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#184719 08-30-2014 06:21 AM
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JGD99 Offline OP
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Howdy,

though I am technically out of treatment (less than a week), this message belongs here. Googling about "how to regain taste buds after radiation?" I came upon several suggestions that "zinc hydrate" is useful both during and after head and neck cancer treaments. Consulting my pharmacist, he steered me to Zinc Gluconate tablets.

Because I've had issues with tablets getting stuck, I use a mortar and pestle to grind this and two other meds. Then I either mix that with water and drink or mix into ice cream. I figured this gives a more topical application of the zinc to the buds themselves, perhaps a stronger dose than receiving it internally.

And every morning I've been having cereal with blueberries that I cannot taste. Weirdly, the day after the first zinc dose, while having cereal, I had one isolated note of strong blueberry flavor, then flashed back to "radio silence" or darkness on the palate.

I wondered if it was a brief placebo effect, or could I get that little neural flicker from one dose? Has anyone tried zinc to reawaken your taste buds after radiation therapy?

John D.


Head and neck cancer,
Squamous cell carcinoma,
HPV p16, Stage 3N (6/14) Occult origin;
58 year old male 35 rads & 2.5 doses Cisplatin chemo 7/10/14> 8/25/14
1.5 years clear of cancer, at this point.

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I'm not sure you could definitively measure such a response to conclusively prove anything from a scientific perspective. I'm curious if knowing or not knowing that would be beneficial. Focus on what happened and pour everything into replicating the results. If you can make that happen, your taste will be improved.

This might help understand the process and zinc was the only substance that withstood double blind trials still had mixed and inconclusive results.

http://web.mnstate.edu/provost/Biol...inical%20Problem%20of%20Taste%20Loss.pdf


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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Posts: 38
JGD99 Offline OP
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I have had success with zinc for limiting duration of the common cold (you must start immediately when symptoms show, and continue dosing until symptoms improve). It would turn a ten day cold into a 4 day one.

I may fall short of scientific proof here, but that little flash of flavor was a godsend in that moment. It's one thing to be fairly confident taste will return. It was quite another to experience it, even if only for a second.


Head and neck cancer,
Squamous cell carcinoma,
HPV p16, Stage 3N (6/14) Occult origin;
58 year old male 35 rads & 2.5 doses Cisplatin chemo 7/10/14> 8/25/14
1.5 years clear of cancer, at this point.

"This, too is part of Life's Rich Pageant!"
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 286
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The doctor suggested extra zinc to perk up the testosterone which was down a little in the bloods. I haven't noticed any particular taste changes since I started taking it, but taste is recovering pretty well.


Cheers, Dave (OzMojo)
19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil.
31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014)
11August2014 PET/CT clear.
17July2019 5 years NED.
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Before taking any meds, even over the counter supplements or herbal remedies always ask your doctor. Some things that are seemingly innocent can interfere with treatments and create some big issues.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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I'm sure interested. Try a blind experiment. Get someone to mash up several days of the tablets and something else like aspirin if the colors match. Then take one set and note any taste. Take the other set and record your findings. Then ask which was which. If nothing else, it will be something to take your thoughts somewhere else for a bit. :-) Don


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com
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You don't even have to go through all that, Don. The clinical trial said, in essence, it may help some and that's why oncologists suggest it. If it doesn't work within a month max, I would move on to something else. Nothing has been proven for anything regarding taste buds.


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
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I have read what Uptown is saying. It may or may not help. I used to take zinc, pre-cancer, probably what OzMojo is using for to increase testosterone. I think I had more luck with clams, yohimbe extract lol. Also, I have read zinc can cause odd taste too, mouth ulcers, be toxic, so checking with your doctor, reading up on it is probably best.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Fair enough. I guess if it makes you feel better take it, even if it is the placebo effect.

Candid camera is back. I caught a clip recently where they had folks take a puff of some marijuana and a puff of this really strong MJ. They were all acting high until told none of it was MJ. LOL


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 286
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There's a lot to be said for the placebo effect. If you think it will help you, it often does. Particularly when it comes to fairly intangible things like energy levels. Taste is a particularly finicky thing during all this and your mind's attitude plays a big role I think. Bottom line though, run everything through your doctor. Two reasons, one to make sure its safe, and the other is to give the mind a firm basis to back the belief it will help you.


Cheers, Dave (OzMojo)
19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil.
31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014)
11August2014 PET/CT clear.
17July2019 5 years NED.
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