On 7/11/2009
tarsh wrote:
hi there
i too have lunbg cancer and had chemo & radiotherapy finishing in April and my feet have also statred to go numb.
they say that is is because chemo can sometimes knock of the nerve endings in your feet causing them to feel numb or tingly.
I find rubbing them and keeping them warm by having lots of baths helps or wearing wool on them.
hope this helps
Hello Tarsh - I told you that I would respond to you in more details and I will. First I do not know if you have Small Cell Cancer or Non SC. Graeme who I care for was diagonsed with sclc in 0n the 15th December 2008.He underwent chemo using the drug Carboplatin/Etoposidet to end of January 2009. He then went on to radiation treatment to lungs. At this stage MRI and CT showed that the SCLC was only in part of his left lungs - so far so good.He had twice daily raidationtreatment to 18/02/09. Though out all of these tretments he was extremely positive and kept working - even through the days he was doing radiation and chemo. He has his own window cleaning business and loves it so he kept going. Admittedly he got a bit tired at the end of the day, and lost some of his appetite.
EVerything was going great and a PET.MRI and CT scan was arranged for April 2009. The Onc was happy with lung as only scar tissues remain from radiation- Pet Scan also OK. On the 20th April he went to his Radiologist to get Brain CT scan result. Bad News the CT Scan showed 5 Brain Mets. This knocked him back bur accepted that he would need Whole Brain Radiation soon- he continued to work- ON the 23th April he had a seizure as a result of the Brain Mets- one day short of when he was going to start WB radiation. He was hospitalised and put on dexo and Dilanten. Due to the seizure the WB radiation was set back and he commenced 15 rounds of of this commencing 28th April to 15/05/09
Beleive it or not Graeme kept working - due to the seisure he could not drive, and had someone drive for him. All was going OK - although he was noticeably loseing weight and getting tired. By mid June 2009 he kept telling me that both his feet felt Numb - like they had gone to sleep. He took this to mean that his feet were cold, because they did feel cold to the touch and put on more socks. By the second last week in June he was complaining more about the numbness, and while he still kept working it was obviously discomforting- I took control and made an appointment with his Radioloist - who examined him and said - nothing specific - could be the result of chemo or effects of the dilante- we were sent home this was on the 1st of July 2009.By this stage while Graeme was walking unaided he was finding it very difficult. On Saturday the 4th July we took him to casualty - in fact he walked into casuality. From this point on things get very grim. Graeme is currently still in hospital today being 13/07/09.
During the time in hospital a barrage of test were done - to find out antibodies from the cancer- dilanten levels- neouro issues and on and on. Graeme had a preshedule appointment to have an MRI done on the 20th July to ascertain the result of the WB radiation- and it did not occurr to anyone to bring this forward. After five days in hopostal the numbness had spread to just below his knees and he is unable to walk without a frame. Just five days after he walked into casuality. An MRI was requested and the devastine news of his condition was delivered to us.
He had Lepto Meningeol Disease - INTRATHECAL METASTESIS from the SCLC. in lay terms he had sclc cells in his spinal fluids and the fluids surrounind the brain.
Graeme's initial prognosis without treatment- weeks- or we could try to deliver chemo straight to his CSF via a OMMAYA Reservoir in his head. The chemo drugs that are used is toxic in itself and can effect the spinal cord. Graeme ( while he is no longer my husband) have two kid - 18 and 15. The second option of the reservoir will give him an extra 2 to 3 months. We felt that was the best option.
Graeme has had the surgery to implant the OMMAYA reservoir yesterday at the Royal Melbourne Hospital- he will be transferred back to Frankston to continue the chemo and Radiation to his spine.
Sometimes I kick myself for not taking him to hospital when he first complained about the numbness in his feet, but he was so active and the way he described it - it seemed like just a nuisance rather then anything. It appears that with small cell cancer time is of the essence.
Life seems like a huge fog, and it is very difficult to communicate with people- I just want to shut out everything and just concentrate on caring for Graeme - but my head feels like much. How can so much change in two weeks.
I will let you know how things go- and perhaps you may want to investigate the numbness in your feet.
Take CAre
Sheila