@mommacandy

I am sorry to hear that you are facing such a huge struggle and that your family has faced so much suffering and loss over the generations. I so appreciate all of your sharing!

I haven't yet seen anyone give tips on living with metallic taste or mouth sores, and I haven't had this experience to date, so did some online research (so much easier to do than when I'm "in it"). What I'm reading is that chemotherapy agents such as carboplatin and paclitaxel target cancer cells, which are ones that divide rapidly. Hair follicles and cells lining the digestive tract (especially in the mouth) also fit that category, and that mouth sores and metallic/bitter/cardboard tastes are often a result.

I'm including some research articles below that outline mouthwash treatments (in one case for those undergoing radiation in the nose/throat area, that includes lidocaine, dexamethasone and vitamin B-12) that reduce oral pain and inflammation, and also promote regeneration of the cells of the tongue and lining the mouth. This concept should also apply to the metallic taste, which I'm reading is a natural consequence of the killing off and re-growth of those cells. Using a mouthwash instead of taking oral vitamin B supplements is worth considering, as you do not want to support re-growth of the cancer cells, only the ones impacted by the chemo that you need in order to tolerate and enjoy eating.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34154361/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10199211/
Here are also some potentially useful resources regarding mouth sores:
https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnosis-treatment/emotional-physical-effects/oral-care.html
I like the suggestions of home remedies in the above link.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/mouth-sores/art-20045486
For metallic taste (some of these are old, but had something of value, so I included them):
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2014/05/Combating-chemo-mouth-experts-offer-tips.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-treat-metallic-taste-in-mouth-from-chemo#management
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/eating-problems/taste-smell-changes.html#:~:text=Rinse%20your%20mouth%20with%20a,to%20help%20ease%20bad%20tastes.
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