Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is an adverse side effect of Chemotherapy drugs and treatments. Chemotherapy and other types of cancer treatments can cause damage to healthy peripheral nerves in the body responsible for controlling sensory (sensations) and motor functions (movements) of your feet, legs, arms and hands and organs functions, such as, bladder and bowel control resulting in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a mostly sensory neuropathy that may be combined with motor and autonomic functional changes with various degrees of intensity and duration. Chemotherapy can cause degeneration of peripheral sensory and motor nerves causing a variety of symptoms and functional loss.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a major problem for cancer patients and cancer survivors due to its high prevalence among people treated with Chemotherapy.

What are the risks for developing Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN ?

Some types of chemotherapy drugs are a higher risk to cause neuropathy Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

The most common chemotherapy nerve damaging drugs causing 

chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) are platinum drugs (oxaliplatin), taxanes (docetaxel), epothilones (ixabepilone), immunomodulatory drugs (thalidomide), vinca alkaloids (vincristine) and proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib).

Other chemotherapy drugs can also cause

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
The risk of developing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) increases with larger doses, multiple treatment courses, and drug combinations used in chemotherapy.

Patients who are older or have diabetes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, history of peripheral neuropathy are more likely to develop Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

How Common is Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN ?

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) rates vary anywhere from 19% to more than 85%. A recent study found that 68% will develop Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

The prevalence of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is dependent on the type, amount and/or combination of chemotherapy drugs used during cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) risk rates by drug type/class:

• Platinum drugs (70–100%)
• Taxanes (11–87%)
• Thalidomide (20–60%),
• Ixabepilone (60–65%)

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) can develop from a single chemotherapy treatment or as a result of multiple chemotherapy treatments over time. Chemotherapy drugs can  damage nerve structures causing different types of neuropathies. The most common are large and small fibre, cranial, autonomic, sensory and/or motor, demyelinating and axonal.

What are the Symptoms of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN symptoms typically appear weeks or months after the completion of chemotherapy, with the severity dependent on type of chemotherapy and the number of treatments.

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN usually begins in the toes or fingers and progresses to the feet, legs, hands and arms. Symptoms of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN usually occur on both sides of the body. Sensory symptoms usually develop first in the feet and hands and commonly present as a “glove and stocking” feeling.

Dependent on the nerves affected Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) common symptoms may include:

Chemotherapy drugs that affect the sensory nerves typically experience  sensations, such as, numbness, pins and needles, sharp or burning pain and balance issues.
Chemotherapy that affects the motor nerves may experience weakness of the muscles in the feet, legs, arms and hands.
Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN Symptoms can develop within hours to days after chemotherapy and can increase with additional chemotherapy treatments.

How does Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

Affect Function?

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN causing damage to the  sensory and motor functions of the peripheral nerves resulting in numbness, tingling, pins and needles, balance difficulties and muscle weakness  increases the risk of falls. These symptoms often lead to inactivity leading decrease in muscle strength and size.

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN can make activities of daily living, such as cooking, washing dishes, sleeping and social interactions difficult to perform due to the sensory and motor peripheral nerve dysfunction and damage.

Does induced neuropathy Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) get worse over time?

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy CIPN can be very debilitating and affect the ability to function or feel good mentally, physically, and socially. Many cases are not usually permanent and improve after the chemotherapy treatment is completed.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) can take a few months for symptoms to improve but some become permanent without proper treatment. Pain and sensory abnormalities may continue for years after the completion of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) patients may have stopped the cancer but suffer from debilitating peripheral neuropathy induced by cancer treatments.

How is Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) diagnosed?

A consultation will be performed to understand your individual symptoms and medical history, comprehensive physical and neurological examination and if necessary order additional advanced testing to help diagnose Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

Dr. Alfonso will perform a specialized

comprehensive Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) evaluation to confirm your diagnosis and determine the proper treatment needed in your individual case. A doctor can usually Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) by performing a physical exam and analyzing the results with your symptoms and medical history.

During your Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) physical and neurologic examination, Dr. Alfonso will analyze your motor and sensory functions. He will utilize multiple tests for muscle strength, size, reflexes, coordination and balance. The doctor will test your ability to feel and differentiate (vibrations, hot, cold, sharp, dull, light touch). Orthopedic testing and any specific x-rays will also be performed if needed to determine if you have a compression type of neuropathy in combination of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

After your exam Dr. Alfonso will thoroughly study your results, determine if you are a good candidate for treatment and develop your treatment plan and recommendations.

How is Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) Treated ?

Dr.  Alfonso‘s Neuropathy Treatment Protocol is a highly successful drug-free, non surgical, safe, and effective treatment that has successfully helped many patients who suffer from Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

Please click on the treatment link and visit our Treatment page to learn more about the Dr. Alfonso Neuropathy Treatment Protocol and our unique therapies for rehabilitating damaged peripheral nerves.