How to manage taste, smell and touch changes

There are many ways to manage common changes to taste, smell and touch. Talk to your treatment team for advice. You may also be referred to a dietitian who can develop an eating plan and help you improve your diet and eating experience.

Learn more about how to manage:

Managing general changes

  • Taste or smell changes may vary over time and with different treatments. Keep a record of any changes, the time of day, how far from the start or end of your treatment cycle you are, and what food and drink you are having. This will help the treatment team to work out the causes and suggest ways to manage the side effects.
  • Keep trying different foods, as your tastes may change. You may not like bitter drinks (e.g. tea, coffee, beer, wine) or sweet foods (e.g. chocolate) even if you liked them before treatment. It is common to prefer savoury foods after treatment.
  • If meat tastes unpleasant during treatment, replace it with other protein sources (e.g. cheese, eggs, nuts, dairy foods, seafood, baked beans, lentils or chickpeas).
  • Keep your mouth clean and fresh. Clean your teeth with a soft toothbrush after each meal, and regularly rinse your mouth with salt water or the mouthwash suggested by your treatment team.
  • Use bamboo cutlery if metal spoons, forks and knives taste metallic.
  • Drink through a paper or silicone straw so the taste isn’t as strong. Metal straws may add a metallic taste.

Ways to manage taste changes

bland
  • Add extra flavour to meals (e.g. fresh herbs, spices, lemon, lime, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, honey, chilli, Worcestershire sauce, pickles).
overpowering
  • Choose foods that do not have strong flavours.
  • Avoid using spices such as chilli.
  • Avoid fizzy drinks, mints or chewing gum.
too salty
  • Avoid adding salt to your cooking and try lower salt alternatives. For example, try mozzarella, cream or ricotta cheese.
  • Use roast meats in sandwiches instead of ham or salami.
  • Add a small amount of sugar or honey to food.
too sweet
  • Try plain breakfast cereals with less added sugar, such as porridge or bran flakes.
  • Avoid dried fruit, honey or other sweeteners.
  • Add salt or lemon juice.
too bitter or metallic
  • Avoid foods that taste bitter or metallic.
  • Nibble on moist fruit, suck boiled sweets or have small sips of flavoured drinks; ginger flavours may be helpful.

Ways to manage smell changes

increased sensitivity
  • Stay out of the kitchen when food is being prepared.
  • Ask friends and family to cook for you or buy nutritious prepared meals if possible.
  • Eat cold food or food at room temperature – hot food smells stronger.
  • Turn on the exhaust fan, open a window, cover pots with lids or cook outside on the barbecue.
  • Avoid strong-smelling foods or ingredients (e.g. garlic, onion, spices).
  • Avoid eating in stuffy or overly warm rooms; try having meals outside.
negative connection with treatment
  • Avoid your favourite foods just before or during treatment.
nausea 
  • Speak with your treatment team who can suggest ways to help.
bad taste in your
mouth due to smell
  • Rinse away the taste by drinking water or block your nose to minimise the smell.

Ways to manage changes to touch

increased sensitivity
  • Avoid chilli, peppermints, fizzy drinks and spicy food.
less sensitivity
  • Add spices to your food.
  • Increase the amount of seasoning such as honey, ginger and pickles.
food feeling like
“cardboard”, “straw”
or “sand”
  • Change the consistency of your food by chopping, mincing or pureeing.
  • Choose soft, moist foods.
  • Add sauces and gravies.
  • Try soups and smoothies.
  • Avoid rough, crunchy or dry foods such as nuts and toast.
  • Drink water to keep your mouth hydrated and lubricated.
  • Speak with your treatment team who can recommend products to stimulate or replace saliva.

Listen to our podcast on Appetite Loss and Nausea

Key resource

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This information was last reviewed in December 2020. View who reviewed this content.

Emma McKie, Clinical Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Cecilia Barling, Consumer; Dawn Bedwell 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland, QLD; Gillian Blanchard, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW; Dr Karen Taylor, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Radiation Oncology, VIC.

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