Metallic Taste During Chemotherapy

You may experience a metallic taste during chemotherapy, especially while eating. Taste changes can be common while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This side effect may make foods and beverages taste awful and even make some foods or drinks inedible at times.

Rest assured that you are not the only person to experience this⁠—about half of people on chemo do! It is not entirely clear why metallic taste is a side effect, although there are several theories that scientists are researching. Some chemotherapy drugs are more notorious for causing this side effect than others. Nitrogen mustard, vincristine, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide are the ones that are often listed as causing this side effect.

How to Cope

There are several things you can do to try to offset or mask the metallic taste you may be experiencing because of chemotherapy:

• Avoid eating for two to three hours after receiving chemotherapy.
• Drink acidic drinks like lemonade or limeade. While this can help with the metallic taste, you need to avoid these drinks if you have mouth sores, and they may be irritating if you are experiencing dry mouth.
• Use plastic utensils instead of metal ones. Keep metal out of your mouth. You may want to buy high-quality plastic utensils that feel better in your mouth.
• Cook with strong herbs and spices that will help cover up the metallic taste.
• Use sauces like teriyaki, barbecue, or ketchup. These high-flavor sauces for meat and vegetables can mask the off-tastes.
• Chew mint-flavored gums or hard candy. This can help between meals.
• Chew ice.
• Eat chilled or frozen foods, like milkshakes, ice creams, and popsicles. Having popsicles handy between meals can be a good tactic.

Remember that no two people are the same. Some people find that a blander diet decreases the metallic taste, while others need lots of sauces and spices to mask it.

For some, red meat tastes very metallic and others find it more strong in chicken. You have to experiment with food to discover what works for you. What may work for one person may not work for another.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there is not much your healthcare provider can do to prevent taste changes caused by chemotherapy. Even so, you must let them know about any treatment side effects you are experiencing, even this common one.

When experiencing unpleasant flavors you may eat less and develop an aversion to certain foods or eating altogether. This can cause weight loss. It can also lead to avoiding meals with family and friends, which are otherwise good for social support. This will further weaken your body and make treatment and recovery more difficult.

Summary

Alterations in taste is common during chemotherapy treatment. You may not be able to totally eliminate the metallic taste during treatment, but you may be able to mask the flavor with stronger flavored foods. It's important to maintain good mouth hygiene throughout treatment.

A Word from Verywell

It's important to continue eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of fluids throughout cancer treatment to avoid extreme weight loss and malnutrition. Choose foods that are enticing and taste good, even with altered senses.