How do you cope with altered taste after cancer treatment?

Dealing with taste changes after treatment can be incredibly challenging and frustrating, especially when it affects daily enjoyment of food and eating. Many others in this community have found relief through experimenting with different flavors, textures, and temperature combinations, while some have worked with nutritionists who specialize in post-treatment dietary adjustments. What specific taste changes are bothering you most - perhaps others here have discovered helpful strategies to share?

Totally agree Kim. This will be year 3 after treatments. Dr said some recover taste sensation after 3 weeks, some after 3 months, some after 3 years. I would say I recovered about 25% back. Grateful...but still sucks. Bothers me to see people enjoying their food now lol. Sometimes I feel I would have preferred losing a limb rather than losing taste sensations. I feel I was never really prepared for this.

Hi Steven. It does suck. I’m one of those people that’s always loved cooking. Now I don’t cook. Our family gathering were always centered around food. Like crawfish boils and Sunday dinners. It has made a negative impact on my life with my family. And nobody can understand what I’m going through.

Yes I'm 1 1/2 years post treatment, still cancer free. Oropharyngeal cancer lost taste in some foods, changes in others. Some textures of food hard to swallow. But life goes on. Make the best of what is enjoyable.

I understand Kim. I still cook for my family. Always ask if I seasoned food properly as I can't tell. Can't stand when people say "oh, this is delicious". Try to give people some grace, I know its hard and difficult at times. I was not fully prepared by my Oncologist as well. Their pat answer is, people react differently to treatments, and their right. Keep experimenting with different foods. Try a buffet where there's many options.

Thanks for that suggestion Steve. I made my specialty shrimp creole a couple of weeks ago and when I asked my daughter how it was she said she had to add some Tony’s to it. She told me she wasn’t going to mention it but I asked.

Hey Kim, I hated salty foods at first. Now 3 years later I can eat salty foods again. I think what we can taste post treatments/surgeries may be an individual thing as some of us had different areas on tongue removed. Different areas, different taste buds. Find, discover what you can eat. Many of us prefer vegetables. I no longer enjoy meat as much as I use to. I load up on peanut butter/jelly sandwiches with copious amounts of milk to wash it down. I can and always could taste peanut butter throughout. (wierd right? 😅) Give it time and don't stop experimenting with food!

I’m so glad somebody understands what I’m talking about. Thank you

It is all definitely life changing but by far a death knell! We can manage this!