chemo induced peripheral neuropathy

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fmadore
fmadore Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was treated for Breast cancer 2 years ago with dose-dense ACT. I developed neuropathy in my fingertips and feet during treatment. Unfortunately, I still have neuropathy in my feed and it seems to have become worse in the pst couple of months. I am finding it is affectecting daily life activities. Who else has experienced worsening CIPN and what treatments are there for it?

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  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #2
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    Neuropathy
    Yep I had the same treatments as you and have awful deadnedd, pins and needles and pain in my toes and fingertips. I finished chemo 18months back and it isn't getting better. I tried Lyrica, Gabapentin and heaps of stuff, the only relief I got was from a herbal mix of rose oil, geranium oil, Eucalyptus oil and bergamot oil...
    Hope this helps...I'm still clomping about like a drunk, but it's a bit less painful

    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • jennytwist
    jennytwist Member Posts: 896
    #3
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    I had dose-dense ACT
    also and have been done with chemo since Aug 2009 and it does seem to be getting more noticeable. I think they told me this could be one of the side effects that sometimes does not go away. Sorry, I have no advice for you - I'm wondering if its more likely to stick around if you have had the dose-dense treatment? I can e-mail my Dr - if I can get any info/advice on it, I'll surely pass it on to you.
    take care
    -Jenny
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #4
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    tasha_111 said:

    Neuropathy
    Yep I had the same treatments as you and have awful deadnedd, pins and needles and pain in my toes and fingertips. I finished chemo 18months back and it isn't getting better. I tried Lyrica, Gabapentin and heaps of stuff, the only relief I got was from a herbal mix of rose oil, geranium oil, Eucalyptus oil and bergamot oil...
    Hope this helps...I'm still clomping about like a drunk, but it's a bit less painful

    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Neuropathy
    I had different treatment, however most Chemo drugs give neuropathy during Chemo.
    I did have it during my treatment and still have after 11 months. I was suggested by two different doctors that some antidepressants can help to improve it. I have not tried it myself.
    Hugs
  • creampuff91344
    creampuff91344 Member Posts: 988
    #5
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    jennytwist said:

    I had dose-dense ACT
    also and have been done with chemo since Aug 2009 and it does seem to be getting more noticeable. I think they told me this could be one of the side effects that sometimes does not go away. Sorry, I have no advice for you - I'm wondering if its more likely to stick around if you have had the dose-dense treatment? I can e-mail my Dr - if I can get any info/advice on it, I'll surely pass it on to you.
    take care
    -Jenny

    I also had the dose-dense
    I also had the dose-dense ACT treatment, and the neuropathy initially was in both hands and feet. After about six months, both hands and my left foot are virtiaully free of the neuropathy. The right foot/toes, however, continues to be afflicted, and my onc says it is possible that it will never get better. I also experience quite a bit of cramping in the toes of that same foot. My potassium level varies, but I have not tried to take a supplement...just eat a banana once a day. If this is the only problem I have as a result of chemo, guess we are lucky. If you do find something that helps, please pass it along, and I will do the same. (My hubby is good at foot massages, and this relieves the feeling a bit for at least a few hours.) Hugs.

    Judy
  • pdkoul
    pdkoul Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2016 #6
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    cipn

    My final chop plus rituxin therapy was in 2007. Although my treatment did include stem cell transplant therapy,  according to doctors and my own research I believe my cipn is a result of the chop plus rituxin. Cipn continues to be a daily issue 9 years later and after trying everything from antidepressants to acupuncture the only thing that helps is opiate based medication. I have heard that everyone reacts differently to certain medications and there has been some success with some of the medications that did not work for me. Also, there currently is research being done with tetrodetoxin specifically to treat cipn. I  do consider  this cipn a small price to pay for remission.  

  • peony
    peony Member Posts: 306 Member
    #7
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    Taxol

    My neuropathy came with Taxol. I had problems with the AC combo, but as soon as I stopped using it, those problems went away. I empathize and commiserate with everyone here.  I've read that it can take up to 5 years for the neuropathy to improve. I just except it as part of my "new normal" and hope for the best.  Hugs to you all.

  • button2
    button2 Member Posts: 421
    #8
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    peony said:

    Taxol

    My neuropathy came with Taxol. I had problems with the AC combo, but as soon as I stopped using it, those problems went away. I empathize and commiserate with everyone here.  I've read that it can take up to 5 years for the neuropathy to improve. I just except it as part of my "new normal" and hope for the best.  Hugs to you all.

    I think you'll improve

    I had the same problems (in my fingers). I can't tell you how long it took to go away, but I remember it was very gradual. Hang in there, I feel almost back to normal after four years. No more neuropathy, just limited range of motion in my shoulder and a tendency to tire in my right arm, no biggie!

  • peony
    peony Member Posts: 306 Member
    edited July 2016 #9
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    Lyrica & CIPN

     I can see improvement in my hands, but my feet are still a major problem. Yesterday i was prescribed Lyrica to help with the CIPN. I took my first dose last night and I'm sitting at work now feeling pretty lousy.  Has anyone used Lyrica for CIPN or any other condition? Did you suffer any side effects?

  • carol 123
    carol 123 Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2016 #10
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    intense leg pain

    someone please help me understand. my mom is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. before she had her last round of chemo she developed intense leg pain. she says its very painful it feels like her legs/feet are on fire. it got bad to a point she could not walk. please if anyone can advice me on how best i can help her.

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 354 Member
    #11
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    carol 123 said:

    intense leg pain

    someone please help me understand. my mom is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. before she had her last round of chemo she developed intense leg pain. she says its very painful it feels like her legs/feet are on fire. it got bad to a point she could not walk. please if anyone can advice me on how best i can help her.

    Type of chemo?

    I experienced pain and swelling in both of my legs and feet as a result of taxotere.  The swelling took several weeks post chemo (I know at least 6-8) to subside.  It was frustrating and worrisome not knowing what was going on and not knowing whether moving or resting would help.  In reality, nothing really helped - just time.  I would even wake up with swelling.

    i was sent to a cardiologist just to check if it was cardio related, but no, just an unwanted side effect.

    Wishing your Mom well.

  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    edited July 2016 #12
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    carol 123 said:

    intense leg pain

    someone please help me understand. my mom is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. before she had her last round of chemo she developed intense leg pain. she says its very painful it feels like her legs/feet are on fire. it got bad to a point she could not walk. please if anyone can advice me on how best i can help her.

    Has she told her oncologist

    Has she told her oncologist about this? There are medications she can take for it.

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