Managing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy after Cancer Treatment

My daughter has all of the above symptoms and has been diagnosed with arachnoiditis. She received radiation treatments at MSKCC in 1998 at age 13 because of a brain tumor. Have any studies been done on the after radiation effects on the spine ? She suffers daily with leg and thigh pain, is unable to work or go about a normal life of a normal 27 year old young woman.
Thank you for any information you can provide.
Susan Bologna

What are your thoughts on the "ReBuilder" (electronic relief) for treating neuropathy tingling and pain?

I have had neuropathy since breast cancer treatment 5 years ago. I've broken my left foot twice, once by simply standing up on it while it was numb. When I ask for help from my physicians at Northwestern Hospital they act as if it had no relationship with the cancer treatment. I am finally off of aromasin and it's generic version exemastine. How likely is it that the nerves could get better?

I've a five year breast cancer survivor and I've had neuropathy
in my feet. My toes move continuously, but my main is that
my toenails come off once a year. Is this normal with neuropathy?

my son suffers from neuropathy in his feet and two of his fingers. he is in pain constantly and can not sleep at night. he has been told by his doctor that there is nothing that can be done to relieve the pain. he had chemo treatment 5 years ago, is this true

I have neuropathy in hands and feet from chemo 2 years ago. I have
promblems with most medications and have had severe side effects from simple everyday drugs. I can not take Lyrica or Cymbalta and
have finally decided to try and talk myself out of all the pain and
discomfort.My suggestion to the medical profession is that
they question patients in depth before starting chemo. My problems
resulted from a triple dose due to timing ....time the rest of my life will pay for the rush to finish the treatments.

My daughter had Vincristine 7 years ago for cancer treatment. She now complains of tingling in her hands and feet. Is this from the chemo and what can be done to help?

My husband is suffering from peripheral neuropathy in the hands and feet. He was recently taken off Oxalliplatin as part of his chemo regimen. The doctor said it might take up to 6 months for this to correct. He has been undergoing acupuncture at Soan with no relief. What else is available to him?

I still have some neuropathy and chemo brain even two and a half years out from breast cancer treatment with the red devil, taxol and radiation. What has helped the most is acupuncture, reflexology, massage, yoga, swimming and walking (even though painful). Don't give up and don't give in even if some doctors pretend these conditions don't exist and insurance won't cover alternative treatments. Hang in there and keep moving! Try everything you can and see what works for you because most treatments are one size fits nobody.

Are there any significant studies concerning acupuncture as a treatment for CIPN in a post-chemo environment?

After completing chemo for colon cancer, my husband developed a severe form of neuropathy that has left him crippled since November of 2012. He is unable to walk or stand erect. He has been diagnosed but no treatments were offered...only lots of narcotics for the pain. We are both desperate to find some sort of therapy that could bring any relief. It seems there is no way out of this situation and I fear the toll it has taken on us both. Please help.

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy with no known cause. Is this possible without a underline problem?

Hi, I contracted breast cancer May of 1999 they did a mastectomy with reconstruction surgery using the latissimus dorsi muscle. I have nerve damage and I have tried everything, and I'm only getting worse. I am currently disabled. Basically my life is over unless I can find a cure. I am so tired all the time, and so tired of living in so much pain. Makes you wonder why you survive breast cancer just to suffer. Is their anything that can help me? Please, I'm desperate

My uncle has an appointment with a doctor from MSKCC Integrative Medicine Services in February for his neuropathy. In the meantime, are there any supplements that have shown improvement (no matter how slight) for neuropathy? Someone suggested glutamine.

Is MSKCC currently participating in any CIPN studies where they are looking for volunteers for new treatments? I am currently on 1,200mg of Neurontin daily and I believe I am at the end of what this medication can do for me. Gabapentin does not work and Lyrica resulted in too many side effects including drastic changes in my eyesight. I would be happy to step forward if there is a study and I would qualify. My CIPN was a result of Oxaliplatin Chemtherapy.

To learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, watch a video featuring Mrs. Buoneto and Mrs. Miskovitz.

What happened to the video? I'm getting a message back that it is no longer available. ?..

after 500-700 milligrams of hydroxyurea daily for about a year,
the underpart of my toes was itching and painful particularly in
summer, when feet sweat. I experienced an immediate reduction
in the pain and soon discontinuation of pain after taking daily packet
of EMERGEN - C multivitamin drink including other vitamins and minerals, particularly B12. I take it daily and there has been no recurrence in 3 years.

