To summarize the current research pertaining to the concepts initially examined by the Oncology Nursing Society Life Cycle of the Oncology Nurse Task Force and related projects completed in 1994. Published articles on the 21 concepts from the Oncology Nursing Society Life Cycle of the Oncology Nurse Task Force work. Research published in English from 1995-2009 was obtained from PubMed, CINAHL(R), PsycINFO, ISI Science, and EBSCO Health Source(R): Nursing/Academic Edition databases. Most of the concepts identified from the Oncology Nursing Society Life Cycle of the Oncology Nurse Task Force have been examined in the literature. Relationships and witnessing suffering were common concepts among studies of the meaning of oncology nursing. Nurses provide holistic care, and not surprisingly, holistic interventions have been found useful to support nurses. Interventions included storytelling, clinical support of nurses, workshops to find balance in lives, and dream work. Additional support comes from mentoring. The research identified was primarily descriptive, with very few interventions reported. Findings have been consistent over time in diverse countries. This review indicates that although the healthcare system has changed significantly in 15 years, nurses' experiences of providing care to patients with cancer have remained consistent. The need for interventions to support nurses remains.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and understudied consequence of taxane chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment. CIPN symptoms include numbness combined with tingling sensations, persistent shooting, stabbing, or burning pain even in the absence of painful stimuli, lower extremity muscle weakness, and impaired balance. CIPN symptoms often persist for a long time after completion of chemotherapy, causing significant loss of functional abilities and increased risk of falls. Persistent CIPN caused by taxanes represents a therapeutic challenge due to the limited treatment options. Resistance exercise has shown promising results; however, the effect of exercise on CIPN remains understudied. This study aims to assess the effects of exercise on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to an educational attention control condition. Methods: A sample of 312 women who completed taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer and have symptomatic neuropathy is recruited from a community-dwelling sample. Participants are randomized to either a 16-week Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention or an Educational Attention control group. The home-based intervention protocol consists of targeted lower extremity stretches, followed by 10 min each of gait/balance and 10 min of resistive training accessed by hyperlink or DVD. An Exercise Diary records quantitative exercise data. The gait assessment includes temporospatial parameters and lower extremity joint angles using APDM motion sensors. Participants’ balance is assessed using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) performed using a NeuroCom Balance Master. Isometric strength of hip, knee, and ankle flexor and extensor muscles is assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer, Biodex BX Advantage. In addition, we assess neuropathy symptoms using the FACT-Taxane Additional Concerns Subscale and nerve conduction velocity of the sural and peroneal nerve action potentials. Outcomes are assessed at baseline (prior to randomization) and 16 weeks. Discussion: There are currently no evidence-based interventions that address the functional declines associated with CIPN. If successful, this program is simple and easy to implement in the standard of care for individuals with CIPN. Gait and balance training have the potential to reduce physical dysfunction associated with CIPN and reduce the burden of disease in cancer survivors. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621721. Registered on August 3, 2020. ClincialTrials.gov is a primary registry of the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTEP) network and includes all items from the WHO Trial Registration data set in Trial registration.

The focus of this study was to assess the feasibility and clinical implementation of a standardized assessment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) by registered nurses in patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy. A total of 24 registered nurses from 4 different institutions were enrolled into the study. A pre- and posttest design was used to assess changes in nurses' attitudes, knowledge, and perceived skill in CIPN assessment. Using selected data collection instruments, nurses performed standardized assessments during the course of chemotherapy treatments. Patient-reported symptoms, vibratory sensation, deep-tendon reflexes, and touch were collected at three time points during chemotherapy treatment. Results indicated there was no statistically significant change in knowledge of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy from baseline to the end of the study. However, this finding may be due to poor internal consistency noted among the items of the Nurse Knowledge and Attitudes CIPN Assessment. Implementation of a standardized subjective and objective nursing assessment of CIPN was feasible with a total mean feasibility score of 3.76 (range 0-5) with each individual item scoring between 3.35 and 3.91. The intervention did improve pretest and posttest confidence in performing assessment for CIPN (p = .003).

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate medications that cancer survivors with oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy take to control neuropathic symptom, and to explore self-management techniques used at home to provide temporary relief of painful neuropathy. This was a mixed methods, descriptive, cross-sectional study using self-reported data from colorectal cancer survivors previously treated with oxaliplatin. We analyzed demographic and medication data obtained from participants, along with written comments from an open-ended question regarding methods participants had tried to self-manage symptoms of neuropathy. Results. Twenty-nine percent of the sample reported taking some type of nutritional supplement with potential neuroprotective qualities. Opioids were being taken by 10% of the sample, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and over-the-counter medications were taken by 15% of participants. Twelve percent of participants were taking antidepressants and 10% were taking anticonvulsants, primarily gabapentin. Recurrent themes for nonpharmacologic treatment included avoiding the cold/keeping warm, keeping moving, massaging or rubbing the affected area, and living with it. Conclusions. Patients treated with oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer utilize a variety of traditional pharmacologic agents and nutritional supplements in an effort to self-manage neuropathic symptoms. Patients also employ a variety of home-based therapies to provide temporary relief of peripheral neuropathy symptoms.