My doctor said I should not expect to get taste buds back. I did not get the impression he was just giving me worst case scenario. Anyway, if it helps I do the zinc tabs. 50mg for about 10 days three times a day. Since then I am taking about two tabs a day, sometimes together sometimes not. My rads were conentrated toward the fron of my mouth. MAy be that saved the tastebuds in the back.


Age 52, T2 N0 M0 SCC of left anterior floor of mouth. Esophagoscopy, Direct laryngoscopy, Resection of left anterior FOM lesion w/ lateral tongue. left selective neck dissection levels I-IV. 5x6cm skin graft coverng excision. Finished 33-35 rad Tx. False recurrence 12-22-10 last surgery 2-15-10