Table of contents:
- What is peripheral neuropathy?
- Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy
- Why can chemotherapy cause peripheral neuropathy?
- Another thing that triggers peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients
- Can peripheral neuropathy be prevented?
Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments to expel cancer cells. Even so, there are many problems that may arise due to chemotherapy. Yes, the effects of chemotherapy can sometimes be mild symptoms to cause new problems such as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to peripheral nerve cells in the skin, muscles, joints, bones and feet and various other parts of the body.
Indeed, not all patients who undergo chemotherapy will experience it, this depends on each condition and the type of drug given. Actually, what are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy? How dangerous is it if the patient experiences this as a result of chemotherapy?
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder that occurs when parts of the peripheral nerves are damaged. Peripheral nerves are part of nerve cells that carry signals from the brain and spine to various other parts of the body.
Usually, this disorder often begins with symptoms of pain and discomfort in the part of the body that is damaged by the peripheral nerves. There are many things that may cause peripheral neuropathy, but quite often the effects of chemotherapy.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy
Nerve cell damage due to chemotherapy can occur on the right or left side of the body. However, usually the lower part of the body will be damaged first, for example the base of the toes and slowly move to the feet up to the hands. Some of the symptoms that can arise at the onset of nerve cell damage include:
- Sharp pain sensation
- A burning sensation or feeling like being electrocuted
- Tingling sensation
- Starting to have difficulty doing activities with simple motor skills such as writing, typing and wearing shirt buttons
- The surface of the skin is too sensitive
- Decreased body reflex
- Experiencing balance disorders so it is easy to fall
- Change in temperature sensitivity
- Interference with urination
- Constipation
- Hearing disorders
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in the jaw
Increased peripheral nerve damage can lead to serious health problems, such as:
- Paralysis
- Organ malfunction
- Often falls
- Breathing problems
- Change in heart rate
- Changes in blood pressure
These symptoms can appear since the beginning of chemotherapy and get worse as treatment progresses. In some patients, these symptoms can appear only temporarily, or even last for months, years, and persist.
Why can chemotherapy cause peripheral neuropathy?
Chemotherapy is designed to kill cells that are growing. The chemotherapy drugs will spread to all parts of the body and cancer cells are automatically destroyed because of this.
But unfortunately, other normal cells that are growing and developing are also damaged due to the nature of chemotherapy drugs like that. Nerve cell damage is a side effect of chemotherapy treatment.
It is difficult to know which types of drugs are most at risk for triggering chemotherapy because each person taking treatment receives a different type of chemotherapy drug.
Here are some types of chemotherapy drugs that are associated with the appearance of peripheral neuropathy:
- Albumin-Bound Or Nab-Paclitaxel (Abraxane)
- Bortezomib (Velcade)
- Cabazitaxel (Jevtana)
- Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
- Carfilzomib (Kyprolis)
- Cisplatin
- Docetaxel (Taxotere)
- Eribulin (Halaven)
- Etoposide (VP-16)
- Ixabepilone (Ixempra)
- Lenalidomide (Revlimid)
- Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)
- Paclitaxel (Taxol)
- Pomalidomide (Pomalyst)
- Thalidomide (Thalomid)
- Vinblastine
- Vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PES, Vincrex)
- Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
Another thing that triggers peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients
In addition to chemotherapy drugs that cause peripheral nerve cell damage, neuropathy can also occur by itself or increase if a person with cancer has several risk factors, such as:
- Diabetes
- HIV
- Have an infection
- Have shingles
- Experiencing circulatory disease
- Experiencing nerve cell damage due to alcohol consumption
- Spinal cord damage
- Experiencing vitamin B deficiency
In addition to health conditions, the incidence and course of peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients can be influenced by:
- Age
- Other drugs consumed
- Family history of neuropathy
- Combination of chemotherapy drugs
- Dosage and total dose of chemotherapy drugs
- The frequency of chemotherapy drugs
Can peripheral neuropathy be prevented?
Until now, there is no effective way to prevent damage to peripheral nerve cells due to chemotherapy. But experts say that adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating foods full of nutrients can protect peripheral nerve cells from damage.
It is also important to always communicate with your doctor, especially if you have a history of other chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. The disease can interfere with blood flow and can be a trigger for peripheral nerve cell damage.
People who are more at risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, the dose of chemotherapy drugs received will be adjusted to be lighter. If so, it may take you longer to undergo chemotherapy treatment.
But again, don't hesitate to discuss and ask your doctor about the treatment plan and risks. The reason is, every patient has different conditions.
