Neuropathy Cause by Chemo

Hi all:

 I'm wondering if any of you were told by your doctor that neuropathy would be a part of your lives after chemo.  I know I wasn't told, nor was my wife.  I had bladder cancer about 13 months ago, and neuropathy appeared while I was having my chemo.  I still have it and curse every time I drop something (e.g.cup of coffee) because I can't hold things properly any more.

My wife has had neuropathy in her hands and feet ever since her first round of chemo for ovarian cancer (1995) and it has continued through her second round of chemo for ovarian cancer again (2000) to this day.  No-one ever told her either that she'd have to live with it.

Comments?

 Sir Brian the Lion.

http://www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/ig.htm

my neurologist is going to try immune globulin for my post chemo neuropathy  i will let everyone know how it goes  

donarae

you should check the following, if you have not already done so:

Payment:  some insurance companies may balk as this is unapproved AND expensive (probably $10-20K per month).  Have you tried other treatments?

Availability:  IVIG is still in short supply and usually allocated to Pharmacies, so your doc may want to see if he can actually get it for you.

Location:  this is a 4-6 hour infusion so it is done in a clinic, hospital or perhaps office.  You will probably need the day off.

On 6/15/2006 Marylee wrote:

I had chemo for non-hodgkins lymphoma Mar.- Jul of 2005. After treatment my arms were numb and my legs were numb up to my thghs. I was so weak that I could barely stand up to walk to the bathroom. I had a test for nerve damage on my legs and forearms. He said I had nerve damage and it may or may not regenerate. I used a cane and went to physical therapy for about 4 months to learn to rebalance. It was very helpful. Well, a year and 3 months later I can write legibly if I take my time, only my hands are 35% numb. The bottom of my feet are numb and some times at night I can feel it up to my knees at which time I get up and walk around. I still have to watch my balance making sure I do not do 45 degree turns too quickly. I use a cane for long walks. In may I took Zevalin at Cancer Treatment Centers of America as tumors had come back under my one arm pit. I guess they are gone now. I am 74 and also have arthritis and fybromyalgia that causes pain. I am however, fortunate to be able to get around, drive my car and work part time. I guess having neuropathy is little to pay for getting rid of the cancer. Some people I have talked to do not have this side effect. I have to say however, that I have had some of it in my feet for as long as 8 years ago, so I guess, the chemo just made it worse. I hope for the best for you.

Hi there

I came across your message on the Cancer Compass website after googling the main symptoms being suffered by my dad.

He's 61 and was diagnosed with NLH in April 2005 (stage IV). since then he's been having chemotherapy in relatively short, but intensive, spells. steroids have also been part of the treatment mix.

more recently, however, he's been in considerable neuropathic pain in his legs. Classic symptoms like lack of balance, and "pins and needles" sensations were the start of it, but it's got so bad recently that he's now unable to walk. he's also recently been diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis stretching from groin to knee (which is being slowly dissolved by injectable drugs which are not going to exacerbate the effects of the cancer).

He's now in hospital for some respite care (and also giving my mum some time to herself because she is his primary carer because they live some 200 miles away from my wife and I), but I don't know what the long-term prognosis is. His specialists are not as forthcoming as we'd like, and as a family we are struggling to know what to do.

Any help, advice, treatment ideas for the neuropathy would be so gladly appreciated. I hope things are looking up for you too - you sound very positive, which is clearly vital.

 Best wishes

 Ian Shoesmith

London, UK

I can't seem to find your posting about peripheral neuropathy.  Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Eva 

On 4/4/2007 Shoeshoe wrote:

I am a 5 yr. lung cancer survivor.  I have two thirds of my right lung gone.  I  am in my 70's and excersie regularly   My NEUROPOTHY is getting worse.   Does any one have an answer   My neurologist has tried different medications.  Nothing seems to work.

Shoeshoe,  my lung cancer have been in remission for 12 years now last august 8th of this year. I never had the problem of any kind from my surgery and radiation. My ordeal begun after 2 months of chemo which I already recieved 6 rounds on feb.1996. All of the possible side effect anyone can imagine was being felt from nerves to muscle pain. Here it is 12 years later, I'm still suffering from it. I have been in pain killers and anti anxiety drugs for about ten years now. I tried to minimize the use of drugs for fear of drugs may not work after so long. I only take them when pain is so unbearable. for the first 5 years, I was using 375mg of vicodin es twice daily. after a while, I have to up it to 4 times daily. now i'm approaching 11 years under that medication, I have to up it again to 5 times daily. It does not take away all the pain but It was minimizing it to I was able to live a more quality life. I trully believed it is all up to individuals system how it reacts to different situation. I have tried many drugs and only found two that helps me.  aprasolam to help me sleep and half a tablet for pain maintanance. I'm sure you will find some relief for you. just keep on asking your doctor to try and prescribe you different one's until your system respond to one of them.  I hope you find one. wish you the best.

buang