Very disappointed I wasn't told that salivary gland damage was a permanent quality of life change
If you are looking at neck related radiation treatments I will tell you that looking into options would be a very good idea for piece of mind. I looked into the possibility of a malpractice case I was so enraged.
People tell me I should be glad to be on this side of the grass, but they don't have to live in my skin and not be able to enjoy pretty much any of the food I used to love. I'm still not sure what direction my life wil take but I can guarantee one thing, if it were to come back I would let it take it's course and not put myself through that again.
While there is one hope from an Israel based medical device that stimulates the salivary glands it isn't approved as yet by our wonderful government.
Comments
-
Radiation
is really the only way to go. Losing saliva and taste is tough; losing the ability to swallow is even tougher. No one seems to be able to predict the extent to which any H&NC patient will get those side effects as a result of radiation; I don't really blame the doctors for being vague.
What the doctor said and what you heard might be different. This is why you sign forms - I suspect if you read whatever you signed, you will find that they warned you about side effects and that "many patients regain part or all of these functions but in some cases, there can be a permanent loss of. . . " etc.
Folks seem to see the majority of whatever they are going to regain in the first year after radiation, but people report improvement even after that. I do hope things get better for you.0 -
TimeDrMary said:Radiation
is really the only way to go. Losing saliva and taste is tough; losing the ability to swallow is even tougher. No one seems to be able to predict the extent to which any H&NC patient will get those side effects as a result of radiation; I don't really blame the doctors for being vague.
What the doctor said and what you heard might be different. This is why you sign forms - I suspect if you read whatever you signed, you will find that they warned you about side effects and that "many patients regain part or all of these functions but in some cases, there can be a permanent loss of. . . " etc.
Folks seem to see the majority of whatever they are going to regain in the first year after radiation, but people report improvement even after that. I do hope things get better for you.
I can tell you that Glenn had radiation that killed one Parotid gland (on the disease side) and did not kill the other.
He is presently 10 months out of treatment and experiencing some return of saliva. His tastebuds have recovered 100% and he is able to swallow anything he likes.
Honestly, if you asked me if he would've returned to this much function at about a week or even a month after treatment, I would not have thought so.
Yes, he's dry and yes, he can't eat everything. Most everything needs to have "foobricant" or water to help it down but we eat out (more than we should) and we have backyard barbeque and he's able to raid the refrigerator for a little snack when the mood strikes.
What I'm saying is you may find, as time goes by, that you adjust to this loss. You may recover some saliva (from the less damages gland) and employ other tricks to make eating less of a chore.
I hope things improve for you. I believe they will.0 -
Similar Questions
Not sure how long you have been post treatment? I can only offer that if it's been less than 12 - 18 months, salivary function to some degree may return.
I am about two weeks away from being post treatment 24 months ago.
I had Amifostine injections just prior to each of my 35 rad sessions which I feel helped. But I know a lot whom didn't and their salivary functions have improved as well.
For the first 4 - 6 months I had extremely dry mouth. Carried a bottle of water with me at all times. Each bite of food, a swig of water, every few sentences, a swig of water....
But it slowly started coming back, and now I'm nearly 90%+ on both saliva and taste. Sleeping at night is about the only time that I get dry anymore.
So, hopefully you're only a few months post treatment and yours will return also.
Best,
John0 -
foobricant! Nice to knowmiccmill said:Time
I can tell you that Glenn had radiation that killed one Parotid gland (on the disease side) and did not kill the other.
He is presently 10 months out of treatment and experiencing some return of saliva. His tastebuds have recovered 100% and he is able to swallow anything he likes.
Honestly, if you asked me if he would've returned to this much function at about a week or even a month after treatment, I would not have thought so.
Yes, he's dry and yes, he can't eat everything. Most everything needs to have "foobricant" or water to help it down but we eat out (more than we should) and we have backyard barbeque and he's able to raid the refrigerator for a little snack when the mood strikes.
What I'm saying is you may find, as time goes by, that you adjust to this loss. You may recover some saliva (from the less damages gland) and employ other tricks to make eating less of a chore.
I hope things improve for you. I believe they will.
foobricant! Nice to know someone else is using the same term!
PS..What happened to chicken and why does it taste so awful!
