Impact of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicities on adult cancer survivors' symptom burden and quality of life

Authors

Christine Miaskoski, University of California, San Francisco
Judy Mastick, University of California, San Francisco
Steven M. Paul, University of California, San Francisco
Gary Abrams, University of California, San Francisco
Steven Cheung, University of California, San Francisco
Jennifer Henderson Sabes, University of the PacificFollow
Kord M. Kober, University of California, San Francisco
Mark Schumacher, University of California, San Francisco
Yvette P. Conley, University of Pittsburgh
Kimberly Topp, University of California, San Francisco
Betty Smoot, University of California, San Francisco
Grace Mausisa, University of California, San Francisco
Melissa Mazor, University of California, San Francisco
Margaret Wallhagen, University of California, San Francisco
Jon D. Levine, University of California, San Francisco

Department

Audiology

Abstract

Purpose: Limited information is available on the impact of chemotherapy (CTX)-induced neurotoxicity on adult survivors’ symptom experience and quality of life (QOL). Purposes were to describe occurrence of hearing loss and tinnitus and evaluate for differences in phenotypic characteristics and measures of sensation, balance, perceived stress, symptom burden, and QOL between survivors who received neurotoxic CTX and did (i.e., neurotoxicity group) and did not (i.e., no neurotoxicity group) develop neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicity was defined as the presence of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN), hearing loss, and tinnitus. Survivors in the no neurotoxicity group had none of these conditions.

Methods: Survivors (n = 609) completed questionnaires that evaluated hearing loss, tinnitus, stress, symptoms, and QOL. Objective measures of sensation and balance were evaluated.

Results: Of the 609 survivors evaluated, 68.6% did and 31.4% did not have CIN. If the survivors without CIN, 42.4% reported either hearing loss and/or tinnitus and 48.1% of the survivors with CIN reported some form of ototoxicity. Compared to the no neurotoxicity group (n = 110), survivors in the neurotoxicity group (n = 85) were older, were less likely to be employed, had a higher comorbidity burden, and a higher symptom burden, higher levels of perceived stress, and poorer QOL (all p < .05).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that CIN, hearing loss, and tinnitus are relatively common conditions in survivors who received neurotoxic CTX.

Implications for cancer survivors: Survivors need to be evaluated for these neurotoxicities and receive appropriate interventions. Referrals to audiologists and physical therapists are warranted to improve survivors’ hearing ability, functional status, and QOL.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 11-20-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Cancer Survivorship : research and practice

ISSN

1932-2259

Volume

12

DOI

10.1007/s11764-017-0662-8

First Page

234

Last Page

245

Recommended Citation

Miaskoski, Christine; Mastick, Judy; Paul, Steven M.; Abrams, Gary; Cheung, Steven; Henderson Sabes, Jennifer; Kober, Kord M.; Schumacher, Mark; Conley, Yvette P.; Topp, Kimberly; Smoot, Betty; Mausisa, Grace; Mazor, Melissa; Wallhagen, Margaret; and Levine, Jon D., "Impact of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicities on adult cancer survivors' symptom burden and quality of life" (2018). All Faculty Scholarship. 127.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/shs-all/127