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Topical menthol for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomised controlled trial in breast cancer
  1. Deniz Ozdemir1,
  2. Selda Arslan2,
  3. Mehmet Artac3 and
  4. Fatih Karaarslan4
  1. 1Konya City Hospital, Konya, Turkey
  2. 2Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Necmettin Erbakan University, Nursing Faculty, Meram, Turkey
  3. 3Department of Medical Oncology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Meram, Turkey
  4. 4Ankara Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  1. Correspondence to Dr Selda Arslan, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram, Konya, Turkey; selda.arslan{at}erbakan.edu.tr

Abstract

Objectives Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptom is one of the side effects of paclitaxel in breast cancer patients. This randomised controlled study was conducted to investigate the effect of topical menthol applied on the hands and feet of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on CIPN symptoms.

Methods 60 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=30), which received topical menthol treatment, or a control group (n=30), which received standard care. Both groups continued their routine pharmacological treatments throughout the study. The intervention group applied 1% menthol topically to their hands and feet two times a day. The effect of the intervention on CIPN symptoms was evaluated 3 weeks and 6 weeks after the intervention.

Results The intervention group showed a significantly greater improvement in CIPN symptoms over time compared with the control group, with an effect size of η2=0.214 for the group×time interaction. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited a notable positive change in the exposure subscale of the CIPN rating scale, with an effect size of η2=0.114.

Conclusions Topical application of menthol significantly mitigates the symptoms of CIPN in breast cancer patients. This study supports the use of menthol as an effective adjunctive treatment for CIPN.

Trial registration number NCT05429814.

  • Breast
  • Symptoms and symptom management
  • Supportive care

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request.

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Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request.

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Footnotes

  • Funding This work was supported by the Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordinator [grant numbers 21129002].

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.