Yet another taste question

21 months post Chemoradio.....Experimentation works for me...I keep trying different foods...some taste OK others not so tempting...Cherry Madeira cake from Aldi has suddenly become OK with a cuppa....some steak pies are OK others not ....my taste and appetite are still improving....Alcohol free Guinness is my tipple now....stopped smoking 30 years ago...and learned to swim....good swap.....

From Macmillan....

Peter

markmac said:

He says his first bite with some he gets the full taste, then the next bite the taste is gone. Why wd it chg from full taste to nothing w the second bite. ?  

This is really common and not abnormal. Peter, PFJTHS  has posted the scientific explanation. I hope he sees your question and gives you the answer. I really should bookmark it as it’s a question that comes up a lot. 
Your husband is just 7 weeks clear of RT which is really very early. It’s just patience and knowing that nothing is wrong with his progress. I wasn’t happy with my taste for a year. Up till then I could tell you what I was eating but the taste was very distant. 

I lost all taste about week 3 of treatment, I am now 11 weeks post treatment and ,certain things I can taste whilst others not. I tried an apple last week and it was very I should say salty! But I think the trick is to try many different food stuffs.i couldn't stand any tomato based things a couple of weeks past but I've just had half a tin of lamb and veg big soup and it was alright ,left me a little sore but ok. Dry foods are a no no unless with water. Not sure of calories taking in so I opt to supplement with fresubin. I still struggle with chocolate also .but I ate a whole banana this morning which I haven't been able to do since 2nd week of treatment! I've not tried any meats yet ,only the ones in the soups ,how I'd long for a KFC!

So it's frustrating as the team know on here I'm very impatient as far as recovery goes ,but I am slowly learning to accept it's going to take a while before my next Indian meal out !

Keep trying x

Indian?...I started with Korma...then Chasni...then Tikka Masala.... then Balti and Jalfrezi....can now do Madras....

Luckily we have a great Indian buffet restaurant near...I can try a little bit of everything....

How many weeks after Treatment could you taste and manage an Indian?

Finished treatment June 2023....October 2023 I had a Korma....May 2024 I had a Chasni....both very mild....my wife keeps note....pre treatment a monthly Indian was our treat.

Peter E said:

Finished treatment June 2023....October 2023 I had a Korma....

Crikey. It was a few months longer before I could manage a mild Tikka Masala. Never thought of trying a korma 

The answer from my consultant is that this happens to everybody, not just H&N cancer survivors.  It is just that we are more acutely tuned to it and it happens to us much more readily. 

The example is that if anyone drinks tea, then has a sweet biscuit and then back to the tea often the tea lacks taste as the sugar has overwhelmed the taste buds.  Taste full comes back after a little while as the taste buds recovery from the overload. 

In our case due to the treatment this overload happens much easier and quicker than for other people.  Now a year out from treatment I have noticed that my taste stays with me longer during a meal and I can tolerate more intense tastes without it swamping me.  So there is hope that time is the great healer!