I am back.

Who am I and why did you sign up ?

Always look up!

Hello this is me, Yvonne, I write with a dash of tongue in cheek - the bit I have left, and to the title of the publication, GAG an acronym for “good as it gets” and that’s pretty good given the alternative.

Welcome.

Thanks for reading GAG. | eating life.

You signed up because you’ve met me (hiking) or someone suggested it (me) or you saw something or read something that caught your eye? You have been through, are going through or care for someone with head and neck cancer or the after effects of treatment.

Potentially all valid reasons to be here.

I’ll get straight to the point, this publication forms part of my paid work - so when you pay an annual or monthly subscription to read my stuff it resonates with me, it tells me you think it’s worth it and like my writing. It tells me there is a need for someone to tell the head and neck cancer stories without judgement and reservation.

There are options available like gifting a subscription, organising a group discount, paying monthly (no hard feelings if you unsubscribe or stop payments - that’s not how I operate) but I want to create a ‘community’ here and having skin in the game I know from experience aids that purpose.

The good, the bad and the downright that’s not fair stories.

I won’t always talk about the cancer.

That’s not the point of this publication, it’s about the stories that surround it too, the motivation, the drive, the tears and the joy. It has to be, there are enough chronicled cancer journeys and I am not one of them, I write about the issues rarely, if ever raised.

Like it took two solid years before I could apply lipstick after treatment, or kiss my pets on the head, kiss anyone for that matter - and bamboo (wood) bio utensils are awful for head and neck cancer treatment patients (just so you know).

And to my recent house sitters what happened to my very special Japanese lacquered soup spoon? I mourn its absence daily.

Become a paid subscriber and get a ticket to the inner sanctum, become part of the community or enable a group subscription for students, colleagues and those that need to understand the head and neck cancer life journey of one, of many.

What’s my aim here?

Empowering global communities affected by head and neck cancer.

I am dedicated to reducing social isolation through giving hope following head and neck cancer treatment.

I am testament to that.

I strive to inspire and educate fellow patients, clinicians, and caregivers alike, paving the way for individuals to embrace their optimal food life journey during and after treatment.

Why should I pay for an email ?

You don’t have to, you can subscribe for FREE too.

But creating this resource takes time & effort and this forms part of my daily work life and I hope that the collective worldwide power of paid subscriptions can keep me creating amazing content to help us all globally.

A paid subscription means you believe & support the hours of research and the lived communication from someone who’s had head & neck cancer. A kindred spirit as it were for creating a better food life for patients world wide through commentary for multidisciplinary teams & clinicians about our food life reality.

The vernacular of head and neck cancer treatment (HNC).

When you have gone through treatment there is a new language to learn. It is specific to those who have lived to tell the tale. No warriors here, but there is brutal honesty, motivation in spades and a sprinkling of humour to make those darkest moments a bit more bearable. A paid subscription gives you a bit more ROCK STAR status in that you can participate in the community, make comments and read the “fine print”.

Your paid subscription pays for my time and effort in preparing answers, writing articles, guest speaking and the creation of the podcasts.

For the clinicians amongst us, this is where you will likely find an answer to something you had not considered with food, eating, cooking and in my case applying lipstick.

You can also pay for a group at a discount - A group is 2 or more people.

AND if you are an educational institution a negotiable annual fee can be paid where by unlimited paid subscriptions can be applied to students with a special link.

Ask me how here yvonne@yvonnemcclaren.com

Never miss some Aussie humour, words with a “u” like colour, calling men blokes and using “S” not “Z”.

It is here at GAG. | eating life where I speak in tongues, I speak the language of HNC for food, travel and life.

Seriously, I just made that up.

But you get the idea.

Stay up-to-date

You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox. I like that, means one less job for me to do.

See what other subscribers have to say down below.

Really enjoyed that and was "oh yesssing" all the way through. Especially in the sense of here's your PEG, you're on your own now.

Your podcasts are brilliant and so on point for us all !

Yvonne’s knowledge of food, adaptability and cooking techniques have assisted her to transition from tube-feeding to a more normal oral diet and the lessons she learnt and the knowledge she can impart are a highly valuable resource for anyone embarking or recovering from head and neck cancer treatment.

What is important is patient motivation and I think that’s where you’re venture is going to be important for patients. There is no reason why a patient needs a PEG for life. They need strategies to return to swallowing and progress back to an oral diet.

Keep on getting well Yvonne & thank you for sharing your story, it has been immensity helpful. Will touch base via Instagram when I'm feeling up to it, Cheers D

It has been inspirational and comforting reading your articles as some days I do just want to give in to a liquid diet.  However I am a foodie and love cooking and eating good food!

I feel like I've been living in the dark till this year when I met my speechie and she's opened up a whole new world I was not aware of, including finding your articles.

Yes, it is real, talking, eating and breathing. Does the challenge make anyone else laugh? Because for me it's so true. And to see someone say it, made me laugh.

Eat Well.

Yvonne