The current study's findings imply that taste dysfunction
is consistently present in patients with head and
neck cancer, regardless of the time since treatment was
completed. Taste function is impaired by head and neck
cancer treatments, and taste test results were no better
for participants who were more than two years posttreatment
than for those tested earlier after completing
therapy. However, participants reported greater enjoyment
in eating two years after treatment. Participants
appear to adapt their eating behaviors over time in ways
that allow them to enjoy eating again. Instead of telling
patients with head and neck cancer that their taste will
return over time, informing them that they will adapt
to their taste changes over time may be more accurate.