I am now post 8 months from my radiation treatment for throat cancer.

I’m 9 months post proton radiation and chemo. I have issues with brain fog and fatigue. My tinnitus is worse than I thought it would be and there’s no real treatment. I also have issues with a lack of mucus, irregular bowls, and keeping my weight up. Most my sense of taste has come back but spice and alcohol burns my mouth. Getting treatment, appointments, and follow up care for side effects has been a real struggle. But I’ve had 2 negative PET scans and I’m hopeful to get back closer to normal. Tip: listen to your doctor and research everything. Chemo changes you….and saves you. Be strong!!!

It's been 2 decades, and I've grown accustomed to all the short comings of surviving cancer. Surprisingly, there is so much information here that I have never received throughout my time dealing with this. They've come a long way in their treatment. Hang in there. The key thing is to remember; you are doing this to survive.

@jimsmith888
I’m 17yrs out and alcohol and spice is still an issue for me so much that I don’t really do either now.
You can add anything that is acidic too like tomatoes but not to the extreme of the alcohol or spice.

I can add, being 8+ months out from treatment, I had the same issues with most tomato based items. Ketchup, pizza sauce and the list goes on. When you take out the sweet component, the vinegar really takes over. It wasn’t until recently that I can eat these items, yet at about 50% of the taste I recall.

The same is true for alcohol and most other drinks. Most drinks have a sour component that overwhelms my taste buds (when you can’t taste sweet). I have found that coconut water or coconut cream mixes well and tones strong flavors. Like Thai tea (which can be really sweet but not so much to me) or rum and coconut water. I don’t drink much so it’s not a big deal to me.

My previous go-to was Campari, and being a bitter drink, it’s now Ok. I have not tried beer or wine since treatment.

I also had the first taste and fade but that has gotten better.

@robpara chocolate without the taste of sweet is awful, so bitter. As a chocoholic, I'm happy to say that my taste for it came back, though it is different. I can now appreciate dark chocolate. There are good days ahead, and hopefully you all will get to enjoy them.

I'm over 3 months out and I understand what you're saying. My teeth are sore and well as my jaw line. I feel my teeth are going to fall out? Ice cream I can somewhat taste the first bite, after that, nothing. Same with all sweets. My nose is running a lot, especially after I eat. I have to blow my nose several times. I have hard areas in my throat which I think is Fibrosis? I go for my first Pet Scan in a few days after my radiation and surgery. Hopefully I'm negative. I'm going to PT twice a weeks to help with my neck stiffness and hard spots. My therapists really does a great job working on the area. I'm getting sick of this whole ordeal and I too have to remind myself it was to save your life.

@harleytiger Try to focus on the fact that you are cancet free,easier said than done I know, but you're over the worst time of your life. It will get better. Best of luck with your CT scan,really hope it's clear!

I am 2 years post radiation and had most of the problems you listed at first and saw a lot of improvement by end of first year. Mouth sore went away but dry mouth continued. Toothaches went away. Dry mouth still present but improving slowly. I have to drink more water when I eat and avoid overly chewy things for best swallowing. I have my teeth cleaned more often which helps.
Also minimal interest in sweets. My sense of taste is varied day to day. Probably about 60%. It will get better in time and like another writer said
all of these side effects are the price of survival and still being able to enjoy what we can. Wishing you the best-things will improve.

@harleytiger, did u have both radiation chemo? When do the side effects kick in? I'm shit scared. Tors wasn't too brutal.

@kamrin I didn't have Chemo, but I did have surgery. My ENT operated on me and so I didn't have TORS. The side effects from radiation kicked in at the end. Then it hits like a brick. I'm getting better every day. My tastes are coming around and my mouth isn't as dry as it was. The bottom line is that I'm improving. It's very scary and it's not for wimps. You have to bone up and take some pain...especially when eating. In the beginning when think you're the only one and this is very difficult. But, realize there are some out there much worse. Lately, I'm trying to deal with the radiation fibrosis in my neck. My Physical Therapists is very good at working on my neck. Hopefully a year from now I'll be close to normal? My first Pet Scan after radiation is this week and I'm hoping for a good outcome. We'll see. Hang in there.