Taste Alterations in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Neglected Side Effect?

Abstract

After completing this course, the reader will be able to:1. Evaluate the effect of various chemotherapy regimens on taste alterations.2. Investigate the effect of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations on patients and use available dietary approaches such as taste enhancement and substitution of proteins and nutrients of avoided food to improve quality of life.This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com. CME CME ABSTRACTBackground. Taste alterations (TAs) are a frequent but under-recognized treatment side effect in cancer pa-

The Impact of Cancer Treatment on the Diets and Food Preferences of Patients Receiving Outpatient Treatment

“…More than 20% of patients were bothered by the smells of cleaning solutions or perfumes. Consistent with previous research dietary changes were associated with other treatment-related side effects (12,(14)(15)(16)(17). Specifically, patients who reported decreased energy levels since beginning treatment were also more likely to report dietary changes, including decreased appetite (46.4% vs. 13.0%), increased sensitivity to certain tastes and smells (e.g., metallic taste: 21.0% vs. 13.0%), and avoidance of particular foods than those reporting equivalent or greater energy levels.…”

“…Although there have been some efforts to address nutrition issues during treatment, there continues to be a need for solutions (17,18,32). Nutrition strategies that have been recommended include dietary counseling, oral nutritional supplementation, and/or flavor enhancers (12,15,(21)(22)(23).…”

“…For example, cancer patients who experience chemosensory alterations, distorted taste, and increased sensitivity to smells due to the cancer itself or as a side effect of treatment (12,13) are more likely to report higher levels of weight loss, lower energy intake, and worse quality of life (12,(14)(15)(16)(17). A surprisingly high number of patients undergoing cancer treatment report distortions to their sense of taste or smell (17,18). Cancer patients also report early satiety and food aversions as a result of treatment (19).…”

Initial Study on Cancer-Related Cognitive Dysfunction With the Implementation of QEEG

“…The study is of a very preliminary character, its purpose being to prove the hypothesis, based on literature study, that chemotherapy can affect cognitive skills of elderly women suffering from cancer (Johns et al, 2016;van Dam et al, 1998;Zabernigg et al, 2010). The criteria for patient participation in the study specified the participants as those suffering from breast cancer with an already planned chemotherapy regimen.…”

“…Other side effects of chemotherapy, apart from CRCD, are Taste Alterations (TA), fatigue, vomiting, nausea, and -most commonly -hair loss (Zabernigg et al, 2010).…”