Bitter taste

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I’m at the end of week three CRT for tonsil cancer.  Managing on soft foods and soups but everything I eat has a bitter taste.  I’ve tried all sorts of variations and just had a piece of chocolate which set  my tongue on fire! 
Has anyone any tips on making food more palatable to offset this bitterness? 

Ally

  • It’s a difficult one Ally because things will now change daily. Not being able to swallow isn’t the only reason to use your PEG. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Hi Dani

    I didn’t have a PEG fitted for various reasons and opted for NG tube if necessary. The oncologist seems to think I’ll be able to get through treatment without and as determined as I am, I’m taking it day by day. 

    You’re right, something that tasted ok yesterday tastes revolting today. So difficult as the dexamethasone I take after chemo makes me ravenous. I’ll be topping up later with the delightful Fresubin supplements I’ve been given a supply of. 

    Ally x

  • Then it’s a case of just chucking anything down and ignoring the taste. It’s awful. Before I tube fed I was trying to swallow vanilla Fortisips. I must say the first one I tried came up in five seconds. 
    Just do the best you can. Maybe try cold stuff like ice cream? You can’t taste cold food as well as hot food. 
    What I’m trying to say is that shouldn’t expect food to taste any better till you’ve recovered. They do say that using plastic cutlery helps the metallic taste you get with Cisplatin. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge