1. < Head & Neck Cancer

How long before my taste buds recover after H&N treatments?

Posted by calenbd @calenbd, Sep 27, 2022

I have completed 35 treatments of radiation and chemotherapy two weeks ago for squamous cell cancer in my tongue and lymph node. I’m just wondering how long before I can expect my taste buds to recover so I can taste good again? I’m currently on a feeding tube, but my throat pain and mucus is diminishing, so I am looking forward to eating solid foods again.

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roblem | @roblem | May 13 3:47pm
In reply to @vickie1320 "Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months..." + (show)
@vickie1320

Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months ago & still cannot taste anything. He was not on a feeding tube & lost all saliva production.
I would do appreciate responses re return of taste, any taste. He is becoming worried he will never taste again! It’s a real struggle to keep weight on as his appetite is so diminished.
Also, I heard that the longer you go without taste, the more likely it will never return.
Please help🙏🙏🙏thank you all !!!

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Hi there,
Back in 2008 had tonsil cancer and it was in 3 lymph nodules one being almost 8cm, so I had 35 rounds of radiation which amounted to 70 Gy and 3 rounds of the platinum-based chemo Cisplatin. In looking back at my notes, it took me about 10 months to get most of my tastes back and not have alcohol not burn as much and have my dry mouth the best since I that treatment began.
On the positive side, when my taste buds started coming back, I actually enjoying more healthy vegetables that I never liked before and some sweats were even sweater. Good luck and safe journey.

Best,

Rob

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | May 13 6:55pm
In reply to @vickie1320 "Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months..." + (show)
@vickie1320

Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months ago & still cannot taste anything. He was not on a feeding tube & lost all saliva production.
I would do appreciate responses re return of taste, any taste. He is becoming worried he will never taste again! It’s a real struggle to keep weight on as his appetite is so diminished.
Also, I heard that the longer you go without taste, the more likely it will never return.
Please help🙏🙏🙏thank you all !!!

Jump to this post

I had very similar cancer and treatments however my taste came back slightly within a few weeks and more or less fully within a year. People complain of loss of taste from Covid 19 or from surgery to the tongue but that doesn't seem to be the case here. A doctor visit might be in order to find out what is going on.

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1 reply
vickie1320 | @vickie1320 | May 13 7:40pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "I had very similar cancer and treatments however my taste came back slightly within a few..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

I had very similar cancer and treatments however my taste came back slightly within a few weeks and more or less fully within a year. People complain of loss of taste from Covid 19 or from surgery to the tongue but that doesn't seem to be the case here. A doctor visit might be in order to find out what is going on.

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Hi William,
You responded to my initial post about my husband's cancer when he was diagnosed in last June. Thank you!
It would be a gross understatement to say this journey has been difficult. I am a cancer survivor (breast). I had a lot of surgeries and chemo, but no radiation. My husband's experience worse than mine because of the treatments. He had drop foot from the chemo (carboplatin) and now has neuropathy in his right leg causing balance problems, pain & numbness. He says the PT is helping. We are not praying he won't need surgery to remove the lymph node in his neck.
I have been reading as much as I can find re the taste issue resulting from radiation. His radiation oncologist says it could take up to 2 years. But I read it can be much longer.
I'm glad you didn't have this issue so bad. It's hopeful to hear that you got your taste back.
Thanks for your support as we move through this process that we thought would be over by now (11 1/2 months after diagnosis).

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goffrey | @goffrey | May 14 8:06am
In reply to @vickie1320 "Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months..." + (show)
@vickie1320

Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months ago & still cannot taste anything. He was not on a feeding tube & lost all saliva production.
I would do appreciate responses re return of taste, any taste. He is becoming worried he will never taste again! It’s a real struggle to keep weight on as his appetite is so diminished.
Also, I heard that the longer you go without taste, the more likely it will never return.
Please help🙏🙏🙏thank you all !!!

