Symptoms

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ditto1
ditto1 Member Posts: 660
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hoping for some help. I have noticed just in the last week food no longer taste the same and my thoart seems to have a bad taste, taste like an infection. Its harder to eat, and I just don't really enjoy eating now. Has anyone else had any of these symptoms before getting to treatment. I know during and after RADS and Chemo, many speak of these changes but I have not even started. Still want to Kick Butt, but feel like the cancer is getting the first punch... Dealing with BOT tumor.

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  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
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    I was asked about my
    appetite and stuff when my condition was still suspicious but not confirmed...and I said that my appetite wasn't the same as it had been say a couple months earlier...I just thought I was bored with what I was eating (you know, packing a lunch to work everyday, I don't get much variety) etc. I know I have only been HUNGRY, like starving...only a couple of times in the last couple months...so appetite may be affected before we even start treatment.

    90% if what I shovel in is because I know I have to eat, and not because it tastes so wonderful, or that I'm particularily hungry...

    Don't discount stress either....this "before the plan" time is stressful, even if you don't actually FEEL the stress....and at least for me, stress always diminishes my appetite.

    p
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #3
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    phrannie51 said:

    I was asked about my
    appetite and stuff when my condition was still suspicious but not confirmed...and I said that my appetite wasn't the same as it had been say a couple months earlier...I just thought I was bored with what I was eating (you know, packing a lunch to work everyday, I don't get much variety) etc. I know I have only been HUNGRY, like starving...only a couple of times in the last couple months...so appetite may be affected before we even start treatment.

    90% if what I shovel in is because I know I have to eat, and not because it tastes so wonderful, or that I'm particularily hungry...

    Don't discount stress either....this "before the plan" time is stressful, even if you don't actually FEEL the stress....and at least for me, stress always diminishes my appetite.

    p

    symptoms
    Thanks P51, left you a note under your peg blog, sorry your having a tough time, but I see you already got some responses. Yea my appetite seems good, just the food has stopped tasting good. I Googled the bad taste and it is one of the possible side affects of thoart cancer, either way I hope you get thru this Peg issue as soon as you can, Im sorry your in pain....
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
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    Doubtful
    I'm pretty doubtful it's actually physically related to your condition. In reality, I'm more than willing to bet it's somewhere between emotions, stress, and mental.

    In know way am I saying anything negative toward you. I just know when I was initially diagnosed, I had so many feelings and thoughts going on, eating was the last thing on my mind. Little did I know that I was standing on the first step of a long road before I would be able to eat and enjoy food as I had before.

    I was actually so stressed I didn't even think of food, and probably couldn't have held it down if I had eaten anyway.

    Try to enjoy what you can while you can....it's going to be a long time before things are back somewhat to the normal you now know.

    Best,
    John
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #5
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Doubtful
    I'm pretty doubtful it's actually physically related to your condition. In reality, I'm more than willing to bet it's somewhere between emotions, stress, and mental.

    In know way am I saying anything negative toward you. I just know when I was initially diagnosed, I had so many feelings and thoughts going on, eating was the last thing on my mind. Little did I know that I was standing on the first step of a long road before I would be able to eat and enjoy food as I had before.

    I was actually so stressed I didn't even think of food, and probably couldn't have held it down if I had eaten anyway.

    Try to enjoy what you can while you can....it's going to be a long time before things are back somewhat to the normal you now know.

    Best,
    John

    Who Knows
    Seems the ear ache per my ENT is the swollen node pressing against my ear, as for the sore thoart it could simply be that a sore thoart, a cold or allergies. Your right about one thing before being diagnoised with SCC these little body bugs just seemed innocent and time would resolve, NOW every tingle, stuffy nose, pimple all seem like the enemy and that probably gets to the MIND. I guess I just need to get to the 30th so I can meet with the folks at KU Med. that can get me started. As much as I hate this there is no way around it, you have to get started... to see if you will be able to see the finish line.
  • stayingpositive
    stayingpositive Member Posts: 89
    #6
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    ditto1 said:

    Who Knows
    Seems the ear ache per my ENT is the swollen node pressing against my ear, as for the sore thoart it could simply be that a sore thoart, a cold or allergies. Your right about one thing before being diagnoised with SCC these little body bugs just seemed innocent and time would resolve, NOW every tingle, stuffy nose, pimple all seem like the enemy and that probably gets to the MIND. I guess I just need to get to the 30th so I can meet with the folks at KU Med. that can get me started. As much as I hate this there is no way around it, you have to get started... to see if you will be able to see the finish line.

    Eustachion tube?
    The tube that goes between your throat and ear canal could be blocked up or infected and since it drains into your throat that could be causing the sore throat and taste bud issue. Ask your ENT bout that, he might paint a better picture.

    Keep staying positive

    Bill
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #7
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    stayingpositive said:

    Eustachion tube?
    The tube that goes between your throat and ear canal could be blocked up or infected and since it drains into your throat that could be causing the sore throat and taste bud issue. Ask your ENT bout that, he might paint a better picture.

    Keep staying positive

    Bill

    BETTER TODAY
    When I went to the store on Friday, I got some over the counter medicine for allergies, to my surprise today I was tasting food again, pretty much as it should taste. So likely I had a bit of a cold or allergies that created the change in taste. Before being diagnoised with SCC I would have simply concluded it was a cold/allergy. Either way nice to have food tasting close to right again. Especially knowing after treatment starts taste will likely not be an option and nothing over the counter will fix that....even the ears a bit better....
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 727 Member
    #8
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    ditto1 said:

    BETTER TODAY
    When I went to the store on Friday, I got some over the counter medicine for allergies, to my surprise today I was tasting food again, pretty much as it should taste. So likely I had a bit of a cold or allergies that created the change in taste. Before being diagnoised with SCC I would have simply concluded it was a cold/allergy. Either way nice to have food tasting close to right again. Especially knowing after treatment starts taste will likely not be an option and nothing over the counter will fix that....even the ears a bit better....

    Who Can Say?
    When I had my BOT tumor cut out with a little bit of my tongue, my sense of smell got so good I could almost smell the same as my dog. (Ruff!) My Dr. said he'd never heard of that because the tongue and smell sense are completely different. Maybe it was allergies like you. And I too can taste and smell an infection in my throat. Yuck!

    And now that I've finished the RT and everything, same thing. I can smell everything from a far way off. You know how a person can't smell their own breath? Not so with me. Go figure. I am a weird case but don't care as long as I heal and it doesn't come back.

    I guess you got a feel for what it'll be like during and after RT.

    Heal Well,

    Tommy

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