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Hi. I'm a head and neck cancer person... have just had 7 weeks of radiation plus 3 chemo sessions involving sitting in that chair for 5 hours each time 😞
I am one week out of treatment. Yes I'd say this has been the worst week for me. I can actaully handle the pain - I use slow release painkillers via arm patches - but taste is non existent most of the time and the absolute worst nightmare I am enduring is that thick phlegm/stringy mucous that clogs up my throat and like a well trained goalie, tries to block everything I try to swallow...
At present I can't even swallow my supplements - they get stuck in my throat. I'm pretty much on a liquid diet.
which brings me to my question - today I made a beautiful lamb and vegie soup - the plan being even if I can't eat the meat, the vegies will become really mushy and slide down and I will still get the benefit of the protein and vitamins etc in the soupy part... BUT despite seasonings and herbs, my once favourite soup has become tasteless.
so i added a whole large container of beef stock and extra seasoning. Nothing.
So I added a sachet of French Onion soup. Nothing.
So I added another sachet of French Onion soup. Still nothing.
It tastes like varying degrees of mushy cardboard pieces in a tasteless warm liquid of unknown origin!
What else can I try adding that might add flavour???
My taste is weird.
I can drink (and slighty taste) apple juice.
but I cant eat stewed apple - tasteless and won't go down.
I can't drink orange juice with LOTS of ice blocks (otherwise it stings my throat)
But I cant eat orange pieces!
I can also drink Pineapple juice - but can't eat pineapple pieces.
I can barely taste and enjoy spearmint flavoured milk and choc milk - but no other flavours.
But I can't taste real chocolate.
I can also taste lemon flavours - but can't drink it because it stings. Thought i'd be smart and try a lemon cheesecake (plan to eat the cheese part and not the base)... but I couldn't taste a thing! 😞
Last week I could taste scrambled eggs but this week I can't.
I can eat tomatoes and taste them but ONLY if they are fried or grilled - not raw.
I can also eat and enjoy zucchini slices grilled and thus softened... but I can't taste other vegies in my soup! Not even the carrots!
Anyhow, I digress... looking for ideas to put some taste in my soup so I can eat it 🙂
thanks!
D
Hi Dee58,
I'm sorry to hear about your cancer and the effect that it is having on your sense of taste.
I didn't have those symptoms from my chemo (I had a difference cancer/chemo), but I had different issues.
My chemo went on for 6 months and effected my diet in other ways.
I also noticed that there is now a head and neck peer support group.
Maybe you can find more specific support in there.
Thinking of you.
-s