Hi All

The best drink I found was Cranberry Juice, it has a metalic taste to begin with, if its to strong try diluting it with sparkling mineral water or just plain water about 50/50.  Also Lady Gray Tea, which has a orange taste to it, I found quite refreshing - drunk black.

I love coffee but could not drink it at all during my chemo and spicy food was a no no as it agrivated the pains in my joints (side effect).  Tinned Tuna was Ok, I make it with onions, kidney beans, tomatoes and some dill, like a stew. Most beans tasted Ok (except baked beans) so I used those a lot

I found that foods with a slight sweet taste were the worst except for chocolate that still tasted fine.

I bought a soft tooth brush and used a small amount of toothpaste to freshen my mouth several times a day but dont overdo the brushing as it can damage your gums, brushing your tounge helps.

Fortunatly your taste buds do come back to normal after the treatment is over.

Unfortunatly I had to go on a low fibre diet during my radiotherapy and that was awful just eating bland boring food.

I think its a matter of trying things out, good luck

River

Maybe I need to try more things. I was thinking of stopping chemo next week so I could enjoy food again. After 80 days of metal taste I think I have had more than I can take

Hi Rocker

I cannot talk from personal experience; just that of my husband's chemo treatment.  He really hated the lack of enjoyment from food which he had always enjoyed (especially on his foreign business trips) and the metallic taste often used to make him 'gag' when eating. His treatment was not as long as you are having to endure (sadly other side effects meant his body could not cope and it had to be stopped) but he did say anything that could possibly give him the chance of being with family and friends longer was a bonus he could not deny himself (suspect our kids and grandkids were his only motivation by this point he felt so lousy). He did find it useful to have a constant pack of peppermint sweets by his side and used them before, during and after eating to help mask the horrible taste. 

Hope you can chat  your feelings through with your chemo/medical team before taking the  step of having to halt treatment though I know a friend of mine did take a 'leave of absence' from her chemo treatment by mutual consent and was lucky enough to still be well enough to re-start a couple of months later though it slowed her recovery.

Sending a virtual hug and hope things improve for you soon.  Jules

Hi Rocker

I cannot talk from personal experience; just that of my husband's chemo treatment.  He really hated the lack of enjoyment from food which he had always enjoyed (especially on his foreign business trips) and the metallic taste often used to make him 'gag' when eating. His treatment was not as long as you are having to endure (sadly other side effects meant his body could not cope and it had to be stopped) but he did say anything that could possibly give him the chance of being with family and friends longer was a bonus he could not deny himself (suspect our kids and grandkids were his only motivation by this point he felt so lousy). He did find it useful to have a constant pack of peppermint sweets by his side and used them before, during and after eating to help mask the horrible taste. 

Hope you can chat  your feelings through with your chemo/medical team before taking the  step of having to halt treatment though I know a friend of mine did take a 'leave of absence' from her chemo treatment by mutual consent and was lucky enough to still be well enough to re-start a couple of months later though it slowed her recovery.

Sending a virtual hug and hope things improve for you soon.  Jules

Thanks Jules. I have had the taste since my operation which is why I am frustrated. I do admit that if you have family and friends it helps but sadly none of my friends in the city have come to see me since my operation in July so it makes me wonder about longevity. I will chat with my chemo doc next Monday and see what happens

Hi Rocker,

Some of my husband's 'friends' as well as his family chose to 'leave him alone' as they could not cope with seeing him ill and he was not one to ask to see them. Hope your friends are aware you would  not mind visitors now and again.  I used to let family/friends know when hubby was up to a visit and that's when most of them popped round.  They actually got used to seeing him asleep as he could drop off at the drop of a hat but when he woke would carry on chatting from where he had left off.  A chat with  your chemo doc sounds like a plan and they should always be told how you are feeling/coping - they may give you some hints and tips going forward too.  All the best and do let the forum know how you get on. Jules

Hi I've done some reading about loss of taste/metallic taste. It seems there are various factors at work.

Many chemo' drugs contain the metal Platinum for one! The number of patients with taste loss could be as high as 77% according to one study.Maybe it's time for there to be more research into this problem,since good  nutrition is very important just at the point when eating becomes difficult?

David          

good point. I even found it affects my teeth and sight. I had a crown and filling fall out and when I went to get my eyes checked they said wait until chemo is done since the prescription for glasses could change up to 3 times