Effects of an Exercise Intervention on Taxane-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an exercise program on the management of TIPN in breast cancer survivors. This experimental study utilizes purposive sampling to recruit 88 adults, newly diagnosed with stage I~III breast cancer women, who are expected to be treated with Taxane chemotherapy in a medical center located in central Taiwan. Participants will be randomly allocated to the experimental or observational group. The main outcomes are peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. The 3~6 months home-based extremity exercise program will be intervened between newly diagnosed with breast cancer to the completion of chemotherapy. Participants have to perform a total of 50 minutes of exercise including the Ten Skilled Hand exercise fourth a day, 5 minutes each time and Buerger Allen exercise twice a day, 15 minutes each time. This study expects that the extremity exercise program will be able to prevent and manage peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain via increasing blood circulation. Moreover, the exercise program may also improve functioning and QOL in breast cancer survivors receiving Taxane chemotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:Participants will be randomly allocated to the experimental or observational group using the two strata: (1) adjuvant or neoadjuvant and (2) paclitaxel, docetaxel, or Taxane plus Platinum.Exclusion Criteria:Participants who have peripheral neuropathy before chemotherapy or regular exercise are excluded.