Stacey0 -
just an old bald headed mans thoughts
My Dr did tell me that I would have dry mouth however like most I was in a semi state of shock and just wanted the "beast" out of my body no matter what. No he didn't go into details and 15 years ago I don't know if this site was even online to learn from. Also many of the things that are happening to me weren't even known to be possible problems back then. Yes I'm pissed that I am having serious after effects (much more than just the dry mouth) but I do remember that after some time I did get used to sleeping with cotton mouth and the constant carrying of a water bottle.
However my life has been blessed in so many ways these past 15 years; new wife, grandchildren etc. so if I had to do it over again I probably would. We have a new "normal" now and it just takes getting used to. Don't know why I was picked for this disease but I was so I just do the best I can every day.
Good luck and I hope your annger subsides some time in the future.
Denny
PS: Yes I'm glad I'm on this side of the grass0 -
Same Questions as the others
Dave,
I have pretty much the same questions as listed above. Main one is how long you are out of treatment(s).
I remember one survivor posting either on here or another site that I visit, that he finally started to have some saliva after 6 years out from treatment. I am in the same boat as you, my mouth is like the desert when I eat and I am 6 1/2 years out. So, I had hope for some saliva after reading that survivor's comment several years back, but it isn't meant to be for me.
Another survivor I know suggested to me to try accupuncture because he got his saliva back after 2 treatments of accupuncture. I checked with my insurance and they said they would pay for it and my cost was a co-pay. So, I went and tried it. The Doctor told me that if I didn't have saliva after 6 treatments, we were wasting money. I did the 6 treatments and had no saliva, but did one more treatment to make sure. Didn't work for me, but might work for others.
My Best to You and Everyone Here.0 -
I can understand your frustration.
I wasn't told that the side effects could be so severe. While I am glad that I'm on this side of the grass now, for a solid year, at least, after I had radiation, I wasn't so sure I was happy I chose to have radiation.
They had to take my left salivary gland out when they did my neck dissection. That is basically where my tumor was, so I was already down one going in and then rads fried the other. I got a pretty good dose because my primary was unknown. My mouth was destroyed. I had sores on top of sores and my mouth bled constantly. I am just over two years out, and my tongue still feels scalded. Talking is an effort. I have very little saliva. My mouth was so bad that I would have died without my peg tube and I still was so sick I lost 40 lbs and was down to 87 lbs. I didn't drink for about 5 months. I didn't eat food for almost 9 months. In addition the radiation left me with a severe stricture. I have had two stretchings and eating is still difficult. It was down to only 2 mm.
Eating and cooking was a joy and passion of mine. I was very bitter for a long time that it was taken from me. I struggled through another round of deep clinical depression because of it. I fought tooth and nail to try and eat again and to gain some weight back. I had my peg tube for 18 months. I was only about 94 or 97 lbs when I got it out this past September. I'm around 110 or so. (I was always a good weight of 120-125 before all this mess)
I cannot say eating is a "pleasure" like it used to be, but I am finally happy again. It's like a job for me. I have had to learn a different approach to food. I have changed what I eat. Tons of fruits and vegetables, cause I can actually swallow that. Meats are like trying to swallow sawdust. Especially chicken.
No amount of milk or water or whatever helps me get most meats down. I can manage tiny little rack of lamb chops. Two of those takes me and hour and a half, but I can get it down without it being a major choking hazard. I have learned how to prepare food differently. My mini chopper processor has done wonders, as well as an emulsifier (high speed blender). I still drink about half my calories. Smoothies of whole fruit and veggies are a great way to get nutrition in. So eating and food prep take up a lot of my day. Three hours a day just for eating. I am just glad I can and I'm rid of that stupid tube.
I have even been trying to develop recipes and write a HNC cookbook.
The only thing I can say, is that I hope it gets better for you. I hope you can find a way to bring some joy back to food and eating in your life. You may not be able to enjoy the things you used to, but maybe there will be new things and new ways for you to enjoy food.
Even if they did develop something to help fried salivary gland, I would still be down one. It would be so nice to have saliva again...
Blessings,
Sweet0 -
Not so fast...it comes back slowly.
I was a bit depressed with my initial dry mouth...bone dry in fact. I had chemo and rads. Rads "all the way 'round", 12-14 blasts for 33 days. They say the chemo can make it worse.
My dry mouth has not been permanent. I'm 13 months post treatment and have SLOWLY regained salivary function...just as my doctors advised. I am enjoying eating again. Not as much as before, but for the most part I look forward to eating.
A few months ago I started taking a prescription drug call Evoxac. It helps me. It helps with salivary function. Similar to Salagen another drug worth asking your doctor about. My docs say at the two year mark the saliva will be where it will be for the rest of my life...everyone's different.
