Taste and smell

While I was doing infusion chemo I thought I had a chemical smell on me that I couldn't stand. It really bothered me. My tongue had a burned feeling that affected the way foods taste so one day I would like something and the next day I hated it. The only things that tasted good were very salty, spicey or sweet foods but at the same time the thought of eating something salty, spicey or sweet would be a big turn-off for me. 

Kelley

Hi Gail, 

I am on Folfox and also after first treatment, I lost some sense of taste and even water tasted weird but it only lasted a few days. I did research and started taking zinc supplements and boy, did that help and my oncologist had also heard of zinc helping (everything i told him he'd say, "yeah, that does work"...haha....I said, DOC, you need to tell your patients from the beginning!  I also did ice therapy in mouth (for the metallic and lack of taste) and on hands and feet (for neuropathy). Yes, i sucked on ice cubes for 2  hours during treatment and that did the trick in addition to the zinc. The ice also took care of the neuropathy.   As far as smell, i do believe it has gotten stronger...haha, but that's okay by me.

Trubrit said:

Smells bad!

A line from the movie 'Labrinth'.  

My sense of smell was heightend during chemo, also, and I still find that my sense of smell is a little more acute than it was post chemo (I'm seven years out). 

I had uncontrollable Thrush in my mouth, during treatment, and thus, my taste buds were compromised.  I coudln't even taste chocolate, and that was sad, becasue I do like my chocolate. 

While my tongue is still damaged, I did get my taste back, so that is good - I do have a problem with toothpaste. I've tried so many brands, and they all burn my mouth to a degree I am not comfortable with. I'm thinking of trying children's toothpaste, to see if it has a more mild flavour. 

It all stinks, but you'll be out the other end at some point, so rally on. 

As an aside, I don't seem to sweat under the armpits at all, anymore. I don't wear deoderant and my husband and boys assure me I don't smell.  And while I am at it, the hair under my arms, and on my legs and more personal areas didn't grown back fully. I no longer need to shave my legs or armpits. So, you never know, you might walk away with your life and a few perks from chemo.  HA! 

Tru

My autistic son uses sparkle fun crest he hates minty toothpaste so maybe that would be less harsh, crest also makes a mint chocolate toothpaste and also there is a strawberry one Tom's makes

Trubrit said:

Smells bad!

A line from the movie 'Labrinth'.  

My sense of smell was heightend during chemo, also, and I still find that my sense of smell is a little more acute than it was post chemo (I'm seven years out). 

I had uncontrollable Thrush in my mouth, during treatment, and thus, my taste buds were compromised.  I coudln't even taste chocolate, and that was sad, becasue I do like my chocolate. 

While my tongue is still damaged, I did get my taste back, so that is good - I do have a problem with toothpaste. I've tried so many brands, and they all burn my mouth to a degree I am not comfortable with. I'm thinking of trying children's toothpaste, to see if it has a more mild flavour. 

It all stinks, but you'll be out the other end at some point, so rally on. 

As an aside, I don't seem to sweat under the armpits at all, anymore. I don't wear deoderant and my husband and boys assure me I don't smell.  And while I am at it, the hair under my arms, and on my legs and more personal areas didn't grown back fully. I no longer need to shave my legs or armpits. So, you never know, you might walk away with your life and a few perks from chemo.  HA! 

Tru

I will take a look around.  Right now I use Dr. Bronners, and I have a TOM's, but they are still a little strong.  Seeing I have to use a toothpaste, Dr. Bronner's is the best.  I will look at the kiddies toothpaste for sure.  I don't like coconut, so that won't work. Maybe I will go online and see. I've just been sticking it out. 

Tru

Gail E said:

Stink

I was OK on FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, off and on since 2014. its this new drug Vectibix . Side effects I've never like super dry skin, acne, and growing a disgusting mustache!

I would have been quite devastated if I had GROWN hair instead of loosing it.  I'm like, please, leave my face alone. I've never been 'pretty' so adding more facial hair wouild have crushed me.  OK, not crushed or devestated, I'm stronger than that, but I would have been very displeased. 

I hope all of your nasty side effects are short lived. 

Tru

I was diagnosed with an apple core lesion in my ascending colon last year. I had surgery and resection. pathology reported stage 3 colon cancer. I finished my 6 month folfox chemo sessions the first week of may, 2020.  I still have the weird taste in my mouth and the smell of food while my wife is cooking still gives me nausea. i also acquired peripheral neuropathy (numbness in my fingers and toes) the cause being the oxiplatin. My cardiologist ordered a MUGA test due to a change in my hearts ejection fraction after he performed the yearly echo-cardiogram (caused by 5-fu). I also developed  Lhermitte’s sign which is an electric sensation that travels down your neck and back and ends shocking my feet when i lower my head. Hopefully all these side effects will go away once i flush all the chemo therapy agents out of my body. I have my fingers crossed. 

If you can imagine chewing on kitchen curtains that was what I relate some foods to like cornbread, reg bread, crackers, etc...I would love to have a peanut butter sandwich but don't because of the taste preversion to breads.  Also something else I ate, can't remember what it was at the moment, tasted like lemon pledge dusting spray.