Jan 16, 2025 Story by: Editor
With a significant number of breast cancer survivors facing potential long-term side effects that affect their quality of life, an advanced practice provider (APP) is spearheading research into chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) among Black breast cancer survivors one year after completing chemotherapy.
The study addresses the neurotoxicity of taxanes—widely used in breast cancer treatment—and the lack of extensive research into CIPN in minority populations. Existing data points to a higher incidence of CIPN among these groups. By establishing a longitudinal cohort, the research aims to monitor symptom progression and quality of life over time in this underserved patient population.
La-Urshalar Brock’s Perspective
Oncology Nursing News interviewed La-Urshalar Brock, FNP-BC, CNM, RNFA, a member of the Breast/Gynecologic Specialty – Medical Oncology team at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Brock discussed her PhD dissertation and the motivation behind her work.
“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,” Brock explained.
She highlighted the challenges breast cancer survivors face: “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 survivors 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.”
Focus on Black Breast Cancer Survivors
Brock’s dissertation specifically examines CIPN in Black breast cancer survivors one year after chemotherapy. She noted, “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.”
She elaborated on the role of taxanes in causing these side effects: “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.”
Recognizing the gap in research, Brock emphasized the importance of her work: “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].”
The goal is to create a comprehensive, longitudinal study. “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,” she concluded. Source: Oncology Nursing News
