Study Finds 40% of People With Neuropathy Experience Chronic Pain

About 4 in 10 people who have neuropathy caused by chemotherapy experience painful symptoms that last for months, suggests a report in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. The findings may lead to better ways to predict people who are at greatest risk of chronic, painful neuropathy after chemo.  

Damage to nerves is common among people who receive chemo (also called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy) and is usually accompanied by non-painful symptoms like numbness and tingling. But some people experience painful neuropathy for months. The condition is poorly understood and can be difficult to manage using existing pain treatments like opioids. 

“While opioid analgesics are fundamental in managing cancer pain, their role is less clear for patients in complete cancer remission who experience chronic pain,” the researchers wrote.

The researchers analyzed 77 studies from 28 countries, including 10,962 people with neuropathy. They observed that Asia had the highest prevalence of severe neuropathy (47%) and Europe had the lowest prevalence (36%).    

The team found that people treated with platinum-based drugs (such as carboplatin) and taxanes (such as Taxol and Taxotere) experienced the highest rates of chronic nerve pain. Platinum-based chemotherapy is typically used to treat both triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancers, while taxanes are used to treat both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer of all types. 

“Understanding the prevalence and predictors of chronic painful [chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy] is critical for promoting early diagnosis and developing personalized treatment strategies,” the researchers wrote.