Assessing the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity on the quality of life of cancer patients: the introduction of a new measure.

PurposeTo investigate the impact of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity on daily activities and quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients.MethodsQoL of all patients visiting the oncological outpatient ward of the Maxima Medical Centre in the Netherlands from October 2006 until March 2007 treated with taxanes, vinca-alkaloids and/or platinum compounds (n = 88) was compared with the QoL of patients that did not receive these treatments yet (n = 43). Patient-reported neuropathy symptoms were evaluated with the newly developed Chemotherapy Induced Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (CINQ) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynaecologic Oncology Group/Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire.ResultsPatients treated with chemotherapy reported significantly more complaints of neuropathy (p ConclusionsThe newly developed CINQ and the FACT/GOG-Ntx results suggest a considerable negative impact of patient-reported neuropathy symptoms on daily activities and QoL in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. However, further validation of the CINQ is needed.