Exploring an Integrative Patient-Tailored Complementary Medicine Approach for Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Disorders

Publication date: Available online 22 April 2018Source: EXPLOREAuthor(s): Eran Ben-Arye, Ilana Doweck, Elad Schiff, Noah SamuelsAbstractContextChemotherapy-induced taste disorder (CITD) is a common adverse effect among patients with cancer, with no effective known treatment.ObjectivesExploring the impact of a patient-tailored complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) treatment program on CITD-related severity.DesignProspective study on patients’ chart.SettingIntegrative oncology program operating within the Clalit Healthcare Oncology Service in northern Israel.PatientsPatients were referred by their oncology healthcare practitioner to a consultation with a CIM-trained integrative physician (IP). A patient-tailored CIM treatment program was designed, addressing quality of life (QOL)-related concerns which were evaluated using the Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS) and the measure yourself concerns and well-being (MYCAW) questionnaires.ResultsA total of 626 patients were referred to the IP consultation, with CITD-related symptoms identified in 43, 34 of them returning for follow-up. The majority of patients treated with CIM reported a reduction in symptom severity (n = 29), with only three reporting no change, 2 an “unclear effect” and none a worsening of CITD-related symptoms. Acupuncture and herbal medicine (sage, carob, and wheatgrass juice, as mouthwash or applied to the oral mucosa) were the most frequently CIM modalities used. Assessment was considered opti...
Source: EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research