 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Brenda, while permanent loss of taste is a possibility, he should know that positive changes are possible for months and even years out. For instance, I was told that salivia would not get better after the first year or two. Well I still notice more and more and it has been 4 plus years.
I also agree that it could be worse with active case of thrush (dullness of taste is one of the first symptoms for me) and thrush is not always easily visable.
In addition, salivia IS important to the sense of taste. Replacing that lost moisture with something else is necessary for taste to be normal. I found that milk works very well and warm or room temp. works best.
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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