Neuropathy

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Omaz
Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
edited April 2018 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I would like to hear people's experience with neuropathy from chemotherapy.  I have had four treatments with taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin and have developed neurpathy (tingling, numbness) in my feet/ankles/calves and in my fingers.  It started with the first treatment and has progressed with each treatment.  Have others experienced this, did they change their chemo dose or schedule because of it and what happened after chemo?

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited November 2010

    omaz...I had 12 weeks of Taxol, and developed numbness in my toes after about the 7th week. It is still there 11 months after finishing chemo. I would think at this point, it is here to stay. Not a real problem. I have feeling in them, they just feel like they are asleep and big and puffy at times. I didn't cancel any treatments, but maybe if I'd stopped a few weeks early it would have subsided, who knows? At one point I got some numbness in my face and they actually did a brain MRI, thinking it could be a tumor. Then I get on here and find out many women had that side effect of Taxol.  I think sometimes we, collectively know more than our Oncs.  Best wishes.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    Omaz Not sure if I've already mentioned this to you on another thread.

    I've had 2 tx so far, same cocktail as you. 1st tx it was in my left hand/fingers… pins and needles. This time it's my left heel that's numb & a little in my left palm/wrist. It hasn't gone away yet. It's a bit colder today and it seems a little worse. I know when I told my onc last time she did say something about reducing the dose if it become problematic.

    I have heard that the following alternatives can help but my NP (nurse ratched) basically would not recommend I try any of them because there is no cure for neuropathy but time.

    Here are some of the suggestions I've seen: 
    Vitamin E (600mg), Acetyl L- Carnatine or vitamin B6

    I'm seriously thinking of trying the Acetyl L- Carnatine

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2010

    Omaz ~ The B-complex vitamin B6 should help with neuropathy.  I was starting to develop neuropathy in my feet while on TC (most noticeable when I did my long morning walks), and just a minimal dose (50 mg.) made a big difference.  

    Mine did not entirely go away after chemo.  I still have some in my feet, especially when I first awaken in the a.m., and what helps the most now is the several miles I try to walk each day.     Deanna 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    BTW you might want to read this. At the bottom

    Clinical Research Ahead
    http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/ncicancerbulletin/archive/2010/022310/page6

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited November 2010

    Thank you for your replies - I have been taking glutamine, B6 and vitamin E.  I think they have helped with the tingling and may with the numbness but it keeps getting worse.  I haven't tried the acetly-L-carnitine.  Also I have heard about alpha-lipoic acid but haven't tried that either. 

    Jacee -  My lips have numbness too which doesn't go away between treatments.

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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited November 2010

    I had 4 A/C followed what was supposed to be 4 Taxol. After 1st Taxol had extreme neuropathy. Onc said wait one extra week (was on every-other week tx) so 3 weeks later had 2nd Taxol and then it was even worse so I did no more. I still have residual effects from it when the wx is too cold/damp or when I am in air conditioning that is too cold. I hate winter more now than ever before. I do take acetyl l-carnitine but am unsure if it works. Good luck!

    Janis

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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited April 2018

    I am now on my 2nd BC DX. Dreading the 6 taxane chemo in my future and more neuropathy issues. Other than for the heart issues I'd do A/C (red devil) again over taxol/taxotere/taxane chemo..... hoping to figure out how to endure the pain I expect.

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