I went through pretty much the same thing except no chemo and 7 weeks of IMRT. It took 14 months for my saliva and taste buds to return to post-surgery, pre-radiation stage.

Water has to be a patients best friend at this point. Saliva is also the primary carrier of flouride in the mouth. So, if you have not seen your dentists, you should be using flouride trays/rinses.

Jim

T3N2aM0 SCC right oral tongue. Partial Glosectomy, Modified Neck disection for 1 Lymph Node. Dec. 2002. 35 IMRT 2003.