#70523 02-24-2008 08:05 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | I have just now completed my 30 radiation treatments, and appear to be plagued with a consistent "salty" taste. I had radiation 4 years ago and didn't experience this taste change, but now even bottled water tastes salty!!
Has anyone else experienced this, did it improve and if so, when?
Thanks.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 148 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 148 | I too have the salty taste in my mouth constantly. My nutritionalist told me to put a dab of sugar on and in what I eat of drink. Doesn't help me. It seems as though the only things I have found that doesn't taste salty is ensure and boost. It does improve though it seems as if it is getting less and less every day.keep useing your salt and soda mouth wash-gargle I have found just a little more soda helps somewhat. Not too much because it burns. If you find anything that really helps let me know ok. Brenda
49 years young 9/2007 Squamous Cell Carcinoma 33 rad treatments. One year later, 9/17/2008 50 years old through the Grace of God. last check up all clear. Living life as it comes to me.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Actually, the taste I had in my mouth was 'burnt salt'. That is truly what it tasted like. I think it lasted 3-4 weeks post TX, slowly dimishing. I put lemon and lime in my water, and rinsed a lot with baking soda. When I couldn't taste anything good, I would try to force my tastebuds to remember what certain things tasted like as I ate them. At 7 months out most of my taste is back, except ice cream, any flavor, still tastes bad.
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 | hi pandora,
i too have a bad taste but mine is more metallic kind of taste sweet things are great for me but savoury is a struggle to eat i have to get past the taste. mine is getting better i hope yours does soon.
Debz
Age 40 Diagnosed with stage 4 SCC tongue, sept 07 started 35 radiation treatments and 3 chemo Had my first follow up PET - got the all clear 17th April 2008.
26th Had my PEG tube removed...eating almost everything. Was hard but learned to eat without saliva, it's so good to chew and swallow food!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 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: 6 | I first went thru the burnt stage where everything tasted burnt like charcoal, even water. That lasted for about 6 weeks. Sometime during the 6 weeks everything started to also taste extra salty. The salt taste stayed with me for at least another month maybe two. Im 5 months post treatment and have aprox. 75% of my taste back.
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: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 | Hi all,
Martin still now complains that things taste salty (5 month after treatment, but i am still hopeful everyone heals differently). Strangely, haggis tastes ok, some desserts with no cream, and custard tarts are nice, and frosties for breakfast. That is a huge improvement, over Christmas he couldn't eat anything that didn't taste salty.
Otherwise, this might sound stupid, but martin's brother asked why Martin didn't get hypnotised to make him think all food tasted nice. I hadn't thought of that and it seems like it would be worth a try. Has anyone thought of this or is it just a mad idea?
C
Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Hey try it and if it works let us know. Novel idea but I was told years ago that I'm not a candidate for hypnosis.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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