Abstract
Purpose : To determine the difficulties in life encountered by patients with peripheral neuropathy and the measures taken to counter the effects of this toxicity. Patients and Methods : Patients : Twenty-five outpatients treated with 6 or more courses of FOLFOX treatment. Methods : Semi-constructive interviews were carried out to determine the difficulties encountered by the patients due to the oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy and the measures taken against them, and the results were analyzed using a qualitative method. Results : The difficulties in life were categorized as "difficulties in daily life due to numbness" with three sub-categories, and "difficulties in social life due to numbness," with four sub-categories. The measures taken were categorized as "measures for appropriately controlling the numbness," with two sub-categories. Conclusions : Peripheral neuropathy affects the patients' favorite activities and outings, and results in a marked reduction in the scope of these activities. Therefore, it is important to not only precisely understand the degree of peripheral neuropathy, but also to understand the favorite life activities and values of the patients, in order to avoid deterioration of the quality of life (QOL) of the patients.
