Has Your Sense Of Taste Changed?

Almost half of the people who undergo chemotherapy experience a change in their sense of taste.

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, certain cancers, and treatment-related medications can all cause changes in the way foods taste.

Changes in your taste and smell can make it hard to eat or drink enough. These changes can cause unwanted loss of appetite, low body weight, poor quality of life, and diminished well-being. However, there are strategies that can help people to cope with taste changes until they return to normal.

Types of Taste Changes During Chemotherapy
Not all people will develop taste changes during chemotherapy. Certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause it than others. Drugs such as carboplatin, cisplatin, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel cause taste changes.

Some research shows that changes in taste occur on the tongue within the taste buds and in the brain. 

Taste changes can occur a few hours after completing a round of chemotherapy to days afterwards. Timing varies from person to person, and there is no way to predict when it may occur. When people do experience taste changes, they generally experience any of four different taste sensations that include:

Bitter taste
Metallic overtones
Too sweet
Loss of taste/bland or flavourless food

Ways to Combat Taste Changes
There are some recommended ways that chemotherapy patients overcome their taste changes. The following is a list of tips that might help mask the different taste sensations you may be feeling:

Bitter Taste
Try smoothies: Make an ice-cold fruit smoothie and add vegetables and protein too. The sweetness of the fruit will offset the bitterness of the green vegetables and boost your nutrient intake.
Choose your protein: If one type of protein tastes metallic, bitter, or rotten, try to eat beans, nuts, or eggs instead.  Blueberries, apples and pineapple chunks work very well.

Metallic Overtones
Consume tart drinks: Beverages like homemade lemonade may help to mask a metallic taste. 
Use plastic utensils: Some people on chemo prefer to use plastic utensils instead of metal ones to cut down on the metallic taste of some foods.
Suck on zinc tablets

Too Sweet
Add lemon juice and pink Himalayan salt
Try plain oatmeal or plan plant-yogurt

Loss of Flavors
Add extra flavours, herbs and spices to your food. Stock up on things like paprika and coriander!

General Tips
Delay eating until two to three hours after chemotherapy treatment: This helps to avoid chemo-induced nausea and vomiting.
Eat room-temperature foods
Keep your mouth clean: Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth regularly. This helps to decrease unpleasant tastes.
Please remember that your taste changes should be temporary.