Taste buds

Posted by triage1968 @triage1968, Jan 4, 2012

Hello everyone-
Just wanted to know when taste comes back following radiation and chemo for SCCIII throat cancer...hubby has asked 4 different people and was given 4 different answers..all from dos not from actual patients. I know this varies vastly from patient to patient but just wanted experiences. He has not finished treatment and has 1 chemo to go and 9 rads after Thursday. Tomorrow is PEG day. He waited it out as long as he could but it was past time for it : (

Thank you- Kerry

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triage1968 | @triage1968 | Jan 4, 2012

correction..stage 4, not 3

megm | @megm | Jan 4, 2012

I will message the community and see if there are others who can share their experience.

Jeff K. | @erthwlkr | Jan 5, 2012

Hi Kerry -

Radiation and chemo certainly do their damage. But please be confident that your husband will get his taste buds back.

I had 2 rounds of cisplatin and 6 weeks of radiation starting in Oct 2007 and ended in Nov 2007. The odd way my taste was affected is that I couldn't sense sweet. It took approximately 2 months for it to begin coming back - and it comes back in slowly and in steps. Don't get frustrated.

Dry mouth also affects it and that will come back over several months - that took about 6 months for me although i would say it was close to a year before it fully returned. I still have slight issues with it but just keep some water handy and avoid drier foods like chicken - especially leftovers. Never my favorite anyway.

Understand also that everyone reacts and responds differently. But also understand the process of recovery takes time. As i often say, this ain't the flu and the doc didn't just give you a week's treatment of antibiotic. Treatment is rough and really beats up your body. So stay with it, don't get frustrated, count the recovery in weeks and months not in days.

Let us know how he does - if there's anything else you need, please don't hestiate to ask. And most likely there will be lots more questions... 🙂

- Jeff

triage1968 | @triage1968 | Jan 7, 2012

Thank you Jeff and Meg-
He gets Cisplatin as well..mega doses, 100 units per session versus 20, and radiation everyday x 7 weeks. They told him to take zinc everyday to preserve the taste buds but this is hit or miss now with the PEG tube. He had his first feeding tonight and will do another before bed.
He is being resistant to most things but we get through them. He says this camcer has taken his "T's"....his tonsils, his teeth and his taste buds....he said, " what is next?? My testicles??" lol.....gotta love morphine.
Thanks again- Kerry

megm | @megm | Jan 9, 2012

Hi Kerry-
Gotta love morphine! Glad that he is able to have a little bit of humor through this. Keep us posted!!

Thanks, Meg

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