How can we decrease damage to taste caused by radiotherapy?

It is thought that the dose of radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy given to patients is linked with the level of damage to their taste, but the exact relationship is not known.

Dr Lucinda Gunn’s research will investigate the association between radiotherapy dose and patient-reported taste dysfunction by studying taste in patients undergoing treatment. She hopes to:

• Understand the prevalence and pattern of taste loss seen in patients
• Study those in which taste function remains a persistent problem at 6 months
• Understand more about the mechanism of injury to taste
• Develop strategies to reduce taste loss

By understanding how and why damage to taste is caused, this will guide the development of treatment strategies to help preserve taste in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

In will serve as a platform for further research to develop planning strategies and techniques to optimise the delivery of radiotherapy and minimise damage to structures important for the preservation of taste.