Hello Fellow Cancer Survivors,
I had the 6 month treatment for stage III rectal cancer with 5FU and Ox and Luc. I have the neuropathy as many of you have. I had my last Chemo tx in August 07 and it is now the middle of Feb 08 - 6 months +.Still numbness in feet and tips of fingers. It is getting better, slowly. Let me share what I am doing to try to help myself with this problem. (53 years old):
1. Supplements - Vit B, B-6, B-12, C, E, and glutamine - 2Xs a day
2. I bicycle 3x a week for a couple of hours
3. I work out at the gym doing a full body work out with weights - 1 hour every other day
4. I do 1/2 hour on the stationary bike. I use to be a marathon runner but now it hurts to be on my feet for longer that 30-45 minutes. Went shopping yesterday for a couple of hours on my feet. It is frustrating, the way it takes so much out of you.
5. Something I do that I think really helps and I have not read it any where is that I sit in the sauna for 20 minutes after my work out. This seems to help reduce symptoms. I think the blood circulation helps the nerves and being so sensitive to the cold and it being winter the sauna sure feels good.
Has anyone else tried the sauna? I had acupuncture and that helped a little but was very painful.
Good Luck in your fight for recovery!
Jim