Izgu, N., Ozdemir, L., & Bugdayci Basal, F. (2017). Effect of aromatherapy massage on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain and fatigue in patients receiving oxaliplatin: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study. Cancer Nursing, 42, 139-147.
To explore the effects of aromatherapy hand/foot massage on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), pain incidence and severity, and fatigue severity, compared to standard care in GI cancer survivors who are actively receiving oxaliplatin
Pilot, open-label, repeated measures, non-randomized, standard care-controlled quasi-experiment.
Aromatherapy hand/foot massage, using chamomile, rosemary, and peppermint oil, given 3 times per week for 40 minutes (10 minutes each hand/foot) during FOLFOX treatment may:
However, more rigorous RCTs with blinded assessors, utilizing larger sample sizes, are needed to evaluate the preventative and treatment effectiveness, necessary dosage, physiological mechanisms, and long-term effects of aromatherapy hand/foot massage on FOLFOX-induced CIPN pain.
Aromatherapy hand/foot massage during oxaliplatin treatment may be a safe and promising nonpharmacologic therapy for CIPN pain and fatigue. Further investigation of this therapy is warranted.