Improving Patient/Physician Communication, Reducing Risk of Permanent Nerve Damage and Job Loss
Navvisa helped keep this employee on the job, resulting in a savings of approximately $150K for the company.
Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can cause damage to the nerves that are located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves). When this happens it often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. The medical term for this is Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).
CIPN symptoms can appear hours to days after chemotherapy and may change in intensity over time but, more commonly, symptoms occur weeks to months after chemotherapy. Depending on the nerves affected, symptoms may include:
- Tingling in the hands and feet
- Pain, which can feel like a burning sensation or an intense “stepping on a nail” type pain; it can be severe and constant or may come and go
- Decreased sensation in the extremities
- Increased sensitivity to touch, temperature, pressure, and pain
- Muscle weakness
Some patients feel uneasy about coming forward with their side effects to both their physicians and their employer out of fear for how it might affect their treatment or their employment going forward. It is because of this fear that nursing navigation and advocacy is so important for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
When patients feel comfortable confiding in someone about their symptoms, the most appropriate care can be administered.
Navvisa Patient Case Study
A Navvisa patient was a remote worker and relied on her computer for work. Unfortunately, as her chemotherapy progressed she developed significant peripheral neuropathy in her hands, which was very painful and prevented her from using a keyboard. The neuropathy was also increasingly impacting her ability to complete tasks at home.
The situation had gotten so bad that the patient confided in her Navvisa Certified Oncology Nurse that she was planning on taking a leave of absence from work. She had also not told her oncologist of her escalating neuropathy due to fear that he would stop her treatment.
Navvisa Nurse Intervention
Due to her extensive clinical knowledge, our Navvisa Certified Oncology Nurse was able to share with the patient that the peripheral neuropathy may be dose-related and there might be adjustments that her oncologist could make to her chemotherapy regimen without stopping treatment. The nurse encouraged the patient to share this information with her oncologist.
The oncologist identified appropriate treatment adjustments and promptly decreased her dosage. Within two weeks, the patient’s neuropathy was greatly reduced and she was able to use her keyboard/computer again. As a result, she was able to resume her regular work schedule along with her daily tasks at home. This adjustment in dosage likely avoided permanent nerve damage.
Clinical Impact & Cost Savings
Had the patient not felt comfortable enough to confide in our nurse about her neuropathy, permanent nerve damage to her hands likely would have resulted in the employee leaving the workforce.
On average, 27% of cancer patients leave their jobs due to long term effects of cancer and treatment. The cost to replace and train an employee is extensive. In addition, when an employee leaves a company due to health struggles, the company loses a valuable contributor, which can effect team dynamics, morale, and customer relationships.
Relevant Research
- Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, JAMA Network
- Mechanisms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, National Institute of Health
- Is Neuropathy a Disability? Everything You Need to Know, Medical News Today
More Resources
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