| Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 1 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 1 | I am 4 weeks post radiation tx to my neck and mouth. the bitter/metalic/sour taste in my mouth is no better, if not worse. I did have mucositis while having treatment. is there anything I can do to ameliorate, cover up this taste while waiting to heal? | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF! Unfortunately, this is all part of the healing process. Recovery can take months. Dont worry your sense of taste should slowly return. There isnt anything I know of that will mask the odd taste you are experiencing. Keep up getting a minimum 2500 calories and 48 oz water daily. The better your nutrition, the faster you will bounce back. Best of luck with your continued improvements. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Christine's advice is excellent. I pretty much agree: there's not a whole lot you can do, your body will heal at its own rate. One thing you might try is chewing gum with Xylitol. I know Biotene makes a gum but I just use Trident Extra Care. It's good for your teeth, which we all need post-RT, and freshens your mouth too. Ingredient list-wise it has the most Xylitol of any of the readily available commercial brands that I've been able to find. Maybe someone else has another suggestion?
Hang in there - things will get better!
David 2
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | I think we all know that horrible taste all too well. The 1st question I asked on this forum was if I would ever be able to enjoy food again. It took a bit longer for me than most, I think, 18 months of Ensure Plus (the vanilla was the only one I could stand the taste of) and fruit smoothies. Now I'm eating pretty normally, although a lot of things are still dry and need lots of gravy or sauce of some kind. Time is pretty much the answer. I know some were back to eating in just a few months.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer. And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer. May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
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