Managing Taste and Smell Changes During Chemotherapy

ByAmelia Sullivan,B.S.,DieteticIntern,withKatelynDeRaps,MS,RD,LD,ClinicalDietitian

Nutrition is crucial before, during, and after cancer treatment. Ensuring proper nutrition can help:

Maintain your strength

Keep your weight stable

Fight infection

Reduce side effects during and after treatment

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can alter taste and smell. Additionally, some may experience dry mouth from a decrease in saliva secretion. These side effects can make it difficult to consume enough nutrients. You may need to adjust your diet to ensure you are receiving proper nutrition.

Your sense of taste consists of five main components, salty, sweet, savory, bitter, and sour. Cancer treatment can result in foods tasting more sweet, bitter, or metallic. Often, people may lose their taste completely. Each person experiences changes differently, and often these changes may stop after treatment ends.

If your food tastes bitter or metallic:

Use plastic or bamboo utensils instead of metal.

Use glass or ceramic cookware. Rinse your mouth with water before and after meals.

Avoid canned food items (such as sauces and soups). Choose items in glass or plastic jars.

If your food tastes too sweet:

Add some salt.

Mix sweet drinks with water.

Add lemon, lime, or vinegar to foods.

Eat sour or tart foods.

if your food

Add more flavor:

seems tasteless:

Use herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, and mint.

Use marinades, such as salad dressings, fruit juices, or other sauces.

Use sauces and condiments, such as soy sauce, mayonnaise, or ketchup. Use spices, such as salt, onion, and garlic powder.

Try sourand tart foods, such as citrus fruits or kimchi.

May need to avoid use of the above if they cause discomfort.

if your food taste or smell different than usual:

Avoid foods with strong odors.

Open windows while cooking if the smell bothers you. Choose foods that can be eaten cold or at room temperature. Drink small sips of liquid throughout your meals to rinse out the taste.

oral hygiene:

Taking good care of your oral hygiene will help to manage taste changes.

Brush your teeth and tongue twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush that’s gentle on your teeth and tongue.

Alcohol-free mouthwash, sugar-free hard candies, and chewing gum may help with dry mouth.

You can find more information from the resources below:

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

American Cancer Society m

One quart (4cups) water mixed with one teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Managing taste and smell changes from cancer treatment can be difficult. If you often do not get enough nutrition, working with a registered dietitian ("RD") may be necessary to ensure you get enough nutrition. Southern Maine Health Care's RD's can provide information, tools, and support to help you achieve better nutrition. For further information, please call 207-283-7148.

Reproduced with permission from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

Care Coordination

Care Coordination and planning includes communication and partnerships between the survivor and providers for ongoing survivorship care

This quarter, we feature a new Palliative Care space.

Planning