title: [Incidence of dysgeusia associated with chemotherapy for cancer].
abstract: Chemotherapy for cancer has been reported to have many side effects. Dysgeusia or taste disorder is a common complaint among cancer patients undergoing ambulatory chemotherapy. The present study was undertaken to establish the importance of dysgeusia as a side effect of chemotherapy in these patients. The study included 356 patients who visted Shikoku Cancer Center to undergo outpatient cancer chemotherapy. Of these patients, 156(43.8%)experienced dysgeusia. Of the 156 patients, 34 were male and 122 were female. The incidence of dysgeusia was higher in patients receiving FOLFOX6(oxaliplatin+ 5-FU), docetaxel(DTX), paclitaxel(PTX), docetaxel+cyclophosphamide(TC)or epirubicin+cyclophosphamide(EC) than in those receiving other regimens. When the occurrence of dysgeusia was difficult to define, the changes in taste sensations were subtle for salty and umami taste. This disorder affected appetite: 87.2%of patients experienced loss of appetite. In addition, 66.7% of patients were distressed by this disorder. Dysgeusia may significantly reduce the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Therefore, patient support is important for patients who experience dysgeusia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Shikoku Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tagashira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents