Gustatory and olfactory function in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Taste/smell did not seem substantially altered in breast cancer patients compared to normative data. Nevertheless, increasing tumor burden resulted in decreased olfactory function, but not in taste changes.

Effect of platinum-containing chemotherapy on olfactory, gustatory, and hearing function in ovarian cancer patients

“…Thus, sour in its lowest concentration may be more diYcult to identify. Although our study size was small (12 ovarian cancer patients), the taste and smell test results agree with those of a recently published study investigating the olfactory and gustatory function of 69 breast cancer patients before chemotherapy [19].…”

Chemosensory Science in the Context of Cancer Treatment: Implications for Patient Care

“…Cancer treatment therefore is aimed at killing, removing or slowing the growth of rapidly dividing cells. A pivotal review of oral sensation and cancer (Duffy et al 2002) and key papers comparing taste and smell function in cancer patients compared to healthy controls (Ovesen et al 1991;Steinbach et al 2010) support the notion that cancer in itself is not the usual cause of sensory problems in oncology populations. Instead, the clinical interventions used to combat the disease, and their subsequent side effects, are implicated in adverse changes in the sensorium and food hedonics.…”

‘Taste’ changes: A problem for patients and their dietitians

“…Several studies support the notion that cancer does not in itself cause taste problems . There is a small but growing body of evidence that taste per se is a problem in people undergoing cancer treatment.…”

“…Taste problems and cancer treatment: Several studies support the notion that cancer does not in itself cause taste problems. 8,43,44 There is a small but growing body of evidence that taste per se is a problem in people undergoing cancer treatment. Most of the evidence for true taste changes are from studies of people receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, where taste changes tend to be prolonged even after treatment ceases.…”