Stromberg Kara, Parma Valentina, Manley Kristen, Sherry Dylan, Hall Michael J, Nolden Alissa A
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
J Cancer Educ. 2025 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s13187-025-02641-y.
Chemosensory dysfunction, defined as an altered or lost taste and smell, is a prevalent side effect of cancer treatment, with 93% of patients complaining of taste and 60% complaining of changes in smell. Despite their impact, it is an underrecognized symptom, impairing nutritional intake, quality of life, and treatment outcomes. Surprisingly, taste and smell changes are rarely assessed or addressed in oncology care. This commentary highlights the educational gap faced by clinicians and reports the results of a pilot educational intervention consisting of a 15-min podcast. The results indicate significant improvements in provider knowledge and confidence to support patients experiencing chemosensory dysfunction. By embedding chemosensory education into nutrition, survivorship, and interprofessional care pathways, clinicians can better recognize, document, and respond to these symptoms. Reframing taste and smell not as minor nuisances but as critical facets of patient well-being represents a shift toward more comprehensive oncology care.
化学感觉功能障碍，定义为味觉和嗅觉改变或丧失，是癌症治疗的一种常见副作用，93%的患者抱怨味觉问题，60%的患者抱怨嗅觉变化。尽管有这些影响，但它是一种未得到充分认识的症状，会损害营养摄入、生活质量和治疗效果。令人惊讶的是，味觉和嗅觉变化在肿瘤护理中很少得到评估或处理。本评论强调了临床医生面临的教育差距，并报告了一项由15分钟播客组成的试点教育干预的结果。结果表明，医护人员在支持化学感觉功能障碍患者方面的知识和信心有显著提高。通过将化学感觉教育纳入营养、癌症生存护理及跨专业护理路径，临床医生可以更好地识别、记录并应对这些症状。将味觉和嗅觉不再视为小麻烦，而是视为患者福祉的关键方面，这代表着向更全面的肿瘤护理的转变。
