Enhanced Tastebuds?

[DahliaBloom]

My husband has Extensive Small cell lung cancer and has had both chemo and radiation. I had heard that chemo can change the way food tastes and typically its described as metallic and awful.

He has the opposite experience! Every little morsel he eats tastes amazing! He is able to taste every nuance as if he is sampling fine wines.

I am so very grateful for small mercies and was wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

[Jenniferroseolson]

Small mercies indeed! When I was on carboplatin (pemetrexed), everything-especially plain water that I need so very much for hydration-tasted metallic. So, no, I have not had the experience your husband is describing. I definitely had increased appetite at different times in my treatment for nonsmallcell lung cancer, particularly when I have been on steroids (usually prednisolone). I hope he continues to be able to be happy to enjoy the nutrition he needs to be strong during this difficult time!

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

so grateful to learn that this is his response! Appetite loss is a major problem for those in treatment and weight loss can also mean muscle loss. Maintaining weight helps with recovery and I hope this means more positive things for him

[Miranda_GO2 Partner]

Oh that's great to hear. Is he also on steroids? Those can really increase appetite. I see that you mentioned your husband as SCLC, did you know we have a specific SCLC community on HU that you can also post to?

Here is the link to that community if you want to check it out: healthunlocked.com/sclc-go2...

Good to have you in both communities but thought you might be interested since we often post SCLC specific information there ! It would also be wonderful if you could share about your experience as a caregiver through our Lung Cancer Registry Survey for caregivers. We plan to use that information to help make additional programs specifically for people who care for someone with lung cancer. Here is the link, you just have to register and take the surveys. All the response are confidential:lungcancerregistry.org/