P-0219 Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathic Pain, Emotion and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of chemotherapy that affects the quality of life for many cancer survivors. Severe and debilitating neuropathy negatively impacts both physical and emotional well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain, mood and quality of life among patients with colorectal cancer in Taiwan. Methods 106 colorectal cancer patients who received chemotherapy participated in the study. The data was collected by self-administrated questionnaires. Questionnaires included Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), Profiles of Mood States-short form and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-C (FACT-C). Results The majority of the patients were male (53.8%) and married (77.4%). The average age was 56.92 years. The majority of patients were stage III (60.4%) and IV (34.0%), had tumor resection and chemotherapy. Patients received oxaliplatin/5-Fu-based chemotherapy (FOLFOX) and experienced a low level of chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain (93.4%), mainly cold induced pain (79.2%), numbness (77.4%), stabbing pain (62.3%), electric pain (38.7%), and Lacerating pain (28.3%). 64.2% of patients had finger neuropathy. Twelve percent of patients indicated that the neuropathy symptom affects their daily activities. In addition, patients reported that neuropathy affects their emotional well-being particular in the domains of vitality, fatigue, confusion, anxiety, depression, and anger. The results indicated that there was a medium positive correlation between neuropathic pain and mood (r=.492, p Conclusion Colorectal cancer survivors who have received oxaliplatin, peripheral neuropathies represent a major threat to quality of life. Mood states of patients play a mediating factor in the relationship between neuropathic pain and quality of life. Prevention and management of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and negative mood should be a major goal of symptom management to improve the quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors.