The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Thank you for being a part of the Cancer Survivor Network community. Survivors and caregivers like you have played a unique role in fostering an online environment that encourages connection among those needing support, community, and education. On May 28, the Network will be discontinued. More details are available here . If you have any questions, contact CSNSupportTeam@cancer.org. Thanks again for the support you’ve provided each other over the years. We remain committed to supporting you in other ways throughout your cancer journey.

Food and drink

Dav1965
Dav1965 CSN Member Posts: 132
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I had left and right neck dissection and 95% of my tongue removed and replaced in July 2010. Along with chemo and radiation. The doctors let me start eating soft food about 2 weeks ago. Food taste about the same as it used too but nothing i drink taste good. Why does food taste about the same and drink taste so different? Thanks David
Like Care

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 CSN Member Posts: 8,307 Member
    #2
    Temperature
    Just a guess here....

    Several on here that have had similar treatments. I'm sure someone can offer you some firs hand knowledge...

    Best,
    John
    Like Care
  • ratface
    ratface CSN Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Temperature
    Just a guess here....

    Several on here that have had similar treatments. I'm sure someone can offer you some firs hand knowledge...

    Best,
    John

    I'll venture a guess
    taste buds are located at different sites within the mouth. When you chew food there is still contact with many taste buds. When you drink liquid it goes straight down and most of those taste buds have been removed. The fact that you can even eat anything with 95 percent of the tongue gone is amazing.
    Like Care
  • Pam M
    Pam M CSN Member Posts: 2,196
    #4
    Wow
    Congrats to graduating to eating. Wonderful.

    I'm with the others - have you tried room temp liquids, swished around your mouth? Does liquid taste bad, or is it tasteless?
    Like Care
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 CSN Member Posts: 132
    #5
    It tastes bad
    For some reason liquids taste bad. I also have a tongue they took part of my thigh and made a tongue out of it. I can taste food and it taste ok but liquids are nasty. David
    Like Care
  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 CSN Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #6
    Wow
    David,

    As ratface mentioned, I too am amazed that you are able to eat anything after your surgery. Outstanding. I had part of my tongue removed and followed up with Radiation. I don't always taste my food, only certain things and I tend to stay with what I can taste so that I can enjoy it. Fluids are like you, taste like aluminum to me except for coffee with Coffee-mate Amaretto creamer in it. Coffee without the creamer taste like warm fluid. Water is water, but a funny after taste for some reason. Pepsi Diet Wild Cherry soda I can taste for some reason but it has to be room temperature.

    We just have to keep trying different things as time passes. What doesn't work today may work for us 6 months down the road. Just keep sampling different foods now and again.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here
    Like Care

Discussion Boards