Cancer Treatment Options Forum - May 13th, 2010 - 5 Comments
I was recently treated for breast cancer with chemo and Taxol. Will the numbness goes away?
My feet are numb and my fingers have a tingling sensation
that won’t go away. Will the numbness ever goes away? I feel
like I am walking on a block of ice attached to my legs . I am
sure the Taxol caused the numbness in my fingers and toes.
Any home remedies on how to get rid of the numbness?
I was on Carbo and Taxol when I went though Chemotherapy, and it took awhile, but it did go away. I hear it is not the same for everyone, so I can’t really say for you. I am several years out from my chemo and every once in awhile I still feel the numbness in my fingertips, but it goes away as quickly as it comes.
I wish you all the best. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sorry to hear about your numbness. I to have and are having a severe case of neurpathy resulting from high chemo infussion of Cisplatin, which is also a neurootoxin. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done but you may be able to reduce the severity and make things a liittle more comfortable by;
-massage of the effected area and limbs
- exercise 20-30mins. per day when ever possible.
Other possible options are vitamin B6, B12 and vitamin B complex, which may help nerve regeneration, but this needs to be taken in moderation and excessive dosage of B6 could have the opoposite effect and increase the neuropathy.
The numbness and tingling you are experiencing is as a result of damage to the peripheral nerves. Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy such as vinca alkaloids (vincristine), cisplatin, paclitaxel, and the podophyllotoxins (etoposide and tenoposide).
Other drugs used to treat cancer such as thalidomide and interferon also can cause peripheral neuropathy.
Although some of the signs of neuropathy may appear suddenly, this change in sensation usually builds gradually and can worsen with each additional dose of chemotherapy. It is usually strongest right after a chemo treatment, but tends to lessen just before the next treatment. The symptoms usually peak about 3-5 months after the last dose of treatment is taken. The abnormal sensations may disappear completely, or lessen only partially; they may also involve less of the body. If neuropathy diminishes, it is a gradual process usually requiring several months. However, in some cases it may be irreversible and never diminish in intensity or the area of the body affected.
An interesting description and summary of known neuropathy effects of different chemo therapy drugs is given on the Dutch Neuromuscular Research Support Centre site, referenced below.
Your doctor may reccommend pressure bandages (as you shouldnt mix too many meds at one time) This will inceases the pressure in your extremities and possibly reduce the sensations.
Talk to him about it, its worth a try. I have seen people benefit from pressure bandages before.
taxol induced neuropathy is common and usually improves once the treatment is done. How quickly it improves is variable though, and may take weeks to months. there are some medications that are helpful for treating this, and the home remedies others suggested maybe worth a try. certainly talk to your doctor about it if it’s worsening or causing you a lot of problems
Tingling is a side effect of the Taxol. Tell your doctor about it and *definitely* about the numbness and they should be able to help you. Also i wouldn’t advise using any home remedies until you’ve spoken to your Doc as some treatments can interfere with the chemo drugs.