| "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path - and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ |
| SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY Taste and Smell |
| ORPHANS OF THE CANCER STORM |
Taste buds can be affected by certain chemotherapy drugs, altering the brain's perception of how food tastes. For example, meats often taste bitter, and sweets can taste acidic. Some foods may lose their taste altogether. Even a child’s favourite foods can become totally unpalatable. Chemotherapy can also alter the sense of smell, so that children in treatment may be nauseated by scents which do not disturb other people. If taste disappears completely, try serving highly sea soned dishes such as Italian, Mexican, or curry. Your child may be able to taste these stronger flavours, making the food more inviting. If your child complains of a bitter or metallic taste, try to prepare meals without using metal pans or utensils, and encourage your child to try using plastic cutlery. Replacing red meat with tofu, chicken or turkey, eggs, and dairy products may also help to diminish unpleasant tastes. Sucking sweet boiled fruit candy can help mask the metallic taste which some chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments leave in the mouth. Some children recover their normal taste well into treatment, whilst for others it may return as soon as treatment has ended. However, these side effects may take months or years to return to normality once chemotherapy has stopped. Go back to CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS page. Go back to GENERAL TREATMENT index. Go back to ORbIT TREATMENT index. Go back to SONGS TREATMENT index. |
| Disclaimer This information page has been prepared by an individual who does not have medical training. However its contents have been reviewed by appropriately qualified medical professionals for accuracy and quality. This page is intended for information purposes only and should not be used as a guide to diagnosis or treatment. If this information raises any concerns about your child’s condition or care protocol, discuss them with his or her paediatrician, oncologist, or other appropriate medical professional who has knowledge of the case. |
| How does chemotherapy affect taste and smell? How can I help ease the problem for my child? Will my child recover his sense of taste? |