title: Evaluating the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms (CIPN-sx) on perceived ability to work in breast cancer survivors during the first year post-treatment.
abstract: To describe the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms (CIPN-sx) on breast cancer survivors' (BCS) perceived ability to work post-treatment.
  
  
  
  The sample included 22 chemotherapy-treated (Ctx+) and 22 chemotherapy-naïve (Ctx-) female BCS. Data was collected at the following three time points: baseline (post-surgery, pre-chemotherapy), 1 month (1 M) post-chemotherapy, and approximately 1 year (1 Y) later. The presence, frequency, number, and severity of CIPN-sx were self-reported using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity questionnaire (FACT/GOG-Ntx) version 4, a validated 11-item CIPN measure. Perceived ability to work was measured using an item from the Functional Well-Being subscale of the FACT/GOG-Ntx.
  
  
  
  At 1 Y, more than 50 % of Ctx+ reported discomfort, numbness, or tingling in their hands or feet; weakness; or difficulty feeling small objects. The presence, number, and severity of these symptoms were correlated with being less able to work for Ctx+ at 1 M but not 1 Y. Results of a regression analysis using CIPN-sx to predict work ability found that models combining (1) hand numbness and trouble feeling small objects, (2) trouble buttoning buttons and trouble feeling small objects, (3) foot numbness and foot pain, (4) foot numbness and trouble walking, and (5) trouble hearing and hand pain each predicted survivors who were "not at all" able to work at 1 M.
  
  
  
  Unresolved CIPN-sx may play a role in challenges working for BCS post-treatment. These findings highlight the need for research to explore the impact that CIPN-sx have on BCS' ability to work, as well as the development of interventions to improve work function in BCS with CIPN-sx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community & Health Systems, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. nrzanvil@umail.iu.edu.|Training in Research for Behavioral Oncology and Cancer Control Program, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, USA. nrzanvil@umail.iu.edu.
authors.forename: Noah R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Zanville
authors.affiliation: Training in Research for Behavioral Oncology and Cancer Control Program, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly N H
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Nudelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Dori J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Community & Health Systems, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Von Ah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Brenna C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Community & Health Systems, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Training in Research for Behavioral Oncology and Cancer Control Program, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Saykin
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004651:Employment / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D019467:Subacute Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Breast cancer; CIPN; Chemotherapy; Perceived occupational function; Peripheral neuropathy; Survivorship; Symptoms; Work