Chemotherapy-Induced Dysgeusia and Its Perverse Consequences: A Case Report

Dysgeusia is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Still, there is little information given to patients and limited knowledge about its diagnosis and management. We report the case of a patient under a standard regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (cisplatin and vinorelbine) who developed a life-threatening case of diabetes mellitus decompensation (hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state) resulting from extreme dietary intake due to severe dysgeusia and polydipsia. Dysgeusia is associated with a wide range of chemotherapy drugs. It is a frequent side effect but often overlooked. Self-care strategies and pharmacological agents can be implemented to help ensure better compliance to cancer treatment and improve quality of life.