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Loss of Taste and Smell Function in Cancer Patients

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Sensory Science and Chronic Diseases

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Abstract

Alterations of taste and smell are common side effects of chemotherapy and can negatively impact patients’ food behavior, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Prevalence of taste and smell disorders can differ by clinical characteristics, such as cancer type, chemotherapy treatment, treatment duration, and by diagnostic approach(es) or psychophysical method(s) used to identify or quantify taste or smell dysfunction.

In this chapter, we summarize the prevalence and severity of taste and smell problems and the impact on food behavior. We highlight the recent literature which reports new information regarding mechanisms, factors associated with sensory dysfunction such as clinical characteristics and co-occurring symptoms, and recovery. While taste and smell changes are common symptoms reported by patients, clinicians and caregivers lack the tools to provide adequate support. There is a current need to identify strategies and diagnostic tools that can improve patient care and recovery of taste and smell changes as a result of cancer treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science, College of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

    Alissa A. Nolden

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  1. Alissa A. Nolden
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Correspondence to Alissa A. Nolden .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute of Nursing Research Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Paule Valery Joseph

  2. Department of Allied Health Sciences College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Valerie Buzas Duffy

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Nolden, A.A. (2021). Loss of Taste and Smell Function in Cancer Patients. In: Joseph, P.V., Duffy, V.B. (eds) Sensory Science and Chronic Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86282-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86282-4_9

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