Docetaxel Chemo Treatment - Please give me back my taste buds !

[SML1903]

Hi. I have problems with my nails following FEC-T. I had to smile today when I was giving myself a manicure as I only had 4 to file, I have completely lost 4 and 2 are just about hanging on. When I finished my chemo at the end of July I waited 2 weeks and I now take a hair, nail and skin supplement. I asked the pharmacist at the hospital about taking it while having chemo but she didn't want to commit to saying if it was a good idea or not so I decided best to wait until I had finished.

My taste was badly affected and nothing tasted pleasant and what I could eat one day the next day I couldn't but now 7 weeks since my last chemo I think my taste is pretty much back to normal. The only thing I haven't gone back to eating so far is spicey food and I loved that but hopefully it will return.

Good luck

[Melx7]

Hi I have just finished docotexal and am still having problems with my taste. I find an ice lolly, extra stony mints, jelly sweets and ginger cordial give me short term light relief, but long term I believe its a matter okaying the waiting game unfortunately. Good luck 😊

[Swirly]

Hi Sara, sorry to hear you're suffering, tax can have some nasty side effects. I too had steriods for a bit longer, but did also need to take tramadol for the pain. I think my fingernails hurt on the 3rd treatment, as if they'd been trapped in a door, I remember using a knife to cut the tablets out the blister pack because I couldn't push them out! I thought they were going to come off as they started to lift, but 7 weeks after finishing, they've stuck themselves down again, so who knows. I found having saucy food and soups easiest to eat, especially as I had to watch out for constipation from the steroids and painkillers! cook for you life is a great website to get ideas about what to eat, I found gnocci, tinned soup and rice pudding saw me through. I could taste more if the food wasn't too hot, many people said eat cold food, but I couldn't taste that and needed a bit of comfort. I tried chewing gum, but found sugar free sweets the best to get rid of any bad taste. I also had a steriod mouthwash which really helped stop the sores and calm the cracks in my tongue. Fortunately the taste did start to return back to normal very quickly after chemo finished, some foods took a little longer. Keep eating to stay strong and hang in there x

[Sara68]

Hi Nikki49

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting regarding the extra steriods you took, I was prescribed 5 tablets which started by taking one the night before chemo, then after breakfast and tea for 2 days plus a stomach protector. Whilst taking these i felt ok, symptoms kicked in big time when I stopped, the pain was horrendous ! This time I insisted that I had strong painkillers which have helped but totally exhausted. I will definitely ask my oncologist about taking an extension of the steriods.

Hope you are well, take care x

[Nikki49]

I only had 3 x docetaxol having had 3 Fec. I suffered with aches and pains with the 1st and complained bitterly to my onc trying to score better pain meds for the next one. He prescribed the 'steroid tail' which was 9 extra steroids which were taken in decreasing daily amounts after chemo - absolute miracle cure!! Highly recommend you speak to your team.
I suffered badly with my mouth getting oral thrush each cycle and everything tasted of salty soap. My taste came back with within 3 weeks of last cycle.

[Sara68]

Hello Maryland
Thank you for your reply 🙂 sorry you had to go through this as well ! Yes I am holding onto the fact that this treatment is very effective, thank goodness !
Will be putting tic tacs on the list may give me a little break from this horrendous taste. Great that you got to taste lovely food at your daughters wedding. I will look forward to this day when I get to taste food again, my last one is 21st October, so its looking like November, big slap up meal will be planned !
Thanks again, take care x

[Maryland]

Hi Sara68.....sympathise with you having 4 x docetaxol....I had 3 and that was enough! What kept me going through all the horrible side effects was that it is a very effective treatment. My taste buds got worse over the three infusions, and didn't really re-appear between 2 and 3. I ended up eating 'slush' like custard, smoothies soup etc.....really anything that I could swallow quickly and easily, although it all tasted like cardboard or really hot and spicy! Tictac mints were quite palatable. The good news is that it took about 3 weeks after the end of chemo in July 2012 for taste buds to be back and the food tasted divine at my daughter's wedding in mid-August that year :). Even now, some food doesn't taste the same and spicy food, e.g. Chilli tastes extra spicy.....all the very best for the rest of your treatment, and treat yourself to a store of goodies to enjoy when it finishes. Take care x

[Sara68]

Hello all

I have just had my 6th chemo which was docetaxel (thankfully this time I was armed with strong pain killers, so I have not had to endure the severe pain in all my body and throat which I had with my 5th - such a horrible time !) and am suffering so bad with my mouth which is so dry, sore and no taste at all. Its really getting me down.  I am trying different foods and drink but getting no enjoyment whatsoever, eating is a chore. My taste buds never recovered from my 5th session and I have two more (7 & 😎 docetaxel to go.  Did anyone experience this ? Did your taste buds come back inbetween sessions ? or did they come back after chemo had finished ? I need to see a light at the end of the tunnel !  Any comments really appreciated x