Chris, be careful with the zinc. Years ago my father killed off his taste buds overdoing zinc lozenges in a hope that they would fend off the common cold. All things in moderation. Also, I don't *think* many people on here lose their sense of smell; only taste (I certainly never lost my sense of smell).

Kathi G, your "first bite" problem sounds very difficult! I've had primarily radiation and chemo, with only a very limited neck dissection (basically a biopsy that confirmed no residual cancer - yay) but at about a year from radiation/chemo treatment I'm staring to have neck muscle spasms. I suspect it's a side-effect of the radiation, but I've not had opportunity yet to ask my oncologist. Could that be what you're experiencing? I've been told conversationally that it may go away in time.

http://oralcancersupport.org/forums...at&Number=131209&nt=2&page=1

Good luck!

Lots of inspiring stories on this thread. I'm fortunate in that my taste is 90% returned, I can swallow pretty normally, I can handle *some* spice, and my dry mouth is gradually improving (although will probably never approach normal, whatever that is).

Cheers from London

-Seth

Last edited by Stily1; 03-27-2011 10:42 AM. Reason: added link to other discussion of neck cramping
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014.
Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.