Understanding Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and How It Affected Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) was first described in the 1960s, since then it has been acknowledged as a dose-related side effect of chemotherapy (Lehmann, 2020). Approximately 30% to 40% of patients were estimated to be affected by CIPN (Eldridge, 2020). While acute CIPN could be resolved after time, about 30% will be facing life-long consequences of CIPN (Colvin, 2019). The aim of this research is to optimize nursing care practices and enhance the holistic care provided to cancer survivors experiencing CIPN. Systematic literature review, qualitative method. Included ten qualitative method articles from 2017-2023, 210 participants, conducted in United Kingdom, United States of America, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, and Hong Kong. CIPN symptoms significantly disrupt patients' physical, emotional, and social well-being, leading them to adopt coping strategies as they adjust to a “new normal,” despite ongoing challenges in fully understanding their condition. These difficulties shape patients' communication about symptoms, while clinicians also face substantial challenges in managing CIPN, highlighting the need for deeper insight into clinical decision-making processes and the efficacy of current assessment and management systems. CIPN significantly affects cancer patients' physical, emotional, and social well-being, often leaving them feeling lost. Enhancing nurses' knowledge can improve patient care by promoting early symptom reporting and offering clearer guidance. Further research is needed to address gaps in CIPN assessment and management.