#55838 11-16-2004 01:54 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 12 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 12 | I finished radiation and chemo treatments 3 weeks ago for SQC Cancer at the base of my tongue. Two questions for those survivore with similar cancer.
1) Did your tastebuds ever come back and if yes how long after treatment?
2) I seeme to have lost my sex drive and am curious from my male friends out there if they experienced similar, how long before it came back and if not what did you do about it.
Thanks for your comments.
Terry
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#55839 11-16-2004 04:17 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Taste buds and sex drive in the same sentence oh my!
1. Yes, gradually over time - complete recovery in about 6 months. Salt taste was first - sweets were last.
2. Same as #1. Wife says popsicle stick & duct tape in the interim.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#55840 11-17-2004 01:38 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 | Terry, WOW I thought I would never see those two together. My taste buds came back within a year after the radaition stopped. It was so awsume too, to finally eat things that didn't taste like metal or a pure can of salt. Everything did to me. Even water. I would choke and gag for long periods of time just to take a sip of water. I will never forget all that. As far as sex goes. What can I tell you. It has never been the same for me. I had a huge drive before and almost nothing now. I hate it but not at lot I can do about it. It has been a major adjustment for me and my honey. We have our love and our commiment to each other. He had a heart attack after I was diagnosed which affected him as well. So not only was it me, now he had found difficulty as well. We are loving each other is so many different ways, always have, thank the LORD for REAL LOVE.....I pray this is what we all have in our lives when it comes to CANCER or any other illness...Because this is what it is going to take to make it thru all this..Always, Miss Vicki | | |
#55841 11-17-2004 04:41 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | The taste is coming back gradually, but steadily. I'm almost 6 months post treatment. Chemo definitely knocks the wood out of a guy! Everythings back to normal now though! Seems like it happened a few weeks out from treatment. Probably a combination of the chemo being neutralized & nutrition levels coming back up. May the force be with you! I remember my wife commenting that I seemed "bigger", but I think it was just in relation to my skinny body! Can you imagine chemo being marketed as the next vitality/enlargement drug?! I don't think so!
dx 2/11/04 scca bot T3 IU 2B MO poorly differentiated, margins ok, 3/16 modest, jaw split, over half of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - finished chemo & rad treatment 5/20/04
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#55842 11-17-2004 05:11 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 | This one is fast approaching the "More than I need to know" level! | | |
#55843 11-17-2004 09:00 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | I had radiation only and my taste started to come back at 3 mos and was pretty much back at 6 mos. Although I am 8 mos post now and I would say in general my taste is 75%. Some things a lot less. Sweets@50%, garlic my favorite I still can't taste. Tomato sauce tastes more spicy when it use to taste sweet?
My sex drive was reduced to nothing during treatment. It has recovered a little since treatment but doesn't seem to be as strong as before the treatment.
SCC R-Tonsil T2 NO MO Dec 2003. Completed IMRT Radiation only to tonsils(72Gy) and neck(55Gy)March 04. Detected at age 50.
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#55844 11-17-2004 09:25 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Gary...maybe it`s just me but, popsicle sticks and duct tape ??? I think I MUST have missed something..somewhere.
Now, if I could just stop laughing long enough to explain this thread to Pete !
Boy I needed that..
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#55845 11-17-2004 09:30 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Duct tape and a popcicle stick. Your killing me. Good stuff.
Taste came back pretty quick. Salt first sweet later just like everyone else.
Sex drive? What sex drive?
As a 42 YO Male and the father of 5 I can honestly say I had a very good active sex drive/life prior to this mess. I am 9 months post now and just starting to feel like my old self.
The anti depressants have quite a bit to do with it also. I dont know about any of you all but ya might as well just have cut it off with the Anti depressants. No worky.
I am glad I took them, they really helped with the situation, but I am glad I am off and back to normal now. My poor wife. Now I am trying to make up for lost time. Typical guy.
Take care everybody.
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#55846 11-17-2004 10:46 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 | Gary,
I am such an idiot.........I just figured it out. The tape goes over your mouth, but what does she do with the popsicle stick?
Glenn | | |
#55847 11-17-2004 11:41 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 |
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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