Dear all,
I’m new to this site so please bear with me. My name is Tracey and I’m 30 having been diagnosed with breast cancer before xmas. I’ve just had my 3rd chemo session and am finding it ok so far but can’t stand the horrible metallic taste that it leaves in my mouth for about 10 days afterwards. Any suggestions what I could try to avoid this? Seems like I’m just craving fruity sweets at the minute to get a taste! Must be something better.
Thanks in advance.
Tracey x
Hi Tracey
Firstly, welcome to this awesome site, but so sorry you’ve had to join us. The girls on here are amazing, and you’ll get so much support and advice.
I can sympathise with the horrendous taste - bless you ! I found lemon sherbert sweets the best - in fact, anything “lemony”. Lemon barley drink, lemon meringue pie (mind you, I don’t need an excuse for that), and especially lemon sorbet. I also craved tomatoes, and any tinned fruit. My Onc gave me some good mouthwash too - Difflam Oral Rinse.
I know its a crappy side effect, but remember it won’t last forever honey. I’m sure you’ll be inundated with other suggestions to help combat it, too.
Take care, and good luck with the rest of your treatment.
Love Julie xxx
Hi Tracy,
Sorry you are feeling rough. I had the metallic taste too during chemo. I got a tip from a lady off this site and it was to eat sherbet lemons and they did work for me, also used difflam mouthwash regular which does take the taste away for a while, your oncologist would prescribe it or G.P Fresh Pineapple is another thing that also works. Hope this has helped a little, and you get some relief. Good Luck with the rest of your treatment.
Love and Lots of Hugs
Jillxxx
Julie and I must have been replying at same time! so we have both given same tips. Hope they work for you.
Love
Jillxx
Lucozade is good too for getting rid of the funny feeling/taste. I think I’ve been single-handedly keeping them in business over the last 5 months!!!
Nicola
Rose’s Lime Juice Cordial is great for the strange taste.
Best wishes
Anthi x
Hi Tracey
I found nothing worked at all for me, but I didn’t half get slim as I more or less stopped eating. I could manage those Enlive drinks though. Time, time and more time and it will pass once chemo stops. I also overdosed on mouth freshener! Once I accepted the vile taste wasn’t going away it was easier to bear. Sounds defeatist but was what worked for me. The good side is the much trimmer figure which I have managed to keep!
Good luck my love
Dilys
xxxx
Try anything with ginger - I drank gallons of ginger ale, ginger beer and for a treat, a finger of Stone’s ginger wine topped up with ice and ginger ale. Lakeland do some gorgeous chocolate covered ginger sweets. Ginger also helps with nausea. My GP’s nurse has a small residential home and she said she gives her elderly residents fresh pineapple chunks (not tinned!) to clean their mouths. The fresh pineapple has an enzyme in it that tinned doesn’t.
Take care - it doesn’t last for ever.
Liz.
Hi Tracey,
I know exactly where you are coming from. I agree with the whole lemon thing. I ate lemon sherberts and drank anything/ate lemony. Thats the onlt thing that worded for me.
Best wishes
Lynne.x
Thank you all so much for your advice. Looks like it’ll be lemon and giner washed down with lucozade for me!
Tracey xx
Hi Tracey
Welcome to the forums, you are welcome to give our helpliners a call they are specialist breast care nurses and they will be able to offer you information and support. The number is 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Katie
Sucking ice lollies[lemon] during chemo can help.I used to take them in a flask!I can wholeheartedly recommend Roses Lime and also fizzy water esp San Pellegrino.I think the latter saved my life when I was in hosp with neutrpenia as nothing else would stay down!
agree with the suggestion for lime juice and lemonade ice lollies- I used to scour the shops for ages trying to find something that tasted nice
make that lime cordial
Hi Tracey,
I find cranberry juice tastes good, also helps if you are prone to urine infections, and it’s a red berry which I believe are good for healing veins!
Take care,
love Louisa xxx