1. < Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer and Neuropathy

Posted by mat71 @mat71, Sep 22, 2016

Greetings to members just getting started and those that like me are in survivor ship mode. My aily prayer always s include my sisters and brothers in the fight. Can anyone tell me if they have neuropathy sensations from taking Medication daily(Letrozole) . I have had this now for almost 3 yrs. AM taking B complex tablets daily it has lessened it but it still happens some times very severe. But if this is all i got along with the interrupted sleep patterns, elevated cholesteral, weight gain( I work out 4-6x a wk and diet control) so just the little battles are okay but that neuropathy is not good. hang in there . .

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

elizm | @elizm | Oct 25, 2018
In reply to @msovercomer "I am a 3 year stage 2 breast cancer survivor. I have had a mastectomy followed..." + (show)
@msovercomer

I am a 3 year stage 2 breast cancer survivor. I have had a mastectomy followed by chemo and radiation. One year after treatments were finished I had reconstruction that led to a severe staph infection and removal of the implant. Everything has healed well for which I am very thankful. My main concern now is the neuropathy that is getting worse. I have tried Tens socks, acupuncture, gabapentin and hemp oil in a balm form. I was recently taken off from anastrazole to see if that helps. My question is if anyone has any other suggestions that have worked for them since I really want to continue on some type of medication for reacurrence.

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@msovercomer : While doing research on non-invasive, non-drug treatments for CIPN (chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy) I came upon a note on the Mayo Clinic regarding Caltrane (Scrambler) Treatment Therapy for neuropathic pain. There are only 125 providers around the country, but both Mayo and Johns Hopkins find it promising. I have my first appointment on Monday. (For most, it is ten days of treatment over two weeks.) Some insurance companies reimburse for it... some don't. You may want to check out the Caltranett.com website which also lists the providers. If you don't have problems with a pharmaceutical approach, some people respond well to Cymbalta.

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Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Oct 26, 2018
In reply to @elizm "@msovercomer : While doing research on non-invasive, non-drug treatments for CIPN (chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy) I came..." + (show)
@elizm

@msovercomer : While doing research on non-invasive, non-drug treatments for CIPN (chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy) I came upon a note on the Mayo Clinic regarding Caltrane (Scrambler) Treatment Therapy for neuropathic pain. There are only 125 providers around the country, but both Mayo and Johns Hopkins find it promising. I have my first appointment on Monday. (For most, it is ten days of treatment over two weeks.) Some insurance companies reimburse for it... some don't. You may want to check out the Caltranett.com website which also lists the providers. If you don't have problems with a pharmaceutical approach, some people respond well to Cymbalta.

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Do you have the name right? I tried to search on it and did find something called Calmare scrambler. Is that what your talking about?

Laurie

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1 reply
djanthony | @djanthony | Oct 26, 2018

I have triple-negative breast cancer and medications are ineffective against it. However, I was wondering if you have had chemotherapy as I suffer terribly from Neuropathy caused by chemo, according to my Oncologists and Neurologist. BTW, my Neurologist has been very helpful in prescribing medication (Neurontin) and procedures to lessen the severity of Neuropathy. Hope this may help you in some small way.

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elizm | @elizm | Oct 26, 2018
In reply to @roch "Do you have the name right? I tried to search on it and did find something..." + (show)
@roch

Do you have the name right? I tried to search on it and did find something called Calmare scrambler. Is that what your talking about?

Laurie

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@roch @djanthony @msovercomer Thank you, Roch! Yes, Calmare... Calmarett.com is the place. Chemo-brain strikes again. I apologize.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 26, 2018
In reply to @elizm "@roch @djanthony @msovercomer Thank you, Roch! Yes, Calmare... Calmarett.com is the place. Chemo-brain strikes again. I..." + (show)
@elizm

@roch @djanthony @msovercomer Thank you, Roch! Yes, Calmare... Calmarett.com is the place. Chemo-brain strikes again. I apologize.

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I think this may be the story on Sharing Mayo Clinic that you read, @elizm
- Breaking Away From Pain With the Help of ‘The Scrambler’ https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2015/02/19/breaking-away-from-the-pain-with-the-help-of-the-scrambler/

Karen had severe peripheral neuropathy, a side effect of breast cancer treatment she received in 2002, that left her with constant burning, tingling, numbness and pain in both her feet.

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cancersucks | @cancersucks | Feb 15, 2019
In reply to @elizm "Hi, Mat71. To my knowledge, AIs are not what caused your neuropathy. If you had chemo..." + (show)
@elizm

Hi, Mat71. To my knowledge, AIs are not what caused your neuropathy. If you had chemo before starting on an AI, especially if you were treated with a taxane (like Taxol), it can cause neuropathy. AIs simply reduce circulating estrogen. They can give you insomnia, bone thinning, weight gain (or loss), dizziness, nausea, etc. (or not)... but not nerve damage.

You say that you are taking a B-Complex. As supplements are not regulated, you never can be sure if the dosage is accurate. Get your B-6 blood level checked regularly as too much circulating B-6 can cause nerve damage, even though B vitamins are water soluble. There are also perhaps 6-8 other underlying causes for neuropathy for which your doctor can test you (like for diabetes.

Best of luck in solving this miserable neuropathy.

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Anastrazole caused mine after 2 months , one of the side effects I was having . I did not have chemo . I stoped taking the medicine per Dr and it is slowly getting better . I was told after to take b100 to help the nerve damage . I have also suffered sever joint pain ect

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deluga | @deluga | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @theda "I am on daily Letrozole 2.5 mg, & have the following side effects: Neuropathy in my..." + (show)
@theda

I am on daily Letrozole 2.5 mg, & have the following side effects: Neuropathy in my feet, tingling in hands/fingers, weight gain, & hair loss. Have been on this Med for 6 years.

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I already had peripheral neuropathy. I was put on 2.5mg Letrozole and stopped in 3 days due to worsening of neuropathy of feet, new symptoms of neuropathy - pain in earlobes and jaw and numbness of neck, new tingling and pain in hands/fingers. After 5 days off Letrozole, I still have these symptoms.

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picadilly | @picadilly | Sep 6, 2022
In reply to @theda "I am on daily Letrozole 2.5 mg, & have the following side effects: Neuropathy in my..." + (show)
@theda

I am on daily Letrozole 2.5 mg, & have the following side effects: Neuropathy in my feet, tingling in hands/fingers, weight gain, & hair loss. Have been on this Med for 6 years.

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I have only been on Letrozole for 2 months and the neuropathy in my feet is so bad I have to stop taking it. So far I’ve tried Arimdex, same thing. I tried Exemestane and it crippled me 6 hrs after 1 dose. I get it to the point of not worth taking the drug!

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2 replies
char81 | @char81 | Sep 7, 2022

Hello friends
After almost 2 years of Letrozole and then Exemestane… I experienced toxicity that was considered “grade 2”. Main issue was joint pain & neuropathy. I’m now on week 3 of Tamoxifen, joint pain is improving. I find I simply have to keep moving - a lot! Yoga and walking are my go to exercises and I’ve now added weights.

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