If you live in the Woodlands TX, send me message...I get together with another H&N survivor every month at a support group in Cypress TX. He had some major work done and is doing very well.
Best to you, and all here.
Chuck.0 -
Come what may...
You would let it take it's course without treatment if it were to come back? And you looked into "malpractice?" Hmmmm...
You might not have the option of rads if it comes back. Body can take only so much of it without permanent nerve, etc., damage that is unacceptable. And as for the malpractice- good luck on that one, as you will likely paint yourself into a corner as an unappreciative punk, etc., etc., if it's only because of your dry mouth and inability to enjoy food like you used to. What- did you think C is kinda like the measles?
I'm almost 26-months since my last rad, Dave, and maybe I got a few complaints- but those complaints don't amount to a hill of beans compared to the alternative of where H&N leads, and I don't give them much of any thought. Yes, I'm lucky, like John, in that my saliva and taste had recovered pretty good after about a year, post-tx. And I hope you will be able to say the same, if you are less than a year out of tx. I really am hoping your above post was just a little venting that's not to be taken too seriously. We all live with side-effects, Dave, including me. H&N ranks as the 2nd-roughest treatment, but one of the best for survival. Putting obstacles into the minds of those getting started is not what we are about. Trying to put the scare into people about rads does little good, and likely a whole lotta potential harm.
Little thing I learned a couple years ago: a Positive mindset goes a long ways, as do the future plans of "Come what may."
kcass0 -
Takes time!Kent Cass said:Come what may...
You would let it take it's course without treatment if it were to come back? And you looked into "malpractice?" Hmmmm...
You might not have the option of rads if it comes back. Body can take only so much of it without permanent nerve, etc., damage that is unacceptable. And as for the malpractice- good luck on that one, as you will likely paint yourself into a corner as an unappreciative punk, etc., etc., if it's only because of your dry mouth and inability to enjoy food like you used to. What- did you think C is kinda like the measles?
I'm almost 26-months since my last rad, Dave, and maybe I got a few complaints- but those complaints don't amount to a hill of beans compared to the alternative of where H&N leads, and I don't give them much of any thought. Yes, I'm lucky, like John, in that my saliva and taste had recovered pretty good after about a year, post-tx. And I hope you will be able to say the same, if you are less than a year out of tx. I really am hoping your above post was just a little venting that's not to be taken too seriously. We all live with side-effects, Dave, including me. H&N ranks as the 2nd-roughest treatment, but one of the best for survival. Putting obstacles into the minds of those getting started is not what we are about. Trying to put the scare into people about rads does little good, and likely a whole lotta potential harm.
Little thing I learned a couple years ago: a Positive mindset goes a long ways, as do the future plans of "Come what may."
kcass
I had stage 4b cancer & was not spared any of my treatment's. From what I was told they blasted me with the rads etc. I managed to gain weight during treatment & alot of it lol. It was tough but I was able to enjoy eating & drinking thing's that worked well at the time. No it is not the same but doable. You can't give up no matter how down you get. I thought of it as a challenge. That I was not going to give up on myself without trying. Food has to be prepared differently for us to swallow etc. But most of us have done it with great success. The Dr's really know the side effect's but each patient is different from the other. I had mouth sores for month's but could still drink shakes & water. I also had hardly any pain so was off pain med's early. Some of us suffer more than other's & Dr's are not God! Keep trying I know it will get better.0 -
salivary and taste post-treatment
I am three months post treatment and have greater than 90% recovery of taste and salivary. Just have one real dry spot half-way down my throat which I can only feel first thing in the morning. I can eat and swallow anything.......give it time, don't dwell on being negative, we have all been upset/disapointed about things we weren't told or warned of.....I was given a packet of info three inches thick which warned of everything you can imagine, but everyone responds to treatment different.
Stay positive, it's what got a lot of us through this, Dominic0 -
RadiationGreend said:just an old bald headed mans thoughts
My Dr did tell me that I would have dry mouth however like most I was in a semi state of shock and just wanted the "beast" out of my body no matter what. No he didn't go into details and 15 years ago I don't know if this site was even online to learn from. Also many of the things that are happening to me weren't even known to be possible problems back then. Yes I'm pissed that I am having serious after effects (much more than just the dry mouth) but I do remember that after some time I did get used to sleeping with cotton mouth and the constant carrying of a water bottle.
