title: Assessing the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity on the quality of life of cancer patients: the introduction of a new measure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity on daily activities and quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  QoL of all patients visiting the oncological outpatient ward of the Maxima Medical Centre in the Netherlands from October 2006 until March 2007 treated with taxanes, vinca-alkaloids and/or platinum compounds (n = 88) was compared with the QoL of patients that did not receive these treatments yet (n = 43). Patient-reported neuropathy symptoms were evaluated with the newly developed Chemotherapy Induced Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (CINQ) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynaecologic Oncology Group/Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with chemotherapy reported significantly more complaints of neuropathy (p < 0.001) and more paresthesias and dysesthesias in the upper (p < 0.001; p < 0.01) and lower extremities (p < 0.001) compared to those not treated with chemotherapy. They additionally experienced problems with fine motor function (e.g., getting (un)dressed, writing, and picking up small objects). Moreover, cold-induced paresthesias were frequently reported. Overall, patients indicated that their neuropathy had a negative effect on QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly developed CINQ and the FACT/GOG-Ntx results suggest a considerable negative impact of patient-reported neuropathy symptoms on daily activities and QoL in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. However, further validation of the CINQ is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Maxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: K M E
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: de Kleine-Bolt
authors.forename: A J J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vingerhoets
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mols
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vreugdenhil
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009426:Netherlands; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents