Hi, I was diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma a couple months ago, I guess it's quite rare but having something rare doesn't make you feel any better. It's Cancer of the salivary (parotid) gland and I have had a partial parotidectomy and am now 1/2 way through 33 radiation treatments. I just have a couple questions for those that have been through this......
The worst part for me has been the loss of my taste, I have no desire to eat anything. I know that proper nutrition is very important in fighting cancer but I simply dont want to (actually detest) eat. Are there any foods that are easier to get down? I can only manage to drink apple juice, even water tastes horrible.
The doctors tell me this loss can last for a few months after treatment ends, does this sound about right? I'm in for some serious weight loss if it is.
I apologize if this seems trivial, and I'm sure it does compared to what some of you are going through. But this is the hardest thing I have ever faced (the loss of taste) and I'm having a very difficult time with it.
My prayers go out to all of you in your (or your loved ones) fight, my thanks go out to anybody who replies to this.
Take care,
Scott in IL
[This message has been edited by ACC in IL (edited 06-13-2003).]
Scott,
It isn't exactly great nutrition, but one of the few things I could get down while undergoing chemo was ice cream. I sometimes mixed it with the nutritional supplements to make a frappe, which also gave me some nutrition.
On the other hand, with chemo to your salivary glands, you're probably experiencing a lot more problems with taste than I did. But do try ice cream...it's soothing at least.
Thanks, I'll try it but I dont hold out much hope....dairy products such as cheese & milk haven't tasted too good. On the brighter side I found out yesterday that beef sandwiches with sweet peppers aren't too bad.
Hi, have you tried drinking Ensure or liquid products with multiple vitamins and minerals using a straw? They are nutritious but kind of taste like vitamins even if flavored like chocolate and strawberry.
I used it after my thyroidectomy, which was cancerous, but the CA was encapsulated in the goiter so I didn't need chemotherapy. Lucky me so far.
I had trouble swallowing food so the can drinks did the trick.
I hope your taste returns. Some meds make food taste different.
Hope you will be done with chemo and you recuperation is swift!! MistyMisty
Thanks Misty, I may try that but I am already a vitamin freak so I may not need that. If I did try it I wouldn't have to worry about the taste as I cant taste anything!!
New patient...a couple RT questions..... 
