Nurse-Led Self-Management Program on Taste Alteration in Women With Breast Cancer

Taste alteration is a common and distressing symptom experienced by women with breast cancer receiving taxane-based chemotherapy. This symptom may negatively affect food intake, nutritional status, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Although several approaches have been suggested for the management of chemotherapy-related taste alteration, evidence regarding structured nurse-led self-management interventions in this patient group remains limited.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 years or older * Literate * Diagnosed with breast cancer * Receiving taxane-based chemotherapy * Having a score of 1 or 2 for taste alteration according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0) after the first cycle of chemotherapy * Willing to participate in the study and providing written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Having any communication barrier that prevents participation in the study * Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder * Receiving radiotherapy * Having metastasis * Having a diagnosed physical disease that may affect food intake, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease * Receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition support