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06-02-2012, 05:55 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 14
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Tips for the Metallic Taste
Hi everyone,
Does anyone have any good tips to help with the metallic taste in the mouth that chemo causes? It's driving my sister insane, so I'm trying to find some things I can suggest to her. So far gum has done the best job. Does it go away or does it last the whole treatment? She is on TCH, so will it lessen before the next treatment since they are 3 weeks apart?
Thanks so much.....
Kathleen
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06-02-2012, 06:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Mechanicsburg, OH
Posts: 106
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
Green Apple Jolly Ranger candies...the only thing that helped me. They were my friend throughout my treatment plan. Hope it helps...
__________________
~Anna
DX April 2009 age 40
IDC Triple Positive
7 of 14 nodes positive
Lumpectomy May 2009
Port May 2009
AC done in Sept 2009
T done Dec. 2009
Herceptin (should finish Oct. 2010)
Mastectomy January 2010
Radiaition x 33 done April 2010
Tamoxafin for five years
Herceptin done!
Still clear May 2011
3 years out May 2012, all good!
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06-02-2012, 06:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 436
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
http://www.delightwater.com.
I found them after I was done with the chemo that caused that taste so I don't know if it works they way they say, but I have heard good things. I have tasted the water with my regular tastebuds and it's good.
I've been on five chemos and only carboplatin did it to me.
By the end of my 3 week tx it lessened and I could start to taste again but it didn't come back all the way. But, it did come back pretty quick when I was done with treatment and it came back to complete normal. I know I was worried that maybe I'd never be able to taste things again but it wasn't long before I was back to normal.
I've never had a sweet tooth in my life but since sugar was about the only thing I could taste on that particular chemo, I ate cookies and cupcakes and the like.
I'm very glad that later chemos have not given me that side effect because it is not pleasant. It's crazy too because the steroids make you so hungry but you can't taste anythng!
Good luck to your sister.
__________________
http://butdoctorihatepink.com
08/17/09 Dx'd.
Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS
HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative
10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE
12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy
03/31/2010: Finished chemo
05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever
11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed
12/02/2010: Finished herceptin
05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen
06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin
10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure!
11/26/2111: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years"
03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa
10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa.
01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa
3/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta.
4/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success!
5/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo.
6/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT
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06-03-2012, 11:15 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 121
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
Try using plastic utensils instead of stainless and bottled beverages instead of canned. Also, zinc supplements helped counter balance the metallic taste from the carboplatin.
__________________
Vicki
Lord, give me the comfort of Your embrace and acceptance of Your will.
3/11: DX: IDC, HER2++, ER/PR neg, stage 4, mets to liver. Primary tumor: grade 3; 11 cm. 2nd smaller tumor: ~2.5cm. Multiple affected nodes, 1 spot on liver. 6 rounds TCH prior to bmx.
7/11: Nothing left except Primary breast tumor now 1.5cm.
8/11: BMX, 17/17 nodes clear. No post-op chemo or radiation indicated. NED!
10/11: NED! Continue Herceptin indef.
2/12: Reoccurence of liver mets; both lobes. Tykerb added to Herceptin.
5/12: Progression of liver mets. Stop Tykerb, start Abraxane & Herceptin weekly.
8/12: Progression in liver and lymph nodes around liver and right kidney. Herceptin not working anymore! Stop Abraxane and Herceptin. Start Tykerb and Xeloda.
10/12: Severe side effects. 3 weeks break from everything.
12/12: It's working! All tumors gone except 2 (from 20+) Continue Tykerb and Xeloda. Brain and spine MRIs clear.
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06-03-2012, 11:31 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 415
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
I was like CoolBreeze - nothing tasted right unless it was very cold and sweet (so Popsicles was my main diet component for several months). I did find that if I had a popsicle or bowl of sherbert before a meal, sometimes I could finish at least part of it.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
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06-03-2012, 04:44 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Lakeville, Minnesota
Posts: 132
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
It also helps to rinse your mouth with water and baking soda right before you eat.
I second the plastic utensil idea, that made a big difference for me.
Laurie
__________________
diagnosed stage 2- 3/2005
4.5 cm & 2+ nodes , er/pr- & HER2+
4 AC
12 taxol/Herceptin
Year of Herceptin
liver mets- July-2010
7 taxotere/Herceptin
RFA- Feb.2011
NED
U of Wa vaccine trial-oct 2011-Feb 2012
Herceptin/tykerb
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06-04-2012, 04:08 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 14
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
Thanks so much, everyone. These are great tips! I sent them on to my sister and I already got her 2 bags of jolly ranchers.  She said the apple ones helped!...thanks, Anna. Each week I feel like we conquer something together...Now that we're have some things to help with the metallic taste, our next thing to conquer is Thursday...we're going to get her head shaved.  One step at a time though right? Soon we'll be on the other side of this thing. |
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06-06-2012, 01:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 121
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
Kathleen:
You are a wonderful sister!
__________________
Vicki
Lord, give me the comfort of Your embrace and acceptance of Your will.
3/11: DX: IDC, HER2++, ER/PR neg, stage 4, mets to liver. Primary tumor: grade 3; 11 cm. 2nd smaller tumor: ~2.5cm. Multiple affected nodes, 1 spot on liver. 6 rounds TCH prior to bmx.
7/11: Nothing left except Primary breast tumor now 1.5cm.
8/11: BMX, 17/17 nodes clear. No post-op chemo or radiation indicated. NED!
10/11: NED! Continue Herceptin indef.
2/12: Reoccurence of liver mets; both lobes. Tykerb added to Herceptin.
5/12: Progression of liver mets. Stop Tykerb, start Abraxane & Herceptin weekly.
8/12: Progression in liver and lymph nodes around liver and right kidney. Herceptin not working anymore! Stop Abraxane and Herceptin. Start Tykerb and Xeloda.
10/12: Severe side effects. 3 weeks break from everything.
12/12: It's working! All tumors gone except 2 (from 20+) Continue Tykerb and Xeloda. Brain and spine MRIs clear.
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06-06-2012, 03:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,508
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Re: Tips for the Metallic Taste
This is a timely topic for me too....the nurses told me lemon drs or lemon heads, but the jolly rancher sour apple sounds better....my metallic mouth lasts about 5 or 6 days after Taxotere, then things improve...thanks for the tip!!!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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