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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, physical activity and health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors from the PROFILES registry

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Abstract

Purpose

To gain insight into the association of physical activity (PA), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors, up to 11 years after diagnosis.

Methods

Data of the second data wave of a Dutch prospective population-based survey among colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 as registered by the Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used. Eighty-three percent (n = 1648) of patients filled out the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 of which 506 patients (31 %) were treated with chemotherapy.

Results

Treatment with chemotherapy was associated with a higher percentage of patients reporting CIPN symptoms regardless of PA. Furthermore, not meeting the Dutch PA guideline of 150 min of moderate to vigorous PA a week was associated with more CIPN among patients treated with chemotherapy. Also patients not treated with chemotherapy reported CIPN-like symptoms, especially when not meeting the PA guideline. Statistically significant and clinically relevant worse scores on almost all EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales were reported by those not meeting the PA guideline compared to those who did meet the guideline, regardless of CIPN symptoms. However, these differences were more pronounced in the group with many CIPN symptoms (e.g. upper 30 %).

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Alertness among health care professionals and patients for the importance of PA is warranted, as meeting the PA guideline was associated with less CIPN-like symptoms and a higher health-related quality of life regardless of treatment with chemotherapy.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the patients and their doctors for their participation in the study. Special thanks go to Dr. M. van Bommel who was willing to function as an independent advisor and to answer questions of the patients. In addition, we want to thank the following hospitals for their cooperation: Amphia Hospital, Breda; Bernhoven Hospital, Veghel and Oss; Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven; Elkerliek Hospital, Helmond; Jeroen Bosch Hospital, ‘s Hertogenbosch; Maxima Medical Centre, Eindhoven and Veldhoven; Sint Anna Hospital, Geldrop; St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg; Twee Steden Hospital, Tilburg and Waalwijk; and VieCury Hospital, Venlo and Venray.

Conflict of interest

None.

Funding

The present research was supported by a VENI grant (no. 451-10-041) from The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (The Hague, The Netherlands) awarded to Floortje Mols.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000, LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Floortje Mols & Olga Husson

  2. Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands, Eindhoven Cancer Registry, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Floortje Mols

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Maxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

    Antoinetta J. M. Beijers & Gerard Vreugdenhil

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Gerard Vreugdenhil

  5. Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Anna Verhulst

  6. Department of Sports Medicine, Maxima Medical Center, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

    Goof Schep

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  1. Floortje Mols
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Correspondence to Floortje Mols.

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Mols, F., Beijers, A.J.M., Vreugdenhil, G. et al. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, physical activity and health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors from the PROFILES registry. J Cancer Surviv 9, 512–522 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0427-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0427-1

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