Question

Case Study #12

Mrs. Bowen has been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. She is 55 years old. She complains of nausea and that food tastes “funny.” She has lost 5 pounds from her normal weight of 130 lbs. (64 inches tall).

1. Give a rationale as to why Mrs. Bowen is currently feeling nauseated and why she feels that food tastes funny.

2. What nutritional recommendations may assist Mrs. Bowen?

Answer 1

1. The chemotherapy makes the food which are made up of citrus, or ketchup or mayonnaise or meat to taste like metal or tastes funny because of the side effect projected by the treatment which is known as ' chemo mouth' or ' metal mouth'.

2. The nutritional recommendations that would assist Mrs Bowen are eating plane food such as rice, bananas, potatoes as they don't have any bad taste or metal taste for the patient.

Ask the patient to avoid their favourite food.

If the patient has metallic taste then add a little maple syrup in the food or just put it on the tongue. Also if the food tastes too bitter add a little bit of sweetener, if it tastes like cardboard add a little bit of sea salt, if it is too sweet add few drops of lemon juice, if it is too salty add few drops of lemon juice etc.

If the food is tasteless or flavourless then add healthy fat.