Chemotherapy-related taste and smell disorders

  • Raquel Molina-Villaverde Servicio de Oncología Médica. Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias.
Keywords: Taste, olfaction, quality of life.

Abstract

Chemotherapy agents can cause a wide range of adverse effects. Taste related symptoms are a common toxicity of the chemotherapic agents like cisplatin, taxanes or cyclophosphamide. Although the loss of olfactory and gustatory function is not outwardly apparent, it affects the patient substantially in daily life. Subjective taste and smell changes is in 75% of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Taste alterations have been incorporated in the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria since 1999. There is evidence that this type of alterations in cancer patients negatively affect quality of life. It is very important to inform the patient about this adverse effect because the recovery process will be slow and may take many months. There is an urgent need for increased attention to this effect, both in research and in clinical practice.

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Published
2013-05-06
How to Cite
Molina-Villaverde R. (2013). Chemotherapy-related taste and smell disorders. Psicooncología, 10(1), 155-161. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_PSIC.2013.v10.41954
Section
Articles