title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain insight into the prevalence and severity of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and its influence on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a population-based sample of 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. Eighty-three percent (n = 1,643) of 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%; P = .001), numbness (17% v 5%; P = .005), and aching or burning pain (13% v 6%; P = .03) in toes/feet compared with those not treated with chemotherapy. They also more often reported tingling toes/feet (29% v 14%; P = .0127) compared with those treated with chemotherapy without oxaliplatin. Those with many neuropathy symptoms (eg, upper 10%) reported statistically significant and clinically relevant worse HRQOL scores on all EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales (all P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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 HRQOL, these should be screened for and alleviated. Future studies should focus on prevention and relief of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, the Netherlands. f.mols@tilburguniversity.edu
authors.forename: Floortje
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mols
authors.forename: Tonneke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beijers
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemmens
authors.forename: Corina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van den Hurk
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vreugdenhil
authors.forename: Lonneke V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: van de Poll-Franse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents