terrible taste in mouth after head/neck radiation

[roseann]

My husband recently had a tumor that grew from his sinus cavity and wrapped around the nerves and his eye that was diagnosed as squamous cell cancer. He under went a 16 hour surgery, where they removed his eye, the sinus cavities, he lost the nerves that make up your sense of smell, which along with losing these most of his taste. He is under going radiation treatments everyday for 6 weeks along with one day a week chemotherapy treatment for 5 weeks. My question is about the horrible taste that he can't seem to get rid of. I wondered if anyone has had this type of treatment or cancer. I would like to hear from them, not very common in our area.

[In]

Hi roseann,

I have moved your post to the head and neck- whick is also for your Husbands Cancer. You'll hopefuly get more replys and helpful answers here.

I'm sorry to hear about your Husbands Cancer. I have often heard of the taste buds being effected by treatment. I am not sure what you could do or why. But JIM or one of the other great guys here, will respond soon.
I just wanted to say I am thinking of you both.

X In

[brainman]

roseann, I am truly sorry about your husband's cancer.

Some chemotherapy agents can cause the sense of a bad taste. Radiation can also damage the taste buds. I cannot be 100% certain in your husband's case, but in most cases, once the treatments are over, the bad taste goes away.

So, what to do in the mean time? My suggestion is to play around with different foods, drinks, mouth washes, etceteras to try to find something that works. Also, make sure to talk about this with his own medical team. They might have more specific suggestions.

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.