Acupuncture for Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy–Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Colon Cancer: A Retrospective Case Series

Evaluating Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: An Integrative Review

The purpose of this integrative review of the literature is to synthesize the current evidence and identify gaps in knowledge regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Review databases were searched using inclusion criteria: keywords acupuncture, cancer, and peripheral neuropathy, published in English, between 2009 and 2019. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The literature indicates that acupuncture is generally well tolerated by patients with cancer, and a majority of patients with CIPN reported decreased pain and increased quality of life after receiving acupuncture treatment. A comprehensive understanding of the ability of acupuncture to treat CIPN is limited by variability of acupuncture techniques and inconsistency in measures of evaluation.

Lifestyle-Related Factors in the Self-Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment in colorectal cancer (CRC), negatively affecting the daily functioning and quality of life of CRC patients. Currently, there are no established treatments to prevent or reduce CIPN. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify lifestyle-related factors that can aid in preventing or reducing CIPN, as such factors may promote self-management options for CRC patients suffering from CIPN. Methods. A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Original research articles investigating oxaliplatin-related CIPN in CRC were eligible for inclusion. Results. In total, 22 articles were included, which suggested that dietary supplements, such as antioxidants and herbal extracts, as well as physical exercise and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, may have beneficial effects on preventing or reducing CIPN symptoms. However, many of the reviewed articles presented various limitations, including small sample sizes and heterogeneity in study design and measurements of CIPN. Conclusions. No strong conclusions can be drawn regarding the role of lifestyle-related factors in the management of CIPN in CRC patients. Certain dietary supplements and physical exercise may be beneficial for the management of CIPN, but further research is warranted.