Impact of persistent peripheral neuropathy on health-related quality of life among early-stage breast cancer survivors: a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background We explored the impact of persistent sensory and motor taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQL) among early-stage breast cancer survivors (ESBCS). Methods A population-based cohort of 884 residual-free ESBCS received a postal questionnaire, including the EORTC chemotherapy-induced PN (CIPN20) and the EORTC QLQ-C30 instruments. Mean scores of QLQ-C30 scales among ESBCS with and without TIPN were calculated and adjusted for confounding factors (age, lifestyle factors, co-morbidities; linear regression analyses). Interpretation of QLQ-C30 results were based on guidelines. Results Response rate was 79%, and 646 survivors were included in the analysis. In median, 3.6 (1.5–7.3) years had elapsed post-taxane treatment. All TIPN symptoms had a significant impact on global QoL, which worsened with increased severity of TIPN. Between 29.5% and 93.3% of ESBCS with moderate-severe TIPN reported a clinical important impairment of functioning and personal finances, 64.3–85.7% reporting “difficulty walking because of foot drop,” and 53.1–81.3% reporting “problems standing/walking because of difficulty feeling ground under feet” had impaired functioning/finances. The difference in mean scores between affected and non-affected survivors was highest for “numbness in toes/feet” and “difficulty walking because of foot drop.” Moderate-severe “difficulty climbing stairs or getting out of chair because of weakness of legs” and “problems standing/walking because of difficulty feeling ground under feet” were associated with the largest clinically important differences on all scales. Conclusion Persistent sensory and motor TIPN is associated with clinically relevant impairment of global QoL, functioning, and personal finances among ESBCS, which increased with level of TIPN severity.