Prevalence and characteristics of neuropathic pain in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer.

PURPOSE: Neuropathic pain (NP) in individuals with cancer can arise from the cancer itself or its treatments. The prevalence of NP has been estimated in children living with cancer; however, the prevalence in adolescent survivorship is unknown. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of NP among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and explore biopsychosocial factors associated with NP.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of cancer survivors (diagnosed > 18 months prior) aged 13-18 years in a pediatric cancer survivorship clinic. A survey was administered to participants assessing demographic, pain and psychosocial characteristics; moreover, NP was measured using self-report screening tools (painDETECT and Pediatric PainSCAN©). Disease characteristics were extracted from participants' health records. Descriptive statistics were used to report prevalence rates, pain, cancer and treatment characteristics. Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine between group characteristics.

RESULTS

142 participants completed the study (median age 15, 52% female, 51% White). Primary cancer diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 53% of participants. The prevalence of pain was 23% (33/142) and that of NP was estimated to be 11% (16/142). Participants with NP (n = 16) had higher pain catastrophizing scores than participants with non-NP (n = 17; p = 0.0020).

CONCLUSIONS

Pain, including NP, is common in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Further research is needed to better understand the experience of NP in this population, including its trajectory over time, to improve pain management.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Health care providers should routinely screen for pain in adolescent cancer survivors to initiate appropriate treatments.