You have full access to this open access article. Treatment usually consists of a combination of medicinal, medical, and individualized treatment approaches, although the effectiveness of these therapies is insufficient for many patients. A standardized questionnaire was developed based on ten anonymous telephone interviews with CIPN patients. The content of the questionnaire was divided into 5 categories: demographics, clinical presentation, everyday symptoms, treatment of CIPN symptoms, and medical care.
Mostly closed questions were used but multiple choice and individual additions by free text answers were possible. But even the combination of different therapy methods insufficiently alleviates the symptoms of the patients.
It is important and necessary to comprehensively inform patients about CIPN as a possible side effect, to point out prevention strategies, and to critically examine and evaluate different therapy approaches. In this way, misunderstandings of the doctor-patient relationship can be avoided. In addition, patient satisfaction and quality of life can be increased in the long term.
Chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathies CIPN , in addition to hematological toxicity, are a common adverse effects and occur acutely or chronically during chemotherapy [ 1 , 2 ] while the exact incidence is not known [ 3 , 4 ]. They often act as a therapy-limiting factor, necessitating the termination of ongoing chemotherapy.
Depending on the duration of exposure and the cumulative dose, there are sensory- motor complaints, often associated with pain. After the end of chemotherapy, there is usually no further progression. Exceptions are platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agents, where progressionโcalled coastingโis possible even after the end of therapy.
