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Article: Taste Alteration
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Taste alteration
Description
Taste alteration refers to a decrease in the ability to taste foods (hypogeusia), changes in how food tastes (dysgeusia), or the complete loss of the ability to taste foods (ageusia). It also refers to the presence of a metallic or medicine-like taste in the mouth. Taste alterations may occur as a result of cancer treatment, infection within the mouth, or the cancer itself.
Taste alteration can have a significant effect on the nutritional status of a cancer patient. Patients with taste alteration may avoid certain foods, lose their appetite (
anorexia
), and lose weight. Eating can be a chore when
the patient also has a dry mouth (
xerostomia
) or a mouth ...