Neuropathic Pain Affects Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy on the quality of life for breast cancer survivors, there is a notable lack of comprehensive research. Therefore, a crucial need exists for further systematic investigation and inquiry into this matter. AIMS: This study examined predictors of quality of life in breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational design. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a medical center in northern Taiwan and a teaching hospital in northeastern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: One hundred and thirty adult women with breast cancer, who have undergone chemotherapy and obtained a Total Neuropathy Scale-Clinical Version score>0, were enrolled. METHODS: Neuropathic pain, sleep disturbances, depression, and quality of life were evaluated using multiple regression analysis to identify quality of life predictors. Clinical importance was established using the minimally important difference of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. RESULTS: The study indicated that improving depression (B = -10.87, p < .001) and neuropathic pain (B = -8.33, p = .004) may enhance the quality of life of breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, the individual's marital status and family history of breast cancer were identified as predictive factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study illuminates quality of life determinants for breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, advocating comprehensive care and addressing depression and neuropathic pain for better outcomes.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity as A Risk Factor for Poor Sleep Quality in Breast Cancer Survivors Treated with Docetaxel.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore sleep quality and to determine whether chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity is a risk factor for poor sleep quality in breast cancer survivors who receive docetaxel treatment. METHODS: Secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional study. Sample characteristics were collected using an information sheet. Independent variables included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ), and the Identification Pain Questionnaire (ID pain). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We performed descriptive analyses and simple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 98 participants were included. More than 60% of them reported poor sleep quality, with their average PSQI score being 7.54 ± 4.45. Poor subjective sleep quality (1.37 ± 0.88) and short sleep duration (1.37 ± 1.08) were their main problems. In addition, significant risk factors for poor sleep quality were chronic illness (odds ratio [OR] = 2.753, P = 0.041), anxiety (OR = 7.714, P = 0.009), neuropathic pain (OR = 11.261, P = 0.022), sensory neuropathy (OR = 2.529, P = 0.032), motor neuropathy (OR = 3.781, P = 0.002), and undergoing chemotherapy (OR = 2.593, P = 0.027). Targeted therapy that some survivors received served as a protective factor (OR = 0.351, P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of poor sleep quality in breast cancer survivors treated with docetaxel. The results indicated that, in addition to clinical characteristics and psychological discomfort, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity is a significant risk factor for poor sleep quality.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors treated with taxane: a prospective longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to prospectively explore severity and prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and examine the correlation between clinician-assessed (objective) and patient-reported (subjective) CIPN in breast cancer survivors receiving taxane. METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal study. Purposive sampling was adapted to enroll women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and about to receive taxane. The CIPN was assessed after breast cancer diagnosed and before chemotherapy (T1), before cycle 1 to 4 taxane infusion (T2 to T5), and after chemotherapy completion (T6 to T8). Total Neuropathy Score-clinical version (TNSc), Identification Pain Questionnaire (ID pain), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Taxane subscale (FACT-Tax), and Peripheral Neuropathy Scale (PNS) were utilized for measuring CIPN. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and generalized estimating equation were used to analyze data. RESULTS: A total of 88 participants were included. Both clinician-assessed and patient-reported CIPN gradually increased between T1 and T6 and mildly decreased at T7 and T8. Fifty-five participants (62.5%) experienced CIPN at T8. Weak-to-moderate correlations between subjective and objective CIPN were found at T6 to T8 (r = 0.272-0.533, p < 0.05). The change of TNSc, FACT-Tax, and PNS were significant over time. However, the significant change of neuropathic pain was only found at T6. CONCLUSION: The change of CIPN prevalence and severity were significant over time in survivors newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Specifically, the severest and highest CIPN was detected at chemotherapy completion. Survivors remained suffering from CIPN 3 months after chemotherapy completion. Besides, mild to moderate correlations between clinician-assessed and patient-reported CIPN were identified.

Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Objective and Subjective Comparison Between Paclitaxel and Docetaxel in Patients With Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) is caused by the neurotoxicity of paclitaxel and docetaxel, but the differences between paclitaxel- and docetaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy are understudied. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to compare TIPN between docetaxel and paclitaxel in patients with breast cancer and to examine the consistency of measuring TIPN between researchers and patients. METHODS: Secondary data were analyzed from a cross-sectional study that included 64 patients with breast cancer from two teaching hospitals in Taiwan. Objective and subjective TIPN were measured. FINDINGS: Results indicated significant differences in objective TIPN, sensory sum score, and motor sum score between groups. No significant difference was detected in subjective TIPN between groups.