ABSTRACT
Introduction: The prevalence of pain in patients with cancer ranges between 40 and 60 % and the third part is produced by neuropathy induced by chemotherapy. The aim of the present investigation was to describe the treatment of a group of patients with neuropathy secondary to chemo and radiotherapy at a cancer center in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Methods: The present descriptive study includes records of patients who presented neuropathic pain after antineoplastic treatment (chemotherapy - radiotherapy) who were treated in the palliative care area of the Solca-Guayaquil hospital. The type of treatment is described, analgesic control at 3 and 6 months. Results: 150 patients attended for pain in the service were registered, of which 70 patients were admitted to the study for neuropathic pain, 80 patients were excluded because they presented nociceptive pain. In the study group of 70 cases with neuropathic pain, 50 cases (71.4 %) were due to the administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 20 cases (28.6 %) were without treatment. The 50 oncological patients with neuropathic pain caused as a side effect of the oncological treatment all received 5 types of pharmacological treatments. The treatment drop-out rate was 6 cases (12 %). The remaining cases presented improvement after 6 months of treatment, 44 cases (88 %). No patient required blocking for pain control. Conclusions: The therapeutic intervention for the management of neuropathic pain secondary to chemo or radiotherapy was effective in 88% of the cases at a period greater than 6 months. In the control of pain, 5 additive therapeutic levels were used in each level with opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and strong opioids.