Increased sense of smell on chemo?

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

So I'm on Vectibix and I've noticed that my sense of smell is ridiculous. I can smell things other people barely can smell or can't smell at all. With the neausea it's pretty unpleasant. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems to me that I had it on one of the previous chemos, too, but I'm not positive.

Jan

Comments

  • NHMike
    NHMike Member Posts: 213 Member
    #2
    I've always had heightened

    I've always had heightened senses: smell, sight, hearing and taste. And sometimes it's a benefit and sometimes it's really annoying. My son has the same thing and so he will detect things that bother him that other people won't detect and wonder what's wrong with him. I don't know what you can do about it short of maybe running a HEPA filter. I haven't run into heigtened or weakened sense so far on Xeloda.

  • benben
    benben Member Posts: 6
    #3
    On Folfox I experienced this

    On Folfox I experienced this heavily at beginning of treatments, it has subsided now for the most part.

    I was ultra sensitive to smells especially cooking of oils and spices.  Made me a bit more nauseated.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #4
    Me too!

    I remember having this, when I was on the FOLFOX.  I think as my taste buds diminished my sense of smell made up for it.  I can't remember how long it lasted. 

    Tru

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #5
    Always had it

    Like NHMike said, I've always been bad for smelling things other people don;t notice and I think I'm a supertaster, I think they call it. I'm sensittive to smells and tastes, noises, too. But this is pretty gross. It's making the nausea so much worse. Just things like I'm having trouble having our dogs get too close to me because now they seem to smell. Luckily the dog that is closest to me, my velcro dog, has no smell but the other two do now. 

    Okay, so I'm not nuts. Well, I guess that really doesn't establish that I'm not but at least in this I'm not.

    Thanks!

    Jan

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    Yep

    My sense of smell was always good but now it's almost like a Superpower! I really dislike crowded elevators! 

  • NHMike
    NHMike Member Posts: 213 Member
    #7
    I have a HEPA Filter in the

    I have a HEPA Filter in the dining room and basement for seasonal allergies but they are both good at filtering out food odors too (activated charcoal). So that may be an option at home to reduce odors.

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