To investigate the changing trends and influencing factors of chemotherapy-induced taste alteration in breast cancer patients, in order to provide a reference for the formulation of targeted intervention measures.

A prospective longitudinal design was used to recruit 90 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital in Beijing. Assessments were performed before the first cycle, before the second cycle, and before the last cycle with the chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the changing trends of taste alteration during chemotherapy, and the influencing factors of taste alteration.

Eighty-nine patients were included in this study, with an average age of (53.5±9.4) years, of whom 26 (29.21%) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 63 (70.79%) underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. The scores of taster alteration were (18.69±1.59), (22.53±4.24), and (25.14±5.68) before the first cycle, before the second cycle, and before the last cycle, respectively. Results of generalized estimating equations showed that the taster alteration score, general taste alteration score, and basic taste score were getting worse with the prolongation of chemotherapy (P＜0.01). The scores of phantogeusia, parageusia, and discomfort were significantly increased after the first cycle (P＜0.01), but there was no obvious increase during chemotherapy (P＞0.05). Age and chemotherapy regimen were related to the taste alteration score.

Breast cancer patients experience gradually worsening taste changes during chemotherapy, and age and chemotherapy regimen are the influencing factors of taste changes related to chemotherapy. It is suggested that more attention be paid to the health education and intervention of taste change, in order to reduce the taste change in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.