Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Symptoms, Safety, and Recovery

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Have burning, electric shocks, tingling or numbness after chemo? Learn why and how to manage it.  https://bit.ly/3Nra074

We dive into a common but often overlooked side effect of chemotherapy: chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Up to 40% of cancer survivors who receive certain chemotherapy drugs experience tingling, numbness, pain, or weakness in their hands and feet. 

We’ll unpack which drugs are most likely to cause CIPN, why it happens, what symptoms to watch for, and how to manage or even improve function over time.

From medications to physical and occupational therapy, balance training, and lifestyle strategies, this episode offers evidence-based insights to help cancer survivors and caregivers better understand and cope with CIPN.

In this Episode:

• 00:00 - Intro: Understanding Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
• 02:07 - Marge Simpson and Santa's Little Helper's Visit to "The Pitt" ED
• 05:33 - What is Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
• 06:29 -  Why Chemo Causes Pins and Needles (The Science of Nerve Damage) 
• 09:11 - Is there Hope of Recovering from CIPN? Treatment Options and Lifestyle Considerations
• 13:40 - The Lived Experience of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
• 20:54 - Outro

Resources: 

• Download our CIPN Symptoms & Safety Infographic Here 
• S5E34: How to Avoid Falls, the Leading Cause of Death for Older Adults (Discusses many of the fall mitigation steps that can help someone with peripheral neuropathy)
• S6E5: Understanding Cancer Treatment Options: Chemotherapy
• S1E03: What is Palliative Care? (Learn how palliative care envelops symptom management along a treatment path, such as chemotherapy side effects.)
• S4E37: A Family’s Perspective on Palliative Care – with Connie Baker
• S5E25: The Important Role of the Microbiome to Your Health and Immune Function (Good nutrition is important to neuron regeneration)
• S5E4: Inflammation: What it is, How It Causes Disease, and How You Can Decrease It
• All Cancer Topics (Everything You Wanted to Know About Cancer, But Didn’t Have Anyone to Ask)

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