investigations have also insults that accompany the shown that taste aversions intake of hot coffee, cold ice cream, tough and hard are readily learned in food. etc. Yet the chemotherapy patients sensitivities of thermal and (55—58). As in the previous tactile receptors of the studies with rats, it was tongue remain high. This found that novel tastants beautiful balance is paired with chemotherapy disrupted if the epithelium resulted in stronger taste is defaced and substances taken into the mouth can aversions than the aversions easily penetrate toward the to familiar foods (58). base of the epithelium. Learned taste aversions to Stomatitis, the fruit juices have also been inflammation of the mucous conditioned in radiotherapy membrane of the mouth. patients (59—61). A way to presents an excellent mode avoid the formation of taste of entrance for foreign chemicals. bacteria, viruses, aver.sions in cancer patients etc., into the basc of the would be to intentionally epithelium and eventually pair a " scapegoat" food into the vascular system with the therapy, (62). The associated pain conditioning an aversion to disrupts the normal this unimportant food appreciation of food taken into the mouth. and both source (62). It was the pattern and amount of successfully demonstrated consumption can change. If with children patients. It severe. inadequate should be noted that nutrition results. In learned taste aversions are addition, many of the habits probably the rule, rather associated with normal than the exception, in dental and oral hygiene will be disrupted, which leads to cancer patients. The fact further deterioration of that intravascular 'tastes" both teeth and the mucous have been conditioned in membranes. rats has strong implications for learned aversions in Conclusions chemotherapy patients. The intensity and longevity of It can be seen from the these learned aversions as preceding discussion that related to the appetite the alterations in taste sensitivity reported by problems in cancer patients cancer patients are likely needs to be more fully due to multiple causes. explored. These could differ markedly depending upon Oral Epithelium the location and type of malignancy. the course of The oral epithelium is well radiation or chemotherapy, designed to absorb the and the psychologic state
investigations have also shown that taste aversions are readily learned in chemotherapy patients (55—58). As in the previous studies with rats, it was found that novel tastants paired with chemotherapy resulted in stronger taste aversions than the aversions to familiar foods (58). Learned taste aversions to fruit juices have also been conditioned in radiotherapy patients (59—61). A way to avoid the formation of taste aver.sions in cancer patients would be to intentionally pair a " scapegoat" food with the therapy, conditioning an aversion to this unimportant food source (62). It was successfully demonstrated with children patients. It should be noted that learned taste aversions are probably the rule, rather than the exception, in cancer patients. The fact that intravascular 'tastes" have been conditioned in rats has strong implications for learned aversions in chemotherapy patients. The intensity and longevity of these learned aversions as related to the appetite problems in cancer patients needs to be more fully explored. Oral Epithelium The oral epithelium is well designed to absorb the insults that accompany the intake of hot coffee, cold ice cream, tough and hard food. etc. Yet the sensitivities of thermal and tactile receptors of the tongue remain high. This beautiful balance is disrupted if the epithelium is defaced and substances taken into the mouth can easily penetrate toward the base of the epithelium. Stomatitis, the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. presents an excellent mode of entrance for foreign chemicals. bacteria, viruses, etc., into the basc of the epithelium and eventually into the vascular system (62). The associated pain disrupts the normal appreciation of food taken into the mouth. and both the pattern and amount of consumption can change. If severe. inadequate nutrition results. In addition, many of the habits associated with normal dental and oral hygiene will be disrupted, which leads to further deterioration of both teeth and the mucous membranes. Conclusions It can be seen from the preceding discussion that the alterations in taste sensitivity reported by cancer patients are likely due to multiple causes. These could differ markedly depending upon the location and type of malignancy. the course of radiation or chemotherapy, and the psychologic state
Beidler%20Smith%201991_Effects%20of%20Radiation%20Therapy%20and%20Drugs%20on%20Cell%20Turnover%20and%20Taste.docx