Head and neck cancer survivors experience taste
dysfunction. Participants demonstrated impaired recognition
of taste stimulant solutions at low and high
concentrations, as well as persistent bitter or metallic
phantom tastes. Taste dysfunction was prevalent
among long-term survivors, including those who were
longer than five years post-treatment. Recognition of
taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer
Oncology Nursing Forum • Vol. 40, No. 1, January 2013 Ell
is important so that clinicians may help survivors cope
with this distressing sensory loss.