I realize I'm quite late to the party here. It's been a ruff 6mo's, due to an enlarged lymph node in my throat, unfortunately, I think my cancer is flaring again, not gna say it's back, because we all here know, when you have CLL or SLL, in my case, it never truly goes away, just lays dormant for a while. So, even though I've been having problems swallowing food, which originally started after I had an Uvulectomy back in 2018(but, the ENT ended up taking out, what felt like half or more of my throat, for a spot on the tip of my uvula, that turned out to be nothing but a salivary gland growing a bit out of control, or started to harden, as I do have Sjigons Syndrome(sp?), plus took my tonsils out too, w/o my knowledge or permission, & it's become much worse over the last 5-6mo's. Like you, I've had some very strange cravings, for hot or spicy food, that I don't normally eat, including spicy food, that now, doesn't seem to bother me(heat wise or burning sensation in my mouth or sinus area), as it did years ago, I've wondered if it was the surgery, or just bodily changes, from having this cancer or side effects from chemo & Rituxan? I love banana peppers in my salad, hot sauce in my vegetable soup & horseradish sauce on my cabbage & sandwiches, cooked sushi w/ way more of that flaming green paste, etc. I remember before I was diagnosed, during my chemo & some time after, all I wanted, or could stomach was bland or cold food, depending on the day, like milkshakes, cold almost plain subs, & whatever I was eating, I'd let it get cold, before I ate it. I lived on wonton soup, chicken & dumplings, scrambled eggs/toast, for abt a yr, then slowly it all began to change, I was craving spicy/hot food! It was very strage! I thought maybe, it was my body craving certain vitamins, minerals, or some much stronger flavoring, I'd deprived my body of for a couple yrs. Now, I don't go running for the water or milk to cool my mouth, like I used to, it's like I have a new tolerance for spice & heat! Not sure I could eat really heat filled peppers, haven't been brave enough to test it! Lol

I like spicy foods now and I didn’t before. Horseradish, hot sausage, etc. I’m afraid to eat them too them though because I’m afraid of mouth ulcers. I don’t even know if that is something. I have to be concerned about since my chemo is done.

For me, it was that food didn't taste as good and I lost some weight. Now can fit into clothes I had put in a drawer. Yeh!

What I was told over and over again is "everybody is different!" I had a taste issue with my first chemo treatment but by the time I left the hospital it was back to normal! Everything except my love for dark chocolate is stronger! LOL