I spent a number of years working out how to transition off a PEG Tube feeder back to oral eating. The "transition" itself took me four months. The ongoing roadmap to eating is an entirely different story, yet the lessons I learnt and the theory model I created for myself continue to serve me well in my ongoing pursuit of living not only my best food life but my best life generally. Currently I am trying to drop a few kilos for a major walk at the end of the year. Nothing crazy just a few kilos ...
Apr 12, 2024•19 min
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 sel...
Feb 08, 2024•19 min
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
Jan 30, 2024•12 min
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
Nov 23, 2023•15 min
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, gett...
Nov 20, 2023•5 min
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 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...
Oct 27, 2023•24 min
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
Oct 06, 2023•23 min
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
Sep 15, 2023•12 min
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
Sep 08, 2023•10 min
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
Sep 05, 2023•16 min
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 incredi...
Aug 18, 2023•10 min
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 succe...
Jul 28, 2023•18 min
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 importan...
Jul 20, 2023•15 min
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...
Jul 15, 2023•11 min
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 o...
Jul 13, 2023•15 min
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 ...
Jun 08, 2023•13 min
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 exp...
Jun 01, 2023•19 min
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...
May 22, 2023•18 min
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 th...
May 18, 2023•10 min
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 voluntee...
May 11, 2023•12 min
Podcast Episode 7 How to eat an elephant with HNC treatment side effects How 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 ...
Apr 17, 2022•16 min
* 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. Episode 5 - It's not about the cook book but the recip...
Apr 03, 2022•23 min
