Evaluation of Handgrip Strength and Children’s Quality of Life with Cancer Submitted to Chemotherapy with Vincristine

Abstract

Introduction: With chemotherapy, patients may have several changes. Among them: polyneuropathy and change in the quality of life, both the children and the family. Objective: To evaluate the handgrip’s power and the life quality in these children and teens with cancer undergoing to chemotherapy with vincristine. Method: This is a study in which patients responded the questionaries of anamnsis and PedsQL^TM 3.0 Cancer Module in three different moments of the treatment. One of your responsible was invited to answer separately the same questionarie. The handgrip’s power was measured by dynamometer, in the same moments. Results: The sample was composed for seven patients with average 7 (5-15 years); The most of them were girls, residing in Porto Alegre-RS, with a prevalent diagnostic of acute lymphoid leukemia and who were hospitalized in the first week after the diagnosis of cancer. The handgrip’s strength show significant reduction for all of the limbs (p=0,0018, right upper limb; p=0,0030, left upper limb). although of not show significant results, in most areas of the questionnaire of quality of life ocurred decline in the answers, mainly in the parents awnsers. Conclusion: The chemotherapy with vincristine, decrease in the peripheral muscle strength in the patients with cancer, in the first 30 days. In relationship of quality of life, there was no significant diference, however we could perceive some trends. Therefore, it is clear the importance of the continuous monitoring of physiotherapy with a team prepared for these patients and their families.