• Reference Number: HEY1489/2024
• Departments: Speech and Language
• Last Updated: 31 May 2024

Information on managing taste changes following chemo radiotherapy to the head and/or neck

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about taste changes following chemotherapy or radiotherapy to the head and/or neck.  Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet.  It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) but may act as a starting point for discussion.   If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with your SLT.

Will chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to my head and/or neck affect my taste?

Taste changes are common during your treatment.  Some people describe their food as tasting metallic, salty, like cardboard or that all foods taste the same.  This can affect your appetite and enjoyment of foods.

Will my taste improve after treatment?

Taste changes after chemotherapy treatment usually stop after three to four weeks of treatment.  Taste changes after radiotherapy treatment usually take longer and begin to improve two to three months after you complete your treatment.  Taste changes may continue to improve a year after completing your treatment and may not entirely return to normal.

How can I improve taste after completing treatment?

The following advice may help to improve your taste:

• Clean and rinse your mouth before swallowing.
• If your mouth feels dry, you may find using a gentle moisturising mouthwash helpful before swallowing.
• Try using plastic cutlery to lessen metallic tastes.
• Try bland, smooth foods which are low in salt content. Some examples are pureed fruit or vegetables, custard, mousse, semolina, smooth yoghurt.
• Try 3 spoonful of food, 3-5 times a day. Move the food as far around your mouth as you can.  Spit it out.  This is to help your taste buds get used to different flavours, tastes and textures again. Practise at your normal mealtimes so that you get back into your normal routine.
• Choose foods that smell good, as smell can affect your taste.
• Have a glass of water with meals. Use this to cleanse your mouth between mouthfuls, so that the next mouthful has more chance to stimulate your taste buds.
• Keep re-trying different flavours regularly, as something that has no taste one day might have flavour a few weeks later.
• Once you are managing bland foods, you may wish to increase the range of flavours and tastes as tolerated.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Speech and Language Therapy Department.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.