Treatment for Chemotherapy Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN, is the term used to describe nerve damage in the arms, legs, hands and feet resulting from chemotherapy. Depending upon its severity, the disorder can be either a painful, temporary inconvenience of life-saving treatment or a life-threatening complication. Many aspects of chemotherapy neuropathy are well-understood, and you and your doctor have a range of options for prevention or treatment.

Symptoms of Chemotherapy Neuropathy

• Chemotherapy neuropathy can appear at any time during treatment. Its symptoms include burning sensations, pain, numbness, tingling, muscle shrinkage, balance problems, increased temperature sensitivity, constipation, blood pressure fluctuations and difficulty swallowing. Frequently, altered sensations in the hands or feet appear simultaneously on both sides of the body. The disorder can affect performance of any activities involving your arms or legs, including the ability to walk or dress yourself. In its most dangerous forms, chemotherapy neuropathy can lead to breathing difficulties, paralysis or organ failure. If you are undergoing chemotherapy and experience symptoms of the disorder, let your doctor know immediately. While there are many potential causes of these complaints, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Possible Prevention

• You can take steps to prevent neuropathy problems. First, researchers know that certain classes of chemotherapy drugs present increased risks for neuropathy side-effects. They include: taxane compounds like paclitaxel and docetaxel (brand names Taxol and Taxotere); platinum-containing compounds like carboplatin, cisplatin and oxaliplatin; epothilone compounds like ixabepilone ( brand name Ixempra); plant alkaloids like vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine; lenalidomide (Revlimid); thalidomide (Thalomid); and bortezomib (Velcade). Ask your doctor if you are being treated with any of these drugs. If you are, you may want to ask if any effective substitutes are available.

  Even if there are no good substitutes, your doctor may be able to lower your risks by changing the ways your chemotherapy doses are administered. For instance, a single large dose can be given in smaller, more manageable doses. Also, a single treatment may be given over a longer period of time. Both of these methods can reduce the toxic effects of medication and possibly help avoid nerve problems.

  Certain other supplemental treatments may also help prevent neuropathy, although current evidence is mixed at best. Potential choices include Vitamin E, anticonvulsants and combined calcium and magnesium infusions. Consult your doctor before exploring these options.

Treatment Options

• If you already have chemotherapy neuropathy, a number of potential treatments are available. First, see if other chemotherapy treatments are available. Changing medications may solve your problems. If there are no other choices available, it is possible that the disorder is a short-term reaction to your treatment and will disappear on its own. This may happen in a couple of weeks, a couple of months or not at all. If your symptoms persist, doctors can work to ease your pain by using steroids, anticonvulsants or small doses of antidepressants. More severe cases are sometimes treated with opioid-based drugs. Other potentially helpful therapies include biofeedback, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy and relaxation therapy.