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When will food taste good again after chemo and radiation?
My husband was diagnosed with a Stage 4 bladder tumor in early Feb of 2020. He started with 4 rounds of chemo in March and a heavy dose of radiation in March, at Mayo in Rochester, MN. After they determined this was the correct treatment, he began 5 weeks of daily radiation concurrent with Cisplatin chemo two days of each of those five weeks. He never felt nauseated. Never got sores in his mouth. However, his taste buds went haywire. Everything under the sun tasted disgusting.
The odd thing is that he is now just about 3 months past his last Cisplatin chemo treatment and radiation, yet his taste has gotten worse. He can't stand even looking at food. He has dropped 25 pounds since treatment started. The dietician told me to give him six small meals a day. He can't even stand to put something in his mouth once a day.
Sometimes I can get a quarter cup of cottage cheese with canned peaches in him. Other times a half cup of mashed potatoes. Bran cereal in the morning. But no matter what I try he says it's torture getting it down because it all tastes so terrible. I am having him drink Boost 20 gr protein drinks 3 times a day and an considering pushing 4 a day on him. He hates them, too, because they are way too sweet, but he can gulp them down quickly. However, he has to immediately follow the drink with three green olives, to get the sweet taste out of his mouth.
I've tried everything... gargling with water/baking soda/salt before eating. Gargling with black tea before eating. Giving him sauerkraut and other non-sweet foods. (He absolutely hates any meat because he has to chew it). I've given him bean with bacon soup but I have to puree it first, so he can quickly drink it down.
I've been on the phone so many times with dieticians and doctors from Mayo, and they all say this won't last forever. But when his treatment ended they said, "Expect another month or so when your taste is still bad." It's been three months, and I swear, it's gotten worse the last few weeks.
Has anyone ever gone this long with tastebuds totally messed up? My husband is beginning to think this is going to be what it's like for the rest of his life!
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I have just begun chemotherapy (2 of 6 3-week cycles under my belt) and food is unappetizing as all has a metallic taste and aftertaste. My cancer is stage 3 ‘primary peritoneal carcinoma’ and I will have ‘debulking’ surgery after my 3rd or 6th chemo cycle. I am a ‘bit’ stressed to hear that the taste issue can get worse and can be lasting. I’m receiving IV Carboplatin, Taxotere, and Avastin as the chemo drugs. Also IV Zofram, prednisone and benedryl.
I’ve had taste issues previously in the past when taking prednisone orally so I had thought the current issue may have been caused by that. I’m trying to drink loads of water (also distasteful so I squeeze lots of fresh lemon juice into it) as I thought it might dilute the taste in my mouth. I’d be very interested in how others are dealing with this issue/side-effect.
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2 ReactionsDuring chemo, it is not uncommon to have all kinds of strange things happen to sense of taste and sense of smell.
I had a total change in taste during my treatments, but it did return in time after. Things I hated, I loved, and the opposite was true as well. I also found I liked fresh fruits and veggies more, and not much else.
The strangest thing was, I could not taste chocolate at all, it was like eating air. The metallic taste is very common. I ate with plastic silverware, it might have helped a little.
Remember, getting through this time is hard, but it will be worth it. You got this.
Are you finding changes already in smell as well?
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2 Reactions@claired Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wager there are several ways we members experience chemo for different cancers. A lot may have to do with other meds, other existing conditions, what diet we are on.
I am very sensitive to salty food, or spicy dishes. Finally, I just accepted my changing tastebuds, and strive to get healthy food into me. Raw carrots taste sweet, apples not so much. Red meat= no taste.
"Never Give Up!"
Ginger
Thank you for the suggestions and words of encouragement. I find I am very sensitive to odors and often have a vague sense of nausea. I found the oral Zofram to be helpful, but need it less so recently. The doctor prescribed another stronger drug for nausea-also used for anxiety and some mental issues but I’ve not taken it.
I’m trying to eat a balanced diet so long as I’m able. Also lots of water with lemon-helps. I have a lot of congestion and bloody nasal discharge (sorry to be so graphic) which doctor says is likely due to dry air, but I see from other posts that is relatively common side effect. Not sure how carefully the doctors follow all the side effects from chemo.
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3 ReactionsDuring chemo it was difficult to have a balanced diet, one reason also no appetite, and strong taste bud change, even water tasted bad as did other foods I used to like- I ended up testing various foods to maintain weight, till I found out what I could tolerate, like ice cream-
since finishing chemo ( 3months ago) my taste buds have improved a lot, -
among many other side effects I had gum bleeding during chemo, now I'm only receiving Mvasi ( Avastin) every 3 weeks and
have nose bleeding every morning with 24/7 runny nose, and symptoms of frozen shoulder and a lot of stiffness, mentioned also as side effects for this drug-
I am receiving Mvasi (Avastin) as well and the nasal issues you mention are familiar. Perhaps that is the source. It’s good to hear your taste buds are recovering. May I ask what your diagnosis was and chemo drugs you were receiving? As I mentioned, mine are Carboplatin, Taxotere (chosen because it supposedly has less neuropathy side effects than Taxol) and the Mvasi.
I received Paclitaxel ( brand name Taxol), Carboplatin, and Mvasi, 6 cycles - I developed neuropathy in fingers and toes, still ongoing, no change - not pleasant,
my diagnosis: high grade serous carcinoma of ovary
Stage: IIIB, according to my oncology nurse many of her patients are diagnosed at this stage
with no previous symptoms
do you have a port for your infusions?
Hi, my name is Larry. I had throat cancer. One chemo and 7 weeks of radiation. My taste buds took a big hit. Everything tasted realy bad. Although I have never tasted dirty carpet, thats what everything tasted like. I could not eat anything! But, I juiced carrots and added organic green powder daily. The flavor of the carrots masked all unpleasent flavors. After 4 weeks of radiation the oncologist examined my throat and said the tumor had shrunk. He asked what I am doing differently and I told him carrot juice. He said maybe there is something beneficial to that.
I have always been thin but lost 30 pounds from not eating, only carrot juice and green powder.
That was 15 years ago. After 5years the VA considers me cured. Peace
Sorry for the delay, it was duffucult getting back to place in the Can wr Connect where I could see your response snd question.
As to a port-No, though that might be done at some point. I will be getting my 3rd of 6 cycles of chemo on this coming Tuesday. I’m reading now about using cold mittens and booties to hopefully downplay neuropathy-which I already had prior to chemo in one leg and foot-now it’s advancing in other foot. I chose Taxitere rather than Taxol because my oncologist said it had less neuropathy side effects. I’m also looking for a medical center that has a specialty in treating in my type of cancer-primary peritoneal carcinoma.