Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Apr 22;32(5):303.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08469-4.

The role of food during oncology treatment: perspectives of cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals

Dominika Adamczyk  1 , Dominika Maison  2 , Stella Lignou  3 , Omobolanle O Oloyede  4 , Miriam Clegg  5 , Lisa Methven  3 , Carol Fairfield  6 , Margot Gosney  6 , Maria José Hernando  7 , Javier Amézaga  7 , Mercedes Caro  7 , Itziar Tueros  7
Affiliations

The role of food during oncology treatment: perspectives of cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals

Dominika Adamczyk et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Purpose: Many cancer patients have problems eating which are usually connected to taste and smell alterations due to side effects of cancer treatment. These problems have consequences both in terms of malnutrition and reduced quality of life. In order to explore social and psychological consequences of eating problems in cancer patients, qualitative interviews were conducted with cancer patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Methods: The study was conducted in three European countries (Poland, Spain and the UK) that differed in culture, oncology care approaches and availability of nutritional products targeted to cancer patients in the market.

Results: Differences in the social role of eating between the three European countries were observed which subsequently influenced the impact of eating problems for cancer patients in these countries. Furthermore, the study found that problems with food affect not only the quality of life of cancer patients, but can also distress their caregivers, who are often unable to cope with such food-related problems. In addition, the study showed that commercially available nutritional products for cancer patients focus on nutritional value but tend to neglect an important aspect of eating, which is the enjoyment of food, both individually and socially.

Keywords: Cancer patients; Food intake; Malnutrition; Nutrition; Nutrition support; Qualitative study; Social role of eating; Taste and smell alterations.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An overview of the codes and themes connected to the role of food during oncology treatment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209–249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Stratton RJ, Green CJ, Elia M (2003) Disease-related malnutrition: an evidence-based approach to treatment. Cabi Publishing, Wallingford
    1. Galindo DEB, Vidal-Casariego A, Calleja-Fernández A, Hernández-Moreno A, de la Maza BP, Pedraza-Lorenzo M, Rodríguez-García MA, Ávila-Turcios DM, Alejo-Ramos M, Villar-Taibo R, Urioste-Fondo A, Cano-Rodríguez I, Ballesteros-Pomar MD. Appetite disorders in cancer patients: impact on nutritional status and quality of life. Appetite. 2017;114:23–27. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.03.020. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Beirer A. Malnutrition and cancer, diagnosis and treatment. Mag Eur Med Oncol. 2021;14:168–173. doi: 10.1007/s12254-020-00672-3. - DOI
    1. Cohen J, Wakefield CE, Laing DG (2016) Smell and taste disorders resulting from cancer and chemotherapy. Curr Pharm Des 22(15):2253–2263. 10.2174/1381612822666160216150812 - PubMed

Publication types