 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Sandy,
For the vast majority the few weeks post Tx are the worst part of the radiation and your taste will return, well when it returns. The recovery period can easily last well over a year and the taste and dry mouth will slowly recover over that period of time. I saw the first signs of my taste and dry mouth improvement 4 months post Tx and it wasn't until 15 months post Tx that I was satisfied with both even if they stopped recovering. I did see what I think was my last improvement at 24 months. My reason for posting this is I don't want you to think there is some definitive timetable that you can or more importantly should compare yourself to. Your body will dictate that for the most part as there are many many variables that form a part of the equation.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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