#72557 04-07-2008 04:02 AM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 55 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 55 | I finished radiation in June 2007. My sense of taste seemed to be returning fairly well by September. I felt more or less "back to normal" as far as taste went by October or November 2007. About two weeks ago I noticed that my coffee was never sweet enough and even straight honey right on my tongue didn't seem very sweet at all (when it had tasted incredibly sweet before - almost too sweet). Last night I ate some cheese that my husband wanted me to try with me - he commented on how it was terribly salty. I looked at him like he was crazy and said "but it isn't salty at all!" I suddenly realized that I also had not been really tasting much in the realm of saltiness over the past few weeks. I went to the kitchen and put some table salt directly in my mouth - there is a hint of saltiness, but definitely not the amount of saltiness I would expect.
So - why in the world would my taste buds be rebelling after seeming to mostly recover from radiation/chemo? Has anyone else had this happen? It seems very odd...
Lisa
36 years old at diagnosis
SCC of the tongue T2N2bM0 Stage IV
post hemi glossectomy and neck dissection (3/28/07), finished 6 weeks of radiation and Cisplatin x2 6/19/07. Biopsy taken from right side of tongue 7/17/08 - results showed infected abscess and no return of SCC!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Lisa --
It's funny that you posted this, just as I was going to post a similar issue, namely the dry mouth worsening a bit, which also impacts the taste some. I finished my treatment a little less than a month after you did.
I did read some studies showing that some late effects of radiation can cause worsening of dry mouth and taste over time, specifically 6 - 24 months after treatment.
I would also be interested in hearing from anyone else on this issue. Thanks for posting it!
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 | Hi guys
I call my taste buds weirding out. Most time I am fine, but there are times when I can go from great tasting stuff to cardboard. Usually only lasts for a couple of hours, and then bad to "normal".
Kevin
18 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.
�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 | lisa, i finished my tx the same month as you did and so far i haven't had any relapses in my taste buds. hopefully yours will come back again.
jeff, i just hope my dry mouth doesn't get worse again. it is hard enough dealing with it as it is!
Nine years out. New normal with limitations, but surviving and living life to the fullest.
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | I don't know why this would happen unless your tongue is coated with some gunk. It should be nice and pink. If it is not, some dentists recommend brushing your tongue GENTLY with a soft tooth brush. I do this everytime I brush my teeeh. Just 4 or 5 gentle strokes forward. Also Zinc is supposed to help restore taste. I took 220mg Zinc sulfate for years and it seems to work.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 55 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 55 | Hi Eileen,
My tongue is looking beautiful - just had a visit to the dentist for a cleaning two days ago. I've been taking zinc right along too - so it isn't that.
I'm going back to the doc on Thursday for a work up to figure out why my weight loss persists. I don't think the taste changes are related to the weight loss issue because the changes have only been around only for the past couple of weeks...but hopefully the doctor will offer an explanation for the recent changes...
Lisa
36 years old at diagnosis
SCC of the tongue T2N2bM0 Stage IV
post hemi glossectomy and neck dissection (3/28/07), finished 6 weeks of radiation and Cisplatin x2 6/19/07. Biopsy taken from right side of tongue 7/17/08 - results showed infected abscess and no return of SCC!
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