Hey there,
1 year ago my mother was diagnosted with a hormone sensitive breasttumor. The treatment concisted of 8chemo and 17 herceptin treatments.
My mom has finished her chemotherapie with docetaxel on 20-12-2013 and is experiencing heavy neuropathic soreness as a result of it.
She tried too inform her oncologist after the 2nd treatment about the complications and all he suggested was a pill too drain some fluid from her legs.
Now after the chemo she is still required too take 12 herceptin doses even though the feeling in her legs in unbareable for her, the neurologist examinend her and told her it is a very uncommon side affect and could not treat her in any way... She has too sit it out and hope for the best....
Now I see alot of ppl talking about neurotin and other reliefers of pain or soreness.
Is this a proper 'treatment' too hope for the best...
Can anyone plz inform me of the possible steps too take or some words of comfort.
Love her too death and cant bare too see her in the pain and life condition she is in right now
Sincerely Peter - Holland

dead link

The video link is saying the video is not currently available.

I work at a small Breast Cancer Center in Brisbane Australia .
I will be visiting New York in the first week of May and was hoping to meet with your Occupational Therapist treating the physical impairments secondary to cancer treatments. Do you have visiting OT opportunities?

I was operated on in 2010 for cooon cancer. After seven months of intensive cheomatheray, with platinum, I was pronounced clean, Since then I haqve gone in for the normal check up and things are noemal. The problem is that my toes, fingers, and now my fet and lower legs, the upper outside ov both hands suddenly become numb and my fingers lock up until II force them open. have fallen many times and br0ken an arm, rib and toe. I have gad in-grown nails problem.My doctors say there s nothibg to do, Any suyggestions?

Why have a site where people are tempted to comment, and then you carefully take time to tell each and every person that you cannot answer their individual comments. How SAD for those people. (I am not one of them, but feel sorry for them.) There must be a better way.

My mother is 83 and was an active, independent woman until undergoing 4 rounds of RChop. I am so ANGRY and FRUSTRATED with the general attitude of Oncology. I've been researching for over a month and have found nothing but suffering. 9 times out of 10 these poor people have no hope and it appears the general attitude in the oncology community appears to be indifference. We told the oncologist immediately of any symptoms, as we were told to do in the information we received prior to starting chemo, but they DID NOTHING!!! When we complained to my mother's oncologist that my mother had tingling in her fingers which progressed to the complete loss of the use of her hands the response was just a shrug of the shoulders. When we continued to tell the oncologist that my mother had grown continually weaker and was unable to stand up or walk, the oncologist answered, "I don't understand it - I just don't know what's going on." At the time I didn't blame her - I know doctors are not all knowing - they are human but after researching the internet (the least SHE could've done!) I found out that CIPN is a well-known and documented occurrence for people on certain chemo drugs. My mother has started intense physical therapy as prescribed by a neurologist - there are no guarantees but I am hoping and praying she will get back on her feet. I just can't believe the medical profession appears to be ignoring these pleas for help and leaving all these people with no hope. It's despicable.
Oncologist, pay attention to your patients - don't forget to treat the whole person and not just the cancer.
For all those out there, searching for answers, I promise, if therapy helps my mother, I will post again. I know how it feels to be lost and hopeless and God knows, so does my mother.

We have come a long way with medicine and technology but is always a work in progress. Very happy to see some of you have experienced and benefited from Reflexology and Massage therapy. Please look into it if you haven't. As a therapist for 20yrs, now in Northeast Tn, I can attest to the joy of some pain relief as far as greater benefits I have had the pleasure of providing.

My friend received treatment for breast cancer almost 20 years ago and now has peripheral neuropathy in one arm and hand to the extent that she can no longer use that arm or hand. Are there any clinical trials available that could help her?

I had cancer treatment a Sloan-Kettering several years ago and I have been experiencing the symptoms as mentioned on your web site. My feet mostly at night get hot and tingle, making for an uncomfortable nights sleep. My hands also get numb on occasion, but not as bad as my feet.
Are there any over-the-counter drugs I can take to lessen these symptoms?

What is manual lymph drainage and can it be one on legs?
Thanks.

Hi, I followed the posted link here for the video. However, the page displays a message that "there are no videos available at the moment, please check back later". I'd be very interested in viewing that video if you could get it up and running. Thanks so much!