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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a nerve-damaging side effect of antineoplastic agents in the common cancer treatment, chemotherapy. [1] CIPN afflicts between 30% and 40% of patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Peripheral neuropathy may be classified according to the number and distribution of nerves affected (mononeuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex, or polyneuropathy), the type of nerve fiber predominantly affected (motor, sensory, autonomic), or the process affecting the nerves; e.g., inflammation (), compression (compression neuropathy), chemotherapy (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy).
The systems of the body most affected by chemotherapy drugs include visual and semantic memory, attention and motor coordination and executive functioning. [9] [10] These effects can impair a chemotherapy patient's ability to understand and make decisions regarding treatment, perform in school or employment and can reduce quality of life. [10]
Neuropathy: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a progressive and enduring tingling numbness, intense pain, and hypersensitivity to cold, beginning in the hands and feet and sometimes involving the arms and legs.
Functional impairment and residual pain can lead to social isolation. [10] Cancer support groups are valuable resources to learn about the syndrome and therapeutic options, and are a means to voice emotions related to having cancer and surviving it. [10] [1] [15]
Hand-foot invariably recurs with the resumption of chemotherapy. Long-term chemotherapy may also result in reversible palmoplantar keratoderma. Symptoms resolve 1–2 weeks after cessation of chemotherapy. [6] The range is 1–5 weeks, so it has recovered by the time the next cycle is due.
Peripheral neuropathy is a general term that indicates any disorder of the peripheral nervous system. [2] The name of the disorder itself can be broken down in order to understand this better; peripheral: in regard to peripheral neuropathy, refers to outside of the brain and spinal cord; neuro: means nerve related; -pathy; means disease. [1]
[12] [13] Neuropathic pain is common in cancer as a direct result of cancer on peripheral nerves (e.g., compression by a tumor), or as a side effect of chemotherapy (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy), [14] [15] radiation injury or surgery. [3]