I'm now nearly 4 years removed from treatment, and I would say I have recovered 90% of saliva, and my taste is near normal.
Salt was the first taste sensation to come back, and everything tasted salty for a couple of months. Sweet was the last one back. Everything was pretty gradual, tastes kind of sneak up on you.
I have enough saliva to go for a six mile run without a water bottle, something that wasn't an option for the first 12 to 15 months after treatment. I now chew Biotene gum frequently to help stimulate saliva. I still need a beverage or lots of gravy to eat, but I have adjusted.

Now spicy food is another story. I have an annual meal at a barbeque joint with another OCF member, and he is able to eat anything, while I sometimes get "lit up" by ketchup. I try to explain to my wife by telling her that her normal defence to spicy foods is salivation, which flushes the hot stuff out. My low saliva doesn't flush my mouth out, so the spices just sit there and cook. (It works for her)

In all, life is great. My daughter just gave birth to my first grandson, and my granddaughter, who was an infant when I was diagnosed, is in kindergarten and the apple of granpa's eye.

The recovery process is slow, but well worth the effort.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Good Health,

Chuck


SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."