title: The impact of cancer treatment on the diets and food preferences of patients receiving outpatient treatment.
abstract: Patients undergoing cancer treatment experience a multitude of symptoms that can influence their ability to complete treatment as well as their quality of life during and after treatment. This cross-sectional study sought to describe the dietary changes experienced by cancer patients and to identify associations between these changes and common treatment symptoms. A convenience sample of 1199 cancer patients aged 18 yr and older undergoing active treatment were recruited from 7 cancer centers to complete a self-administered paper-and-pencil survey. Descriptive analyses were conducted to estimate prevalence of dietary changes and chi-squared tests were used to examine associations between dietary changes and health outcomes. Approximately 40% of patients reported a decreased appetite since beginning treatment, and 67.2% of patients reported at least 1 chemosensory alteration. Increased taste sensitivities were more common than decreased taste sensitivities, with increased sensitivity to metallic being the most common taste sensitivity (18.6%). Patients also had increased sensitivities to certain smells including cleaning solutions (23.4%), perfume (22.4%), and food cooking (11.4%). Patients reported a wide range of food preferences and aversions. Patients who had less energy or lost weight since beginning treatment were more likely than others to report treatment-related dietary changes.
authors: a Bloomberg School of Public Health , Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors: Kisha I
authors: KI
authors: Coa
authors: Joel B
authors: JB
authors: Epstein
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Ettinger
authors: Aminah
authors: A
authors: Jatoi
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: McManus
authors: Mary E
authors: ME
authors: Platek
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Price
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Stewart
authors: Theodoros N
authors: TN
authors: Teknos
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Moskowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010045:Outpatients; D011788:Quality of Life; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult