Smakelijk eten voor patiënten met kanker

• This article provides an overview of smell and taste changes in cancer patients and the influence of these changes on eating behaviour and food preferences.
• Taste changes seem to be more common than alterations in the sense of smell.
• The changes in taste and smell are often temporary; smell and taste functions mostly return to their previous level after treatment cessation.
• The type of cancer and its treatment influence changes in the sense of smell and taste, making it challenging to give general advice.
• Changes in taste and smell – which can lead to modified food preferences and decreased appetite – should be taken into consideration during the treatment of cancer patients to improve the nutritional status and the effectiveness of the treatment.
• This requires a personal approach, a multidisciplinary team and validated methods. Moreover, it is important to involve the environment of the patient.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.