Neuropathy and Chemotherapy: What You Can Do

alidiboca

26 days ago

this web-site is a wonderful help !

Niseykay

26 days ago

It just helped me understand my chemo related neuropathy a little more!

BigSam

about 1 month ago

I am the caregiver for my wife. She suffers from radiation necrosis which I have seen very little information on but her symptoms are similar to early stages of dementia or alzheimers. She had so much damage to her brain from chemo and radiation for her small cell lung cancer (matasticized to brain) she is now incontenent, has to have help to be mobile, and is extremely forgetful especially with short term memory. Her doctors (neurologist and oncologist) say there is nothing that can be done for her brain damage. Any information you may have on caring for her lack of mobility and incontenence is greatly appreciated.

Nerve damage is caused by diabetes n can cause bladder problems with constipation!

lynee

about 1 month ago

can Ethyol be used before every round of Chemo. involving those drugs,or just the first one? My husband just finished 6 rounds of carboplatinol and Taxol-he has received 4 roundsevery year for the past 4 years,this time increased to 6.But never has this drug option been mentioned.

lynee

about 1 month ago

My husband has stage 4 Penile squamous cell cancer with metastases to both lungs. He also has had an ileostomy for Crohns disease. Because of the Crohns disease,he can not take NSAIDs,aspirin,or other pain killers such as Vicodin.the only drugs he was able to take were Darvocet or Percodan and they have been discontinued - no one is making them..Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do make him comfortable? The Dr. says they will control the pain as needed,but last time he ended up with a bowel obstruction.

Kjell

about 1 month ago

Yes it was very informative and gave me a better understanding in order to have discussions with my doctor.

forgetful

8 months ago

My husband has Neuropathy and takes Chemo, he too has problems walking and standing. We searched and asked the doctor, Pharmacies and anyone we could find for anything to help him. The doctor ordered a Power Wheel Chair for him, which he used almost all time when at home and used the clinic wheel chair, with my help, when he took Treatment. or made a doctor visit. Each time when he had a treatment ,his Neuropathy got worse. TGhe doctor did give him a prescription for Gabapentin, it helps with the pain. Finally I searched the internet and found a unit called THE REBUILDER, paid for by Medicare , we had to pay a small amount less than $300.00 because our secondary insurance would not pay for that amount, but some insurance companies will. He has been using this TENS unit since March 2011 and it is June, he has used the unit with precise instructions from the doctor who developed it and now he is using his cane and a walker, he is gradually getting his normal walking back but still uses the TENS unit because he still is taking Chemo. It will make a difference if you will only try it. The pain is very light at present. I wish I could offer more but this is the best thing I can at this time.

Clysta

8 months ago

Staying current with neuropathy research--as I have it, too. Sometimes it is okay--other times very uncomfortable. Keeping busy helps.

mccabeglad

10 months ago

My son has severe headaches since a stroke last May(2010). He has pain meds but nothing that really helps the problem. I will continue with these articles.

Emily M.

11 months ago

Hi mamag86, Thanks for your comment. I'm sorry to hear about your condition, that doesn't sound very comfortable at all! Certain vitamins and minerals will likely help with your anemia, but I'm not positive about your overall condition. The best advice I can give you is to consult your doctor about how vitamins will affect you. Thanks for your question, and I hope you feel better soon!! -- Emily

alidiboca

11 months ago

very helpfyl, thanks

mamag86

11 months ago

I have been diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, which means they dont know what the heck caused it. I dont drink, I dont have diabetes, I have no cancer. It is c ausing all sorts of problems with my left foot, especially numb and cramping toes. They tell me I am mildly aenemic. Do you think doeses of vitamins and minerals might help. At present the only way I can walk without severe pain is to use an orthopedic boot.

I am a transplant patient (I received a kidney which took care of my kidney failure and a pancreas which took care of my Diabetes) then up jumped the devil and I was diagnosed with stomach cancer 3/17/2010. I was given chemo before the tumor was removed. The treatment seems to have been successful but the chemo added to the neuropathy left by years of diabetes and now when I stand up my BP drops significantly - to the point that I would faint. My Dr. has me on Midodrine. Any information or suggestions welcome.

alidiboca

11 months ago

it is a wonderful article, very informative, i am suffereing , what I think i s neurophaty, tomorrow I will ask my doctor,

Poindexter

11 months ago

Suggestions for help with improving the neuropothy symptons my husband has was very helpful ex: Vitamin B and magnesium supplements, walking and that in most cases can go away over time which is a big concern for us! Thank you!!

kathryn50

11 months ago

To Each and EVERY one of you, I had(and am still taking tamoxain) breast cancer which led through my right small pectoral muscle as well as through 18 lymph nodes in my right arm and 8 in my left arm. I am taking Gabapentin for the neuropthy, but chemo brain drives me NUTS! I can't remember the simplest things, usually the IMPORTANT things, I understand and I am greatful that we can come together on this site, pray for each other and share information so we can all benefit from all of our combined experiences. Sincerest Thanks, Kathryn

I'm actually suffering from neuropathy, so this article helped me a lot. Thanks and more power!

