New Research Investigating Chemo-Induced Neuropathy in Black Breast Cancer Survivors

Given the significant number of breast cancer survivors and the potential for long-term side effects impacting quality of life, an advanced practice provider (APP) is conducting research focused on chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in Black breast cancer survivors 1 year post-chemotherapy.

Recognizing the known neurotoxicity of taxanes, which are commonly used in breast cancer treatment, as well as the limited research of CIPN in minority populations — despite evidence of higher incidence in this population — the study aims to create a longitudinal cohort to track symptom progression and quality of life over time in this specific patient population.

Oncology Nursing News spoke with La-Urshalar Brock, FNP-BC, CNM, RNFA, about her PhD dissertation on this topic and the rationale behind it. She is part of the Breast/Gynecologic Specialty – Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Transcript:

I've been working in oncology for about 13 years now at Winship [Cancer Institute]. Through these years, I have worked on a lot of clinical trials with other nurse practitioners, as well as the nurse researchers.

Through the years, we have seen a lot of breast cancer survivors. When you look at the American Cancer Society, they say that breast cancer survivors are the largest group of survivorship patients that we have in the U.S. When you think about that, and then think about survivor’s finishing their chemotherapy and going back into the workforce and trying to live their daily lives, you see that men and women who have had breast cancer experience different quality-of-life issues.

My dissertation is looking at Black breast cancer survivors 1 year out from their chemotherapy, specifically looking at chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. We know that is a common side effect that occurs in [most] patients with breast cancer . Given a taxane, which is a neurotoxic chemotherapy, that's one of the main side effects and a taxane is given basically in any regimen for breast cancer patients.

Looking at this, I thought, was very important, because we do know that there is limited research into minority groups, and we know that Black breast cancer patients experience more chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy [than their White counterparts]. That is where I got the idea of being able to look at them, starting at 1 year out, and hopefully have this turn into a longitudinal cohort. This means [I would be] to monitor them every year to see how their symptoms are, if they have improved, if they're worse, and how their quality of life is.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.