A Lesser-Known Chemotherapy Side Effect
- Neuropathy refers to nerve damage that can occur as a side effect of powerful chemotherapy drugs
- The most common symptom is a sensation of tingling or numbness, although some people also experience pain or a burning sensation
- Doctors can try to prevent or minimize neuropathy during treatment by altering the dose or type of drugs given
- Steroids, pain killers, and physical therapy can help reduce symptoms
Neuropathy is the medical term for numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, caused by powerful chemotherapy drugs damaging the peripheral nerves. Women receiving ovarian cancer chemotherapy with the taxane (Taxol) or platinum group of drugs are particularly susceptible to this side effect of treatment.
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- Pain that may feel sharp, stabbing, or burning
- Difficulty gripping things, such as a pen or fork
- Difficulty with small motor skills such as buttoning a shirt or writing
Treatment
Patients can try several different approaches to dealing with neuropathy. "We usually ask patients to use things like ice packs or protective gloves to try and mitigate the neuropathy," says Dr. Bupathi.
When simple treatments like this don't work, patients may want to consult a neurologist who can help treat the condition with a variety of different medications, including:
- Prescription-strength pain relievers
- Topical numbing creams or ointments
- Steroids, which reduce inflammation
- Anti-seizure medications, which can help relieve nerve pain
- In some cases electrical nerve stimulation or occupational and physical therapy can also help.
Prognosis
Most neuropathy goes away and improves over time, "but sometimes it can take upwards of a year before it gets better," says Dr. Bupathi. While neuropathy may be permanent, Dr. Bupathi says that it usually persists as numbness or tingling, and "isn't usually debilitating, where someone isn't able to walk or do basic things like buttoning a shirt or lifting a pen off a countertop."
If you're undergoing chemotherapy and start to experience symptomsnumbness, tingling, pain or weakness in the hands and feetmake sure to let your oncologist know so that you can take steps to relieve the symptoms and prevent permanent nerve damage.
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