AM curious if taste buds return after 35 radiation txs. & 7 chemo. I have initial taste but quickly wanes.

Chris - my son tells me that his taste buds returned to about 90%. He had 28 Rad tx and no chemo.

It can take up to 24 months for a full recovery. Ive even heard of members seeing an improvement at 2 1/2 years post radiation. Best of luck with your recovery.

thank you, the forum is great. I just discovered it today. I've been on this lonely journey for the past year, but now feel like I've found a watering hole to other kindred spirits.

The best to you and your recovery

Im glad you have found OCF. Now you will not ever be alone with this again. We all help each other with info and support. There is also tons of info with a search function on the main OCF pages.

Hi Chris. My husband will be out of treatment 2 years in April. He said his taste has returned about 70%. He also had 35 radiation treatments and 7 Cisplatin. Welcome to the forum.

I had approx. 30 rads and 2 rounds of cisplatin and I can taste certain things better than others. I am only about 2 months or so out though but can taste mushrooms, oysters , pot pie, and coconut so far. But it seems that stuff like chocolate, mashed potatoes, and mac n cheese taste like cardboard. I do as others have told me and just keep trying things til I find what works for me.

I assumed it was the radiation that messed with taste...must be chemo as much or more than radiation. I only had radiation and always had chocolate taste. Mashed potatoes are good again as are things that are moist. The dry things (crackers, bread, chicken breasts, etc.) are all cardboardy for me.

Michele in IL

Hi Chris,

I'm coming up to six months post treatment and about 60% my taste is back. I can eat almost everything (with water to wash down) except for chilli and tomatoes still makes my mouth break out in sores. I cant taste sweet things yet but i eat a tonne of ice-cream - its like i'm remembering the taste when i eat it. My taste does seem to come and go, some days i can taste more and others not so much. Its a long journey my friend and i guess we just have to be patient. Good luck.

Minh

Hey Chris, the short answer is yes your taste buds will come back. How much and how soon is a little bit of a moving target but the board rule-of-thumb is that you should notice most of your taste back at about the one year mark. Mine were steadily improving up to about the two year mark, and my saliva production seems to have settled out after 3 years.

The being said, We all get blasted in different areas and have different reactions.

Kevin

Each of us can be different but for me I didn't notice a real big improvement until 15 months post Tx. IMO the 2 year mark is more realistic to measure your recovery in taste, dry mouth and just about everything else rather than 1 year.

I thank all of you for your encouraging words. The event of oral cancer is so overwhelming and to hear from others who have made the journey provides a glimmer of light to an unknown reality.
My best to you,

Chris

I am on my 4th year soon and I only have a taste for the 1st food that enters my mouth. Then after it could be cardboard or mud. No taste and that damn burning of the mouth.

Hey Chris,
This probably won't answer your question but it's my story and you may glean something from it. I'm 65 and suspect that you are somewhat younger. Best wishes!

Squamous cell carcinoma, primary site, tonsil.
I began looking for sympathy and solutions but it appears that each of us is uniquely different in respect to results of our treatments. Many of you have problems much greater than mine.
I had a radical neck dissection and 35 RT�s, the maximum in this jurisdiction
My wife insists that the issues are all in my mind. Regardless, I have virtually no saliva, taste buds are wacked, teeth are gone, gums won�t properly support dentures, sinuses are chronically infected, lower jaw is dead and won�t support implants.
(My �buds� went south after about 12 exposures.)
I weighed 212 lbs going in. My current weight is 142. I have lived for nearly 12 years on liquid meal supplements and fresh juice, every day. I also take an herbal tea, daily but am unable to identify it due to forum rules. Blood tests indicate no disturbing inequities.
The biggest problems relate to lack of stomach capacity and after 11 plus years of boost, I don�t look forward to the necessary, daily nourishment. Additionally, the buds come and go. Meat is consistently bad while veggies and spices are OK one day and horrid the next. Fortunately, fruits are almost always acceptable. Lack of cleansing saliva doesn�t clear tastes so they tend to �pile on� and confuse the palate. The use of water, wine or other liquids has not been successful in aiding this problem.
Does anyone have experience with psychiatric treatments for similar issues?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!