Changes to taste

I'm 6 1/2 years post treatment now, and I still get times when things, just don't taste how they should, and foods that burn my mouth one day but a week later they are fine. Hopefully your taste will return, our taste buds and mouth do get a good battering.

Ray.

Hi. My taste at five years plus has changed over the years. I am happy with sweet but my husband says what I like is far too sweet for him. The intensity of most taste has diminished and I find that adding herbs and spices helps tremendously. I  go to great lengths make sure my salivary glands remain active so on my drier days I chew gum. 
I’ve been warned that taste will fluctuate forever. 

Thanks Ray 

Thanks Dani

I had radiotherapy in 2013 and 2019 for jaw cancer on different sides of my face. I have found the same as you that my taste for sweet things is altered and quite flat and savoury things taste different. It is something I have just come to terms with. However my taste although altered has not diminished as yours has. Could you possibly have thrush as this can affect taste and make it change? Perhaps have a chat to your medical team and ask them why this alteration to taste is happening now. They may be able to shed some light on things.

Lyn

Thank you 

Hi Cupcake 59, the recovery of taste does seem to vary from person too person. I am nearly 3 years post treatment and my taste has recovered to a great extent and has now plateaued. I can eat and drink most things however the ability to differentiate and appreciate subtle differences is reduced and there are several things that are still unpalatable even now: including red wine.  Ice cream still tastes weird but I enjoy marmite on toast every morning. Does not  make sense!

John

Hi John, yes Marmite is still one of the foods that I can taste, probably because it's so strong. I can drink wine but the cheap stuff tastes just the same as the expensive bottles so at least I'm saving money!!

It's just the fact that most things taste of nothing at the moment. This treatment takes away all the pleasure of eating and drinking. 

Cupcake59 said:

This treatment takes away all the pleasure of eating and drinking. 

Not forever. 

Hi As others have said we all vary. I’m comjng uo to 6 years now snd the last 2 weeks   just can’t get peppermint herbal tea to taste right. I’ve drunk it for years pre and post treatment. Sweet tastes overly sweet at the moment. Touch wood savoury’s ok but I’m resigned to alcohol and spicy has gone for good. I like Dani chew sugar free gum to stimulate saliva. 

Hugs Hazel cx