Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathy: More Evidence

Today's post from uvtapp.uvt.nl (see link below) reveals the results of a Dutch university study into the long term effects of chemotherapy, especially in relation to neuropathy. Not great news for cancer sufferers I'm afraid but something to be aware of if you are undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The conclusion states that solutions to this problem will be needed in the future but just as with other forms of neuropathy, that's stating the very obvious.

Neuropathy-related symptoms can be due to chemotherapy 

Press Release 19 June 2013

Patients with colorectal cancer may still have problems with neuropathy symptoms caused by treatment with chemotherapy 2 to 11 years after diagnosis. Patients with neuropathy symptoms reported worse quality of life score compared to those without these symptoms. This conclusion can be read in a recent article of Dr. Floortje Mols (Tilburg University and Dutch Comprehensive Cancer Centre South) and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

To gain insight into the prevalence and severity of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and its influence on health-related quality of life, Floortje Mols and colleagues issued questionnaires to colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors 2 to 11 years after diagnosis.

Methods

All alive individuals diagnosed with CRC between 2000 and 2009 as registered by the Dutch population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry were eligible for participation. 1,643 patients filled out the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) C30 and the EORTC QLQ Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20.

Results

The five neuropathy subscale–related symptoms that bothered patients with CRC the most during the past week were erectile problems (42% of men), trouble hearing (11%), trouble opening jars or bottles (11%), tingling toes/feet (10%), and trouble walking stairs or standing up (9%). Additionally, patients who received oxaliplatin more often reported tingling (29% v 8%), numbness (17% v 5%), and aching or burning pain (13% v 6%) in toes/feet compared with those not treated with chemotherapy.

They also more often reported tingling toes/feet (29% v 14%) compared with those treated with chemotherapy without oxaliplatin. Those with many neuropathy symptoms (eg, upper 10%) reported statistically significant and clinically relevant worse health-related quality of life scores on all EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales.

Conclusion

Two to 11 years after diagnosis of CRC, neuropathy-related symptoms are still reported, especially sensory symptoms in the lower extremities among those treated with oxaliplatin. Because neuropathy symptoms have a negative influence on health-related quality of life, these should be screened for and alleviated. Future studies should focus on prevention and relief of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Reference: Floortje Mols, Tonneke Beijers, Valery Lemmens, Corina J. van den Hurk, Gerard Vreugdenhil, and Lonneke V. van de Poll-Franse. Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy and Its Association With Quality of Life Among 2- to 11-Year Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Results From the Population-Based PROFILES Registry. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2013.

http://uvtapp.uvt.nl/fsw/spits.npc.ShowPressReleaseCM?v_id=2963474670418099