Introduction
colorectal cancer, chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, neuropathy, cancer, cancer illness, neurotoxic, Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, cancer tumor
CANCER, COLORECTAL CANCER, COMPLICATIONS, NEUROPATHY
More than one-third of people in developed countries will be diagnosed with a cancer illness during their lives, and adjuvant chemotherapy after cancer tumor surgery is commonly applied to increase survival. Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a painful, unpleasant side-effect of the neurotoxic chemotherapy agents delivered, for example, to patients with colorectal cancer.Approximately 60% to 80% of patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy for colorectal cancer experience neuropathy.Integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care that utilizes complementary and alternative therapies from different traditions, such as acupuncture therapy, alongside conventional cancer treatments.The psychoneuroimmunological mechanisms of actions during acupuncture for neuropathy are not yet well understood.Preceding a full-scaled randomized controlled study, the objective of this pilot study was to study the feasibility of a sham-controlled acupuncture study design. The different aspects of the objective were to: 1. Describe patient experiences of neuropathy and acupuncture treatment for neuropathy; 2. Study the patients’ compliance to the study procedure, the blinding to genuine or sham acupuncture, and potential side-effects or complications, and; 3. Evaluate short-term effects of genuine acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain and unpleasant sensations compared to sham acupuncture.