one that’s very hard to explain, and equally hard to endure. But endure we do, year after year and the “eating Christmas” becomes an annual chapter in the life after - literally. We just do our best. Wherever you are in the world, you might be eating curry, coconut, fish, chicken, turkey, salad, prawns on a barbecue, salami, weber food, cold sandwiches - it doesn’t much matter, if you are lucky, you are sharing that time with family, friends and people who understand your situation. Head and neck cancer treatment whether we eat orally or not affects everyone, the care givers, the PEG users, friends, strangers, the patients themselves.It is often a time of dread, a time that simply amplifies the lack of the ability to eat, swallow, to participate in something that is a simple life pleasure. It never gets easier, it never lets up, it simply becomes another thing to manage in the after math of head and neck cancer treatment. Christmas, in all it’s celebration and meaning, a large part of it is eating with family, friends and loved ones. Take a moment to reflect on your eating ability and what it means, and for people like Marjorie’s husband, perhaps the Christmas spirit is more about love, about the human spirit, about being kind and knowing that everyone is going through something you know absolutely nothing about. Perhaps it is less about the food and more about the grievances in the world and our hope for world peace. Wherever you are reading this, I wish for you a Merry, safe, and loving Christmas, oh and Ray a special Merry Christmas to you. 🎄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. 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

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

can access the workshop information here 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

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 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

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. 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

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. 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

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 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