Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

Taste and saliva changes in long term survivors of head and neck cancer and their impact on quality of life post therapy: A qualitative study. (#353)

Nadiah Tadjoudine 1 , Ke Xu 1 , Linda Sweet 1 , Michael Fitzgerald 2 , Caroline Connell 3 , Bogda Koczwara 1 2 , Shawgi Sukumaran 1 2
  1. Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  2. Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Bedford Park, ADELAIDE, Australia
  3. Genesis care, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia

Aims
Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is increasingly treated with definitive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT). Although the cure rate remains high with this therapy, significant long-term side effects are seen. This study investigated the subjective taste and saliva changes (TSC) post therapy and their impact on long term quality of life (QOL).

Methods
Patients who were at least 12 months post CCRT for HNSCC were recruited. To investigate their TSC and QOL, semi-structured interviews were undertaken, audio recorded and transcribed. Survey data were descriptively collated and qualitative interview data was analysed thematically with the NVivo software. These results were compared against patient and treatment related factors. Their subjective TSC were assessed using the validated Goldberg chemosensory questionnaire (GCS). Their QOL was measured through the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) questionnaire specific for head and neck cancer. This determined their emotional, functional, social and physical well-being.

Results
8 participants (4 male,4 female, all Caucasian) were recruited to attain data saturation. There were 4 main themes that emerged from the analysis of the semi-structured interviews: 1) The changes in taste experience where participants experienced hypersensitivity (6/8) while others experienced blandness (2/8). 2) The change in their swallowing experience where participants had a constant dry mouth (8/8) and difficulty swallowing (7/8). 3) The changes in their relationship with food where eating was no longer pleasurable (6/8). 4) The changes to their social experience of eating where all participants talked about a fear of choking, avoidance of social interactions and an overall embarrassment of eating in public. There was also a decline in the emotional and functional well-being post treatment across all participants as seen through the FACIT and GCS.  

Conclusion
TSC are common and bothersome post therapy for HNSCC, and have a negative impact on the QOL of survivors.