My husband has Stage IV lung cancer. He had no symptoms. It was first seen on a routine chest x-ray. We followed through going from doctor to doctor once the tumor was discovered. He has had many CT scans, MRI's and two rounds of chemo and 35 straight days of intense radiation. The treatments were what made him sick. Radiation almost took him from me. The radiation burned his esophagus so badly he was unable to eat for almost four months. He lost more than 50 pounds and his ability to enjoy life, especially the holidays last year. He's been without treatment for 10 months now and feels pretty darn good. Test results show that the tumor is growing slightly but the cancer is not spreading anywhere else. Instead of agreeing to more chemo he has chosen to wait it out and see what another CT scan shows in three months. It's all about quality of life at this stage and I honor his decision.

guess

over 1 year ago

I have neuropathy in my hand and my feet. Is there anything I can do to ease the pain sometimes?

great article.

Judy T

over 1 year ago

2008-had chemo and radiation for breast cancer (mastectomy). Here it is, 8/19/2010 and it's worse than ever. Had I really known what to expect, I may have done things differently. All my doctors told me regarding nerve damage in the feet: walk a lot! Now it's in my hands. What do I do now? Alternate between walking on my feet, then hands??? In the infinite wisdom of Medicaid, I lost any health coverage I had Sep 2009. Don't even know if the cancer's back or not!

My sis-in-law had chemo for about a yrs. woth & someradiation too. Hair is barely coming in at all & just all baby fine & fuzzy like?They never told her the hair wouldn't come back at all or like this or eye brows & few lashes? She feels cheated or mad somehow I guess ? Has to still constantly always be wearing a wig ?Does anyone haveany answers about this? WWould time still let it come back? Did the Chemo kill out vitamins etc. that her body needs for regrowth or will she just stay like this ? thanks in advance for comments!

Glennmlabord­e

over 1 year ago

Good and accurate article. I know because I'm on chemo now

This was a very interesting article regarding neuropathy. The funny this is many people don't know <a href="http://www.whatisneuropathy.org/">what is neuropathy</a> and they choose the wrong kids of treatments. This is really bad because this takes them down the wrong road. I really appreciate this great article.

agrace

over 1 year ago

How long has this medication been available? I first had platinum-based chemo in 12/00, for six rounds. That resulted in some neuropathy in all areas mentioned here. In 2007, cancer returned, and in 2008 the cancer returned. I have had many different types of chemo since then, and have been on some kind of chemo since 3/09. The neuropathy is now so bad I wonder if it's worth it. The cancer might not kill me, but the side effects are trying to have the last word. I will really feel bad if it turns out that it could have been avoided or made less harsh with this amifostine. Neuropathy sounds a lot like canine distemper, which is not reversible.

VichyS

over 1 year ago

I had taxol treatments and now have some trouble with neuropathy mostly in my toes. The right foot seems to worse than the left. It isn't too bad but I have noticed that when I swim, afterwards I get alot of cramping which I did not have before. Is this because of the different muscles I'm using or is the neuropathy getting worse?

litlboat

about 2 years ago

My experience is most of the de-sensitivity has been reversed. I was on chemo for 1 year. Infused every day for a month then three times a week for 12 months. The majority of the damage occured in the joints and then anyplace where arthritis was present. As i have a bad back that included nerves to my legs. It is at a manageable stat now.

LizzieB

about 2 years ago

I find medical qigong exercises very helpful. It's gentle and relieves the pain instantly and keeps me flexible, and improves my balance. I notice a big difference when I am lazy and stop doing it for a while. More info at: http://www.medicalqigong.org/resources.htm#medical_qigong

wenn607

about 2 years ago

My mother has severe pain in her chest taht she describes as heartburn pain but worse 2 days into each 2 week treatment.The pain is also in her upper arms.Could this be neuropathy?Her doctor doesn't even know how to treat this symptom.The pain lasts approximately 30 minutes.What can she do to stop this pain?Does anyone know of this pain? We really need help!! Thank you.

ShazW

about 2 years ago

I read essential fatty acids are good for nerves so am taking Hemp Seed Oil and Pumpkin Seed Oil. I'm still going through chemo and this seems to be keeping the neuropathy in check - it is just about completely gone by the time I start a new 3 week cycle. Also my doctor has me on the calcium/magnesium solution before and after my Oxalyplatin injection. I have had 'chemo brain' but found sudoku helped - I got better and better at it.

wwgrace

almost 3 years ago

Many people have reversed neuropathy symptoms with the use of magnetic products. There are magnetic insoles, hand braces and far-infrared knee braces available. Mukilteo WA

Tinker

almost 4 years ago

I am a cancer survivor with very bad neuropathy in legs and hands found chili pepper idea helpful, have tried it all with no relief. Accupunture, detox, gabapentine, now amitriptyline, all the way b vitamins. there is no cure for me. but thanks for the info. Tinker , CA

Bell star

almost 4 years ago

Since neuropathy can limit one's ability to judge temperature, to prevent scalding from hot water, turn the water heater temperature down. Preferably, keep the temp about 120 degrees.

sheila a

about 4 years ago

very interesting.....even though my husband has been taking chemo for 1 1/2 years for lung cancer and has neuropathy