However my life has been blessed in so many ways these past 15 years; new wife, grandchildren etc. so if I had to do it over again I probably would. We have a new "normal" now and it just takes getting used to. Don't know why I was picked for this disease but I was so I just do the best I can every day.
Good luck and I hope your annger subsides some time in the future.
Denny
PS: Yes I'm glad I'm on this side of the grass
I would have to say that I agree with Denny and the others on this one. I had radiation in 1996 (traditional style) that affected my salivary glands and taste buds (among other things).
It took almost a year for me to get my taste buds back to a good place and occasionally I still have issues with not being able to taste certain foods or they taste "different" to me than they do to other people. I do still walk around with a water bottle all day long because I can't afford to get dry mouth or get dehydrated. But we have learned how to work that into my lifestyle so it has become second nature. If I didn't have the radiation therapy, I probably wouldn't be alive right now. That means I would not have been able to watch my daughter and son grow up, graduate high school, get married and each have their own children. I have 5 beautiful granddaughters that I never would have been able to get to love and cherish. I wouldn't have been married to my wonderful husband but a couple of years (2nd marriage for both of us) and I wouldn't have been able to sit back and enjoy what life truly has to offer each and every Blessed day!
I, like many others here, have been compromised by radiation therapy. The side effects of it and our various conditions are not a cake walk by any means. However, we do the best we can with what we are given at any given time. We all have our good days and our bad days and all we can HOPE for any given day is that we take what we can out of each day and enjoy it to the fullest potential we can. Yesterday is over, tomorrow is not yet here so all we have is today.
I hope you get the use of your taste buds and salivary glands back. Please don't let those 2 issues become the totality of who you are though.
Peace.
Teresa0 -
Follow up answers from everyone
To answer everyone's questions.
1. I am not trying to "scare" anyone off from treatment but I would have liked the opportunity to look at alternatives if I had been told about possible permanent side effects.
2. No, I did not sign anything that said "possibly permanent" we all sign forms during this time that have plenty of "I'm aware there may be side effects", but nothing that spelled out "permanent" changes in a basic function of life. Believe me I looked.
3. Yes, I said I "looked" into malpractice but being an educated person with connections that range all the way to an Ex Director Of The California Medical Board I knew that I didn't have a case but was ticked off enough to look into it which I did.
4. I had both radiation and Cisplatin at the same time that ended in December 2010. The comments made from others here have given me more hope that I still may see some change both in my salivary gland function and my sense of taste.
5. Am I Bitter at all of this? You bet I am and it doesn't do any good to myself mentally to deny it.
I did for quite awhile and realized it was much more healthy for me to admit my anger and disappointment in the outcome of treatment. I am not ungrateful for what the health care professionals did but I am bitter that I was never informed of possible alternatives before deciding on treatment. My fault yes, but at the time you are not exactly thinking too straight.
6. Have I tried alternative treatments? Yes I had read about acupuncture so decided even though my insurance didn't cover it I tried 6 treatments with a very experienced and highly recommended person. Did it help? NO not for my dry mouth but it did help some other physical issues so that was a plus.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words it does help when you know you're not totally alone at what you're going through and I hope the best for everyone else as well.0 -
Follow up answers from everyone
To answer everyone's questions.
1. I am not trying to "scare" anyone off from treatment but I would have liked the opportunity to look at alternatives if I had been told about possible permanent side effects.
2. No, I did not sign anything that said "possibly permanent" we all sign forms during this time that have plenty of "I'm aware there may be side effects", but nothing that spelled out "permanent" changes in a basic function of life. Believe me I looked.
3. Yes, I said I "looked" into malpractice but being an educated person with connections that range all the way to an Ex Director Of The California Medical Board I knew that I didn't have a case but was ticked off enough to look into it which I did.
4. I had both radiation and Cisplatin at the same time that ended in December 2010. The comments made from others here have given me more hope that I still may see some change both in my salivary gland function and my sense of taste.
5. Am I Bitter at all of this? You bet I am and it doesn't do any good to myself mentally to deny it.
I did for quite awhile and realized it was much more healthy for me to admit my anger and disappointment in the outcome of treatment. I am not ungrateful for what the health care professionals did but I am bitter that I was never informed of possible alternatives before deciding on treatment. My fault yes, but at the time you are not exactly thinking too straight.
