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#129893 02-19-2011 07:18 PM
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AM curious if taste buds return after 35 radiation txs. & 7 chemo. I have initial taste but quickly wanes.


35 radiation txs. 7 cistplatin. SCC on tonsil and 2 possible nodes. 14 months out and holding the line. Just graduated to ENT visits every other month.
Life just seems to keep on happening with or without you.
Chris Behrmann #129895 02-19-2011 07:36 PM
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Chris - my son tells me that his taste buds returned to about 90%. He had 28 Rad tx and no chemo.


Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)



Anne-Marie #129897 02-19-2011 07:59 PM
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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.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
ChristineB #129899 02-19-2011 08:03 PM
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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


35 radiation txs. 7 cistplatin. SCC on tonsil and 2 possible nodes. 14 months out and holding the line. Just graduated to ENT visits every other month.
Life just seems to keep on happening with or without you.
Chris Behrmann #129902 02-19-2011 08:15 PM
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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.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
ChristineB #129920 02-20-2011 07:18 AM
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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.


Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
slim #129932 02-20-2011 12:20 PM
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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.


SCC left lateral tongue, left neck dissection. 2 nodes positive. 3 All Clear then ITS BACK 8/23/11 Shows 1cm in tongue in CT SCAN, Radial Free Arm Flap with Radical Neck Dissection 9/20/11 , All Nodes Negative, But Tongue Tumor Poorly Differentiated. Awaiting next step in treatment on 10/5/11... RIP Nate 7/28/12
Nate82 #129936 02-20-2011 02:42 PM
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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


Female - 53 no smoke/drink
tongue Biopsy 8/2010
Surgery 9/21 for SCC left side tongue stage II. Prtl removal tongue/left side lymph nodes. All Clear
Radiation started 11/2, ended 12/17
Lymph node involved left side along with gum involvement 2/9 Fibular flap failed 2/22.
passed away 1/12/12
Michele57 #129946 02-20-2011 10:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 179
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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


35 Yrs old
03/10 SCC T1-T2
Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough.
While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps
Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear.
Mid June - 4 teeth out
Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin
6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
minniemoo066 #130011 02-22-2011 01:38 PM
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Posts: 621
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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





9 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.


�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking
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