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=1Good 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
