#69630 02-10-2008 04:52 PM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 69 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 69 | It's been a while since I posted - just a review - I am 4 years out from Head/Neck cancer and was doing well. Diagnosed in Sept with a radiation-induced soft tissue sarcoma. 2 surgeries later and now going through chemo again. I am getting 3 cycles of 3-day chemo consisting of Adriamycin and Ifosfimide. Just finished the 2nd cycle this past Thursday and am dealing with the taste issues. Nothing tastes even remotely what it did before chemo - bear in mind, my taste is messed up already from the head/neck treatment 4 years ago. My mouth is slimy and I am so thirsty - like many others here, I live by the water bottle. Right now, the water is nasty - everything I have tried is nasty. Does anybody have any ideas or tricks they found in combatting this issue while going through chemo? Of course, I am forcing the water down because there is no choice - gotta have the hydration - but I sure would like something to taste somewhat bearable. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated-food doesn't seem to be as big an issue as liquid. I am keeping up with eating pretty well and the food tastes aren't as messed up. Thanks a lot guys
Pam
SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV- 2/04 - 40 Rads 1/2 conventional, 1/2 IMRT; 3 chemo treatments consisting of Carboplatin/Taxol/5-FU; Right Radical Neck Dissection
7/04; scans and pathology clear
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Hi Pam, It's good to see you posting here. I've been wondering how you are doing. Sorry to hear about the taste issues. I've you tried different things in terms of sweet/sour/salty/bitter tastes? It might be that one tastes better than the others. I know when I was recovering from radiation for the oral cancer, salty things such as chicken broth tasted good before anything else. And I seem to recall a woman in the breast cancer support group I was in who was going through chemo saying that sour stuff, such as lemonade, tasted good to her even when the chemo made other stuff taste nasty.
Just keep experimenting-that is the best advice I have. And hang in there -I've been thinking of you!
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Pam, i sure hope someone comes up with anything with taste for you. I have the same problem. It all tastes the same. Just burns and makes me talk even funnier. Just tried gatorade and it's the same. Coffee works pretty good .Good luck
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Pam,
I on the other hand loved the "taste" of sweetness and I lived on that. I also found Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC to be a lifesaver with it's 560 cals per can and it also tasted good to me because of the sweetness I could taste.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Interestingly enough, the day after my chemo days, I regained some taste despite the radiation. It only lasted a day or two, but I found it very interesting.
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
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