Hi everyone, my husband is 2 weeks into radiotherapy and had one chemo last week. He says he hs terrible taste in his mouth and he is finding some foods taste strange already. Today he is also smelling something weird, he can’t seem to explain except to say it smells ‘machine like’? Just wondering if anyone can tell me if this is quite a normal side effect and any tips to combat the foul taste or what foods would possibly taste ok? He’s always had a very big appetite and loves his food so this is going to be a difficult journey and I’m already worrying about how this will affect him with regard to weight loss. Thank you.
Hi Shazzle like Bridget's husband I had only RT and that severely affected my taste for some months. The metallic taste is down to the chemo which is platinum, a metal. Avoiding metal cutlery is supposed to help and sucking mint or citrus sugar free sweets can mask the taste. You can sweeten food if it tastes bitter or if too salty adding lemon juice counteracts that. By week 4 I was feeding by NG tube and getting all my calories at night by pump. I lost very little weight. I think he has to understand that things will get worse for a while and just go with the flow. Has he a stomach tube? I didn't have a pre placed PEG but it's fairly standard. It ensures you get enough food in to cope with the treatment and speed recovery.
Best wishes
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
