Chemo-induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Breast Cancer

It is such a hard decision, KK57. Keep in mind that the dosage of Taxotere is based on numbers - averages of all patients. But for you, the optimal dosage may be too toxic. You mustn't think that by reducing or eliminating Taxotere for the final round means that you're not getting the optimal dosage. It just means they are making an adjustment that's right for you - enough chemo to kill the cancer cells and not too much that the toxicity leads to lower quality of life. I encourage you to have an honest and open conversation with your oncologist and express your fears and concerns.

Weird,but someone told me that chemo is now used for a treatment for extreme and painful neuropathy. Could this be true?

For any of you who are Mayo Clinic patients, you may be interested in this research study that @mugs24cancer made me aware of.

– Topical Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05388058

Sorry about your neuropathy. Mine is chemo-induced neuropathy, it started before I was done with chemo and nurse n doctor kept telling me it would go away once I was done with treatment. Unfortunately, when they started me on the infusions to keep cancer away neuropathy only got worse. I had 2 treatments and then asked to lower dose which we did twice. After the second time I said I don’t want anymore, my symptoms kept getting worse, so we stopped. I no longer take anything. After surgery and radiation were done symptoms were no different. Finally started gabapentin, tried 300 mg bid but could not tolerate it so lowered to once a day which I can tolerate. I stopped for awhile due to illness they could not tell me what it was, I think I got Covid and not diagnosed so I suffered from after effects from that. I started back on gabapentin because neuropathy was getting worse, so am hoping it helps in the long run. Doctors telling me it would go away after treatment was done were wrong. Good luck to you.

Anyone had treatment for chemo-induced chemotherapy and by who?
Had chemo, surgery and radiation for breast cancer. Neuropathy started before chemo was finished. Doctors kept
telling me it would go away and that there was no treatment for it. I finished all treatment November, 2022 and still have neuropathy. Walking helped some but now my left foot is numb again with tingling in fingers and toes. Anyone had treatment for chemo-induced neuropathy that helped?

My neuropathy was caused by chemotherapy. It does not go away, but hopefully you can work to make it more tolerable and take medication for it. I exercise, stretch, yoga, and try to eat healthy. I have used cold laser therapy and shock wave therapy which lessened the degree of pain. There are several supplements, and or supplement regimens, that many people take and these regimens work for them. There are so many things to read, @johnbishop provides so many helpful links.
One of my chemo nurses told me that my neuropathy was not caused by chemotherapy. So. I never considered her a good source of health or any other information after that answer.

Hi Pat,
I moved your question about treatment for chemo-induce neuropathy to this existing discussion related to breast cancer.
- Chemo-induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Breast Cancer: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-11/

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: What helps get rid of it?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chemotherapy-induced-neuropathy/
- Baclofen for Chemo-induced Peripheral Neuropathy? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/baclofen-users/
- Need hope: Neuropathy from chemo https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/needshope/

I'm sorry to hear that the neuropathy has not yet subsided. Does it feel like it is getting worse or staying the same?

I'm not sure if this is what you have, but some of this information may be helpful

I still have neuropathy in my feet that has moved up into my legs. My chemo treatments were finished in May of 2019. So far, I have not been treated by a neurologist and my GP more or less said there is nothing much out there to help it. I am trying a CBD/THC cream at the moment which does seem to calm my feet down.

Mine has been a steady mild worsening for the last 19 years after taking TAC for breast cancer. About 7 years ago my doctor put me on low dose gabapentin at night. That dose has slowly been increased to 900 mg now. He says I can take 900 mg three times a day but I would sleep 24/7 . It does help a lot, I didn’t realize how much until I didn’t take it for a few weeks while caring for a relative last December.
I also put my feet on an ice pack a few times per day for 15 minutes. This just feels so good. 😂
@jfn can you tell us about cold laser therapy and shock wave therapy?