Jump to this post

I had treatment for HPV+ base of tongue cancer with chemoradiation and it took a good year and 1/2 for my taste to really come back. At the one year mark I noticed a dramatic difference and it continued to get better. I was advised to take Zinc tablets by my radiation oncologist to help with the return of taste and I still take them. I have 90% of my taste back at almost 2 years out.

REPLY
1 reply
dannyo | @dannyo | May 14 9:02am
In reply to @vickie1320 "Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months..." + (show)
@vickie1320

Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months ago & still cannot taste anything. He was not on a feeding tube & lost all saliva production.
I would do appreciate responses re return of taste, any taste. He is becoming worried he will never taste again! It’s a real struggle to keep weight on as his appetite is so diminished.
Also, I heard that the longer you go without taste, the more likely it will never return.
Please help🙏🙏🙏thank you all !!!

Jump to this post

I was told that their was a good chance that I would not get my taste back. But months after treatment they came back. Some stuff does taste different than before. So hang in there and good luck

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1 reply
vickie1320 | @vickie1320 | May 14 9:28am
In reply to @dannyo "I was told that their was a good chance that I would not get my taste..." + (show)
@dannyo

I was told that their was a good chance that I would not get my taste back. But months after treatment they came back. Some stuff does taste different than before. So hang in there and good luck

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Thank you so much, that’s reassuring ❤️

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vickie1320 | @vickie1320 | May 14 9:29am
In reply to @goffrey "I had treatment for HPV+ base of tongue cancer with chemoradiation and it took a good..." + (show)
@goffrey

I had treatment for HPV+ base of tongue cancer with chemoradiation and it took a good year and 1/2 for my taste to really come back. At the one year mark I noticed a dramatic difference and it continued to get better. I was advised to take Zinc tablets by my radiation oncologist to help with the return of taste and I still take them. I have 90% of my taste back at almost 2 years out.

Jump to this post

Wow, thank you! I’ll put him on zinc right away💕💜🙏

REPLY
1 reply
jonesja | @jonesja | May 14 6:22pm
In reply to @vickie1320 "Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months..." + (show)
@vickie1320

Hi, my husband had radiation & chemo for tonsil p16+. He finished treatment almost 9 months ago & still cannot taste anything. He was not on a feeding tube & lost all saliva production.
I would do appreciate responses re return of taste, any taste. He is becoming worried he will never taste again! It’s a real struggle to keep weight on as his appetite is so diminished.
Also, I heard that the longer you go without taste, the more likely it will never return.
Please help🙏🙏🙏thank you all !!!

Jump to this post

I had TORS surgery for base of tongue HPV16 and neck dissection to remove Lymph Nodes. 30 rounds of radiation. I finished July 2023. My taste as of today is about 90%. It was been a very gradual process and Many foods just don’t taste the same.

REPLY
smittyfromcuse | @smittyfromcuse | May 15 4:28pm
In reply to @vickie1320 "Wow, thank you! I’ll put him on zinc right away💕💜🙏" + (show)
@vickie1320

Wow, thank you! I’ll put him on zinc right away💕💜🙏

Jump to this post

I had a naturopathic doctor help with my radiation recovery and she recommended this vitamin combo. ACES + Zn® If you google it it contains vitamins A, C, E selenium and zinc. I think it helped me regain my taste faster. Still took about 8 months to get close to normal. But things taste different now. Not in a bad way I’m just more aware of the subtle changes.

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1 reply
vickie1320 | @vickie1320 | May 15 8:28pm
In reply to @smittyfromcuse "I had a naturopathic doctor help with my radiation recovery and she recommended this vitamin combo...." + (show)
@smittyfromcuse

I had a naturopathic doctor help with my radiation recovery and she recommended this vitamin combo. ACES + Zn® If you google it it contains vitamins A, C, E selenium and zinc. I think it helped me regain my taste faster. Still took about 8 months to get close to normal. But things taste different now. Not in a bad way I’m just more aware of the subtle changes.

Jump to this post

Fantastic, thank you!

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