Food-related Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer

Food plays a fundamental role in quality of life. In patients with cancer psychological burden and treatment-related side effects can impact appetite, taste perception and pleasure of eating, making nutritional management more challenging. Given the central role of food and nutrition in maintaining physical health and psychological well-being, it is essential to better understand the factors that contribute to food-related quality of life in order to improve the quality of life of patients with cancer. Despite the importance of these psychological aspects, current assessments tools do not adequately measure the impact of cancer on the food-related quality of life. In a study entitled "CANUT-QVA" a specific questionnaire measuring nine dimensions of food related quality of life was developed, allowing for a better understanding of how patients perceive and experience their diet. This instrument consists of 46 items and explores nine dimensions, its use showing a significant decrease in food related quality of life of patients with breast cancer, opening the way for targeted interventions to improve nutritional well being and overall quality of life in cancer patients. The present study aims to analyse various factors - such as oral health, sensory profile and clinical characteristics - associated with food-related quality of life in patients with cancer (gastrointestinal, head and neck, lung, breast and gynecologic cancer) during or after treatment, in order to develop a predictive model of food related quality of life. The main objective of this project is to identify the population at highest risk, so as to better tailor nutritional interventions for patients with cancer, considering both the type of treatment received and the phase, during or after treatment. The food-related quality of life questionnaire containing 46 items will be used to measure the primary outcome.