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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 339-353 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Nutrition and Cancer |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 17 2015 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Cite this
The impact of cancer treatment on the diets and food preferences of patients receiving outpatient treatment. / Coa, Kisha I.; Epstein, Joel B.; Ettinger, David; Jatoi, Aminah; McManus, Kathy; Platek, Mary E.; Price, Wendy; Stewart, Meghan; Teknos, Theodoros N.; Moskowitz, Bruce.
In: Nutrition and Cancer, Vol. 67, No. 2, 17.02.2015, p. 339-353.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of cancer treatment on the diets and food preferences of patients receiving outpatient treatment
AU - Coa, Kisha I.
AU - Epstein, Joel B.
AU - Ettinger, David
AU - Jatoi, Aminah
AU - McManus, Kathy
AU - Platek, Mary E.
AU - Price, Wendy
AU - Stewart, Meghan
AU - Teknos, Theodoros N.
AU - Moskowitz, Bruce
PY - 2015/2/17
Y1 - 2015/2/17
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1080/01635581.2015.990577
DO - 10.1080/01635581.2015.990577
M3 - Article
VL - 67
SP - 339
EP - 353
JO - Nutrition and Cancer
JF - Nutrition and Cancer
SN - 0163-5581
IS - 2
ER -