Some people who are diagnosed with lung cancer will experience dysgeusia — having strange tastes in their mouths. The most common tastes are metallic or sweet, though people may experience other taste changes, too.

Strange tastes in the mouth are usually associated with lung cancer treatment side effects, though they may be related to lung cancer in other ways. Here’s what you need to know if you or your loved one is dealing with changes to their sense of taste alongside lung cancer. This information can help you talk to your cancer care team about what to do next.

How Strange Tastes Affect People With Lung Cancer

People experience different types of odd tastes in their mouths while dealing with lung cancer. Metallic tastes are common. One member of MyLungCancerTeam reported, “When I was on chemo, everything tasted like pennies.”

Other people experience unusual sweet tastes. “I’ve been having a very sweet taste in my mouth for the last few days,” said another member.

Still others find that their tastes for food change in various ways. Some or all food might taste unpleasant, like it did for a member who shared, “If only I could just taste what I’m eating. Everything tastes like I’m eating grease — yuck!”

Another stated, “I have no appetite, and everything tastes like cardboard!”

Bad tastes in the mouth or food tasting bad can contribute to people with lung cancer not getting the nutrition they need. Somewhere between 30 percent and 85 percent of people with cancer develop malnutrition at some point. This can lead to unwanted weight loss, so it’s important that food at least tastes OK.

One person reported that their spouse struggled to eat because of how food tasted. They shared, “Since starting the drug, he is experiencing changes in taste. He said the food tastes so bad, like chalk or that it’s spoiled. I’m beside myself trying to figure out what he can eat.”

Getting enough water may be a problem. For instance, one member shared, “Just had my second round of chemo yesterday. Bad taste to water and food, and some nausea today. Hard to drink water when it tastes so bad.”

Understanding what causes bad tastes in the mouth — and how to resolve the issue — may help you or your loved one to get the nourishment and hydration they need. You may also need to talk to a dietitian or experiment with dietary changes to keep your strength up and your quality of life high.

Here are the most common causes of strange tastes in the mouth for people living with lung cancer.

1. Chemotherapy

People using chemotherapy and certain other lung cancer therapies are at a high risk of experiencing taste changes. A number of members of MyLungCancerTeam report these side effects of chemotherapy. “One new side effect of chemo that seems to have surfaced this time is a change in my taste buds,” one member said. “Some foods and even drinks just do not taste right.”

Someone else agreed, sharing, “Chemo has changed my taste buds as well! I can normally eat just about any food and enjoy it … not now! I have become so picky. I’m not sure what I’m going to like to eat from day to day.”

2. Radiation

If lung cancer spreads to the head or the neck, radiation therapy may be necessary to treat those areas. When radiation is aimed at these areas of the body, it can affect how food and drinks taste.

3. Surgery

Surgery involving your mouth, throat, or nose could cause taste alterations. If your lung cancer has not spread to these areas, it’s unlikely you'll need this type of treatment. However, if you do, it may cause nerve damage, which could influence taste.

4. Mouth Sores

Sores in your mouth can also change the way you perceive taste. Chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy, and targeted cancer drugs can all cause mucositis (inflammation of the mouth, which can cause sores). Most of the time, these sores are temporary and will come and go as you go through treatment.

5. Nausea and Vomiting

Feeling nauseated or vomiting can also change the way you perceive taste, at least temporarily. These, too, are common side effects of cancer treatments. Chemotherapy is likely to cause nausea and vomiting, and some types of radiation may cause it, too.

6. Lung Cancer Complications

Some people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) develop a complication called syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). SIADH occurs when your body makes too much of a substance called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which some SCLC tumors produce. Having too much ADH can cause your body to retain water, which throws off the balance of sodium (salt) in your body. This, in turn, can affect your blood pressure and your kidneys.

For some people, the end result of SIADH is a condition called hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the bloodstream).

SIADH can also be caused by some medications used to treat cancer. Thus, there’s a small chance you might experience it even if you have a different type of lung cancer.

One sign of hyponatremia is a change in how food and beverages taste. For some people, an unpleasant, sweet taste in their mouths may be the first sign that they have SCLC. Research continues to uncover the ways that SCLC, hyponatremia, and this sweet taste are connected.

7. Lung Cancer Spread to the Brain

Nerves connecting the different parts of the mouth to the brain also control how you taste. About 50 percent of people with lung cancer will experience cancer metastasizing (spreading) to the brain at some point. If this cancer happens to spread to the areas of the brain that regulate taste, it may alter your taste perception.

Other Causes of Strange Tastes

There are many other potential causes of changes in taste beyond having lung cancer or being treated for it. These include:

• Smoking
• Taking certain medications such as antidepressants or antibiotics
• Getting older
• Having certain dental implants or prosthetic devices
• Not taking good care of your mouth
• Having a dry mouth
• Being infected with viruses, including COVID-19
• Getting a brain injury
• Being deficient in vitamin B or zinc
• Being pregnant
• Having chronic acid reflux
• Having tongue inflammation
• Living with certain metabolic disorders

If you’re experiencing changes in how foods taste or developing strange tastes in your mouth, talk to your oncologist or another health care professional. They should be able to help you determine whether it’s related to lung cancer or something else. No matter what is causing them, your oncology care team can likely make recommendations to improve your quality of life.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLungCancerTeam is the social network for people with lung cancer and their loved ones. On MyLungCancerTeam, more than 13,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lung cancer.

Are you experiencing strange tastes in your mouth after a lung cancer diagnosis? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.