Chemo Side Effect

Since taste buds are changing, it is important to discover what tastes you find appealing:
- Try different foods that look and smell good and fix a colorful dinner in pleasant surroundings.
- Use air freshener and fragrant candles to eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Food that is chilled may be more palatable.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Use plastic utensils to eat and cook with.
- Try different seasonings and marinating your meat in juices, wines, salad dressings. Try barbecue sauce and sweet and sour sauces for different flavors.
- Consider drinking ginger ale or tea.
- Try chewing gum or sucking on mints or hard candies to freshen your mouth or sucking on ice chips

Tips for controlling taste changes may include:
- brush your teeth often and before and after eating
- maintain good oral hygiene
- discuss with your physician if it is ok not to eat 1-2 hours before or 3 hours after treatments
- rinse your mouth with salt water or baking soda dissolved in water to refresh your taste buds
- try to avoid cigarette smoke

Leukopenia (also known as leukocytopenia, or leucopenia) is a decrease in the number of white blood cells. White blood cells fight infection. A patient with leukopenia is more susceptible to infection.

Leukopenia is a potential side effect of many chemotherapy and chemo prevention medications.