When will my sense of taste and smell return?

Posted by williamanelsonjr @williamanelsonjr, Mar 15 2:22pm

I've had chemo and radiation for my throat cancer. It's been three weeks now since I've had my last treatments, and I'm wondering when anyone here started to have their taste and smell return.

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jonesja | @jonesja | Mar 16 8:39am

I would say it took me about 3-4 months after radiation before my taste and smell came back. It will happen Very slowly. My eating and drinking was somewhat normal after about 6-8 months. Soft foods, etc. Throat pain gradually decreased but it was 2 steps forward and 1 step back. There is a generic dry mouthwash at Walgreens/ CVS that really helped me with dry mouth resulting from low Salvia production. Hang in there it will slowly get better. Today I am 18 months out of radiation and back to about 90% normal with taste, Salvia, smell, eating about anything, energy, etc. God Speed

jersey3422 | @jersey3422 | Mar 16 10:04am

I think it took me about 3-4 months also. I don’t recall losing my sense of smell. I just know eating was a challenge for me. I still can’t eat potatoes to this day! 😂 Anyway keep your spirits high. Things really do improve over time. The ones that don’t you’ll get through too. Cancer changes you as a person, but we can’t let it win! 🙏🏼

William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Mar 16 3:38pm

I would concur with the others here, a few months although I had the taste of salt after about three weeks, chicken soup I believe was the first. Likely your tastes will change a bit as time goes by. For me I can't do anything spicy although being English decent, catsup is our hot sauce.
Who knows, you might enjoy foods you once turned away from. This cancer trip is such a weird adventure. Good healing and lets hope this is for many years ahead.

williamanelsonjr | @williamanelsonjr | Mar 16 9:06pm

Thanks to everyone for the response and words of encouragement. I'm starting week number without having any treatments.

roblem | @roblem | Mar 17 2:00pm

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.