6. Have I tried alternative treatments? Yes I had read about acupuncture so decided even though my insurance didn't cover it I tried 6 treatments with a very experienced and highly recommended person. Did it help? NO not for my dry mouth but it did help some other physical issues so that was a plus.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words it does help when you know you're not totally alone at what you're going through and I hope the best for everyone else as well.0 -
Hi Davedaveinwoodland said:Follow up answers from everyone
To answer everyone's questions.
1. I am not trying to "scare" anyone off from treatment but I would have liked the opportunity to look at alternatives if I had been told about possible permanent side effects.
2. No, I did not sign anything that said "possibly permanent" we all sign forms during this time that have plenty of "I'm aware there may be side effects", but nothing that spelled out "permanent" changes in a basic function of life. Believe me I looked.
3. Yes, I said I "looked" into malpractice but being an educated person with connections that range all the way to an Ex Director Of The California Medical Board I knew that I didn't have a case but was ticked off enough to look into it which I did.
4. I had both radiation and Cisplatin at the same time that ended in December 2010. The comments made from others here have given me more hope that I still may see some change both in my salivary gland function and my sense of taste.
5. Am I Bitter at all of this? You bet I am and it doesn't do any good to myself mentally to deny it.
I did for quite awhile and realized it was much more healthy for me to admit my anger and disappointment in the outcome of treatment. I am not ungrateful for what the health care professionals did but I am bitter that I was never informed of possible alternatives before deciding on treatment. My fault yes, but at the time you are not exactly thinking too straight.
6. Have I tried alternative treatments? Yes I had read about acupuncture so decided even though my insurance didn't cover it I tried 6 treatments with a very experienced and highly recommended person. Did it help? NO not for my dry mouth but it did help some other physical issues so that was a plus.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words it does help when you know you're not totally alone at what you're going through and I hope the best for everyone else as well.
Sorry I did not get on the original conversation as I am just logging in now. I know you might be a little up-set by the possibility of not having your saliva glands working as they once did. But if you look on the other side of things you could be a lot worse off then just not having saliva glands. I had my NPC cancer come back on me three times and I did Radiation and Chemo for it twice to try and stop the darn thing. I have a lot of side affects from the treatment, some of them are my Food don’t taste the same anymore, Pain in the head, can’t Walk straight, loss of memory, loss of hearing. But you what when my Grandchildren come to see me it was all worth what I went through just to be part of there life’s.
Try using some Stoppers 4 for your dry mouth at night, it will let you get a good 4 hours sleep with out waking up to drink water
A big part of your saliva glands and taste buds will all come back and you will have what we all call the new Normal.
Take care and welcome to the family here on CSN.
All the best my friend
Hondo0 -
Tough Crowddaveinwoodland said:Follow up answers from everyone
To answer everyone's questions.
1. I am not trying to "scare" anyone off from treatment but I would have liked the opportunity to look at alternatives if I had been told about possible permanent side effects.
2. No, I did not sign anything that said "possibly permanent" we all sign forms during this time that have plenty of "I'm aware there may be side effects", but nothing that spelled out "permanent" changes in a basic function of life. Believe me I looked.
3. Yes, I said I "looked" into malpractice but being an educated person with connections that range all the way to an Ex Director Of The California Medical Board I knew that I didn't have a case but was ticked off enough to look into it which I did.
4. I had both radiation and Cisplatin at the same time that ended in December 2010. The comments made from others here have given me more hope that I still may see some change both in my salivary gland function and my sense of taste.
5. Am I Bitter at all of this? You bet I am and it doesn't do any good to myself mentally to deny it.
I did for quite awhile and realized it was much more healthy for me to admit my anger and disappointment in the outcome of treatment. I am not ungrateful for what the health care professionals did but I am bitter that I was never informed of possible alternatives before deciding on treatment. My fault yes, but at the time you are not exactly thinking too straight.
6. Have I tried alternative treatments? Yes I had read about acupuncture so decided even though my insurance didn't cover it I tried 6 treatments with a very experienced and highly recommended person. Did it help? NO not for my dry mouth but it did help some other physical issues so that was a plus.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words it does help when you know you're not totally alone at what you're going through and I hope the best for everyone else as well.
LOL, sorry for your baptism by fire.....it can be a tough crowd, ot usually but sometimes. Welcome to the forum, it gets better I promise, LOL.
We all suffer from some form of side effects, you are no different. Life is better than the alternative, so in that respect, I hope you see where some are coming from.
