title: Subjective taste and smell changes in treatment-naive people with solid tumours.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spotten
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.|School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corish
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.|Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorton
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6, Ireland.
authors.forename: P Ui
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dhuibhir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.|Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6, Ireland.|School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Beltagi
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillham
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. walshtd@tcd.ie.|School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. walshtd@tcd.ie.|St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. walshtd@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Nutrition; Radiation therapy; Smell; Taste