Physical activity associated with less chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Meeting the physical activity guideline was associated with less chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)-like symptoms and a higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL) regardless of treatment with chemotherapy among colorectal cancer survivors, a new study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice has shown.

For the study, researchers in the Netherlands sought to investigate whether there is an association between physical activity, CIPN, and HRQoL among colorectal cancer survivors.

Researchers analyzed data from a Dutch prospective population-based survey among colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed between 2000 and 2009.

Of those, 83% completed the the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaires. Of those, 31% were treated with chemotherapy.

Results showed that treatment with chemotherapy was associated with a higher number of patients reporting CIPN symptoms regardless of physical activity.

Researchers found that patients treated with chemotherapy who did not complete 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week experienced more CIPN. The study also showed that patients not treated with chemotherapy reported CIPN-like symptoms, especially when they did not complete the 150 minutes/week of exercise.

The findings suggest that health care professionals and colorectal cancer survivors should be aware of the importance of physical activity.