Journal of
Cancer Research and Experimental Oncology

  • Abbreviation: J. Cancer Res. Exp. Oncol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2243
  • DOI: 10.5897/JCREO
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 58

Full Length Research Paper

Patient feeding experience during cancer chemotherapy in Ouagadougou

Augustin Tozoula Bambara
  • Augustin Tozoula Bambara
  • Cancer Department, CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Yams Djamiratou Ouédraogo
  • Yams Djamiratou Ouédraogo
  • Cancer Department, CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Okobalemba Etienne Atenguena
  • Okobalemba Etienne Atenguena
  • Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
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Alice Cynthia Sama
  • Alice Cynthia Sama
  • Cancer Department, CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Fayçal Akanni
  • Fayçal Akanni
  • Cancer Department, CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Roger Sombié
  • Roger Sombié
  • Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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  •  Received: 28 August 2022
  •  Accepted: 11 January 2023
  •  Published: 28 February 2023

Abstract

This study describes the influence of chemotherapy on patients' eating habits in the context of resource-limited countries. This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients who have been prescribed chemotherapy and followed throughout this treatment at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital. We collected data on the initial eating habits and dietary coping strategies during chemotherapy during medical oncology consultations. One hundred and two patients were collected, aged 49.19 years on average. We compared the food consumption and dietary diversity scores before and during chemotherapy, the usual diet of our patients is local cereals and tubers accompanied by vegetables and animal proteins. During chemotherapy, 81.4% of patients experienced both quantitative and qualitative taste and olfactory changes. The mean food consumption score was 58.5 before and 57.5 during chemotherapy (p = 0.005). The mean dietary diversity score during chemotherapy is 5.27 versus 4.9 before chemotherapy (p < 0.0001). During chemotherapy, 50 patients had fewer meals, and 20 had increased their dietary intake. Making nutritionists and dieticians available to cancer patients would improve their food experience during chemotherapy.

Key words: Cancer, nutrition, chemotherapy, diet.