I wouldn't give up hope, I'm two years out, have around 90% of both salivary function and taste...but still hoping for that other 10%.
Hoping for the best, and looking forward of hearing about you drooling and taste to return soon.
John0 -
NEEDING TO VENTdaveinwoodland said:Follow up answers from everyone
To answer everyone's questions.
1. I am not trying to "scare" anyone off from treatment but I would have liked the opportunity to look at alternatives if I had been told about possible permanent side effects.
2. No, I did not sign anything that said "possibly permanent" we all sign forms during this time that have plenty of "I'm aware there may be side effects", but nothing that spelled out "permanent" changes in a basic function of life. Believe me I looked.
3. Yes, I said I "looked" into malpractice but being an educated person with connections that range all the way to an Ex Director Of The California Medical Board I knew that I didn't have a case but was ticked off enough to look into it which I did.
4. I had both radiation and Cisplatin at the same time that ended in December 2010. The comments made from others here have given me more hope that I still may see some change both in my salivary gland function and my sense of taste.
5. Am I Bitter at all of this? You bet I am and it doesn't do any good to myself mentally to deny it.
I did for quite awhile and realized it was much more healthy for me to admit my anger and disappointment in the outcome of treatment. I am not ungrateful for what the health care professionals did but I am bitter that I was never informed of possible alternatives before deciding on treatment. My fault yes, but at the time you are not exactly thinking too straight.
6. Have I tried alternative treatments? Yes I had read about acupuncture so decided even though my insurance didn't cover it I tried 6 treatments with a very experienced and highly recommended person. Did it help? NO not for my dry mouth but it did help some other physical issues so that was a plus.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words it does help when you know you're not totally alone at what you're going through and I hope the best for everyone else as well.
Hello all,hope all is well. I have been doing more "lurking" than anything lately. That is until now. Dave, I can relate to being angry, but am glad you clarified your position. I was beginning to think my medical insurance costs were going up due to you not being able to spit.
It is frustrating, but you will modify and move forward as we all have done. I too have experienced some side effects that were and were not explained to me up front, but regardless I am very glad to be alive right now, as I am sure you are also.
Hang in there, it gets better. I am 7 months post treatment.
From a "no hair, deaf and ear ringin Tinnitus havin L Hermettes shockin survivor.
Best!!!
Mike0 -
Betterluv4lacrosse said:NEEDING TO VENT
Hello all,hope all is well. I have been doing more "lurking" than anything lately. That is until now. Dave, I can relate to being angry, but am glad you clarified your position. I was beginning to think my medical insurance costs were going up due to you not being able to spit.
It is frustrating, but you will modify and move forward as we all have done. I too have experienced some side effects that were and were not explained to me up front, but regardless I am very glad to be alive right now, as I am sure you are also.
Hang in there, it gets better. I am 7 months post treatment.
From a "no hair, deaf and ear ringin Tinnitus havin L Hermettes shockin survivor.
Best!!!
Mike
"From a no hair, deaf and ear ringin Tinnitus havin L Hermettes shockin survivor."
So you mean you got better....LOL, sorry glad to see a post from you...lurker.
Best,
John0 -
DaveSkiffin16 said:Tough Crowd
LOL, sorry for your baptism by fire.....it can be a tough crowd, ot usually but sometimes. Welcome to the forum, it gets better I promise, LOL.
We all suffer from some form of side effects, you are no different. Life is better than the alternative, so in that respect, I hope you see where some are coming from.
I wouldn't give up hope, I'm two years out, have around 90% of both salivary function and taste...but still hoping for that other 10%.
Hoping for the best, and looking forward of hearing about you drooling and taste to return soon.
John
If your last rad was this past December, then it is still too early to regard such as the loss of saliva and taste as being permanent, which is great news for you. I, too, got Cisplatin and FU-5 at the same time I was getting the rads. My taste did start to return about 4-months after the last rad with hotter/spicier foods, like hot dogs with onion and mustard and relish, which gradually got replaced with chef-style salads and roadhouse chili- which still hurts a bit, but does taste good. I hope it all comes back for you as well as it has for John and I, and some others, here. Just takes time to heal.
And, I apologize for being of the "rough crowd," but C is a rough character, too, you know. Not many of us get out unscathed, though to varying degrees. C=Death, Dave, and most of us are just happy as can be to be alive with acceptable side-effects. And, compared to a number of us, I consider myself one of the lucky ones in that regard, and hope you can someday say the same.
kcass0
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