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Subjective taste and smell changes in treatment-naive people with solid tumours

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Abstract

Purpose

Taste and smell changes (TSCs) are common in head and neck (H&N) cancer and during and after chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT). It is an area that has been under-investigated, particularly in the treatment-naive, but can negatively impact nutritional status. This study examined the prevalence, severity and characteristics of TSCs in people with non-H&N solid tumours, before CT and RT, and their relationship with co-occurring symptoms.

Methods

A prospective, observational study was conducted. Forty consecutive pre-treatment cancer patients, referred to radiation oncology outpatients over 6 weeks, were recruited. Data on TSCs, symptoms and nutritional status were obtained using the ‘Taste and Smell Survey’ and the ‘abridged Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment’ (abPG-SGA). BMI was measured. SPSS® was used for statistical analysis. Two-sided P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Most patients were newly diagnosed (n = 28; 70 %). Nineteen (48 %) reported TSCs; nine noted a stronger sweet and seven a stronger salt taste. Of these, four reported a stronger and four a weaker smell sensation. Those at nutritional risk reported more TSCs (n = 13/20). TSCs were significantly associated with dry mouth (P < 0.01), early satiety (P < 0.05) and fatigue (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

TSCs preceded CT or RT in almost half of treatment-naive patients with solid tumours, notably stronger sweet and salt tastes. Half of the study group were at nutritional risk; the majority of these reported TSCs. TSCs were significantly associated with other symptoms. Future research and clinical guidelines, with a common terminology for assessment, diagnosis and management of cancer TSCs, are needed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the patients and staff at St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network, St. James’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services for their support. Particular thanks to Aine Breen, Mary Cunningham, Aoife Gorham, Anita O’Donovan, Anne O’Hara and Laoise Ryan for their help with the logistical planning of the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland

    L. Spotten & C. Corish

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

    L. Spotten, C. Corish, C. Lorton, N. O’Donoghue & D. Walsh

  3. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    C. Corish

  4. Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6, Ireland

    C. Lorton, P. Ui Dhuibhir, N. O’Donoghue & B. O’Connor

  5. School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    B. O’Connor & D. Walsh

  6. St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland

    M. Cunningham, N. El Beltagi, C. Gillham & D. Walsh

Authors
  1. L. Spotten
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  2. C. Corish
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  3. C. Lorton
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  4. P. Ui Dhuibhir
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  7. M. Cunningham
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  8. N. El Beltagi
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  9. C. Gillham
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  10. D. Walsh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Walsh.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee at St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network and the joint St. James’s Hospital/Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin Research Ethics Committee.

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Spotten, L., Corish, C., Lorton, C. et al. Subjective taste and smell changes in treatment-naive people with solid tumours. Support Care Cancer 24, 3201–3208 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3133-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3133-2

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