The Effect of Hand-Foot Exercises on Platinum-Based Chemotheraphy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Related Pain Severity, Falls and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the world among all cancer types. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common and serious side effect caused by chemotherapeutic agents, especially platinum analogues, taxanes, vinca alkaloids and bortezomib. The most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of colorectal cancers are platinum analogues It is known that oxaliplatin, one of the platinum analogues, causes 85-96% of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The most common symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy are; numbness, paresthesia, dysesthesia, pain, hypersensitivity to cold or heat, tingling, muscle cramps, distal weakness, gait disturbances, balance disorders, and impaired movement. Oxaliplatin, which is frequently used in the treatment of colorectal cancer, causes symptoms of both acute and chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. There is no proven method in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. However, various pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are applied in its preventive and symptomatic treatment. Exercise and physical therapy interventions; It is stated that it improves strength, balance and other functional disorders in patients, reduces symptoms, and reduces the risk of falling by affecting gross motor dysfunctions such as balance and gait abnormalities. However, the limitations of studies on this subject in the literature draw attention. This situation suggests that new methods that can be applied in the care of cancer patients who develop peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy should be developed in the field of nursing. This research is the first study to evaluate the effect of hand-foot exercises on colorectal cancer patients who developed peripheral neuropathy due to platinum-based therapy. Research results; Alleviation of KBPN-induced pain and prevention of falls are important in terms of increasing the quality of life of patients and providing evidence for nursing practices by using it as a new method that can be applied in the care of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of hand-foot exercises on the severity of pain, falls and quality of life associated with platinum-based therapy-related peripheral neuropathy in patients with colorectal cancer.