title: The impact of chemosensory and food-related changes in patients with advanced oesophagogastric cancer treated with capecitabine and oxaliplatin: a qualitative study.
abstract: Chemosensory changes are frequently observed side effects of cytotoxic treatment and have an impact on daily life by altering food-related behaviour and daily practices. For oesophagogastric cancer patients, these changes can be particularly important as they may have specific needs with regard to eating, due to obstruction of the upper intestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the impact of chemosensory and food-related changes in oesophagogastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and how this may influence the practical and social aspects of food-related behaviour of patients and their relatives.
  
  
  
  We used a qualitative interview approach with a cross-sectional design using semi-structured interviews. Template analysis was used to analyse patients' experiences with and the impact of chemosensory changes on daily life. Thirteen advanced oesophagogastric cancer patients treated with capecitabine and oxaliplatin were included by convenience sampling, recruited from one academic hospital, and interviewed at home or in the hospital.
  
  
  
  There was a large variation in the impact of chemosensory changes in oesophagogastric cancer (OGC) patients, though daily life was impacted substantially when chemosensory and/or food-related changes were experienced. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: altered food preferences, practical constraints in daily life, and impact on social functioning.
  
  
  
  Chemosensory and food-related changes significantly influenced food preferences and had practical and social consequences in daily life of patients and their relatives. Specific nutritional care for these patients should be directed towards enhancing food enjoyment and should take the specific needs, related to the location of the tumour, into account.
authors.affiliation: Top Institute Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 557, Wageningen, 6700 AN, The Netherlands. yfke.devries@wur.nl.|Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands. yfke.devries@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Yfke C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Center for Evidence-Based Education, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Rehabilitation and Care Center Vreugdehof, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helmich
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Matty D A
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Karsten
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boesveldt
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Renate M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Winkels
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hanneke W M
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: van Laarhoven
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000069287:Capecitabine
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Food preferences; Smell; Taste