Correlates of Anxiety, Taste and Odor Experiences in Chemotherapy Cancer Patients

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Abstract
Fifty cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were studied with respect to the following variables: (1) Anxiety, nausea, and vomiting before, during, and after chemotherapy administration; (2) Treatment-related taste and odor sensations experienced outside the treatment setting; and (3) Responses to the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire (APQ). Patients reporting taste and odor experiences plus anxiety before chemotherapy (Group TOA) were significantly more likely to experience anticipatory nausea and vomiting than patients reporting either (TO/A) or none of these (NIL). TOA patients also scored higher on the APQ than NIL patients. Taste/odor sensations reminding of chemoterapy treatment, but experienced outside the treatment setting are suggested as a measure of individual “ease of conditioning” in cancer patients.