Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of several different chemotherapy regimens and as a short or long-term side effect it can be remarkably painful.

Though I do not suffer from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, I do manage several side effects of my conventional cancer therapies and I have had weekly acupuncture treatments for two years now.

So when I come across a study that examines a side effects and therapy that can affect many, many myeloma survivors, I just at the change to write about it.

What is acupuncture? How does it work?

What side effects from cancer treatment are treated with acupuncture?

1. Nausea and Vomiting

Acupuncture, particularly at the P6 (Pericardium 6) point on the wrist, is well-documented for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

2. Fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue, a common and debilitating side effect, may be alleviated through regular acupuncture sessions.

3. Pain

Acupuncture is used to manage various types of pain, including neuropathic pain from chemotherapy, surgical pain, and pain from tumor pressure.

4. Hot Flashes

Hormonal therapies for breast or prostate cancer often cause hot flashes. Acupuncture has been shown to help reduce their severity and frequency.

5. Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet) may improve with acupuncture.

6. Stress and Anxiety

Acupuncture promotes relaxation and can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

7. Sleep Disturbances

Insomnia and other sleep issues, often worsened by stress and treatment, may be improved by acupuncture.

8. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancers often experience dry mouth, which acupuncture may help alleviate.

9. Digestive Issues

Diarrhea, constipation, and other gastrointestinal side effects from treatment may be managed with acupuncture.

10. Lymphedema

Acupuncture may provide some relief for swelling and discomfort caused by lymphedema, especially after lymph node removal.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a serious side effect. Conventional oncology offers no therapies that work consistently.

Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with questions about any treatment related side effects.

Thank you,

David Emerson

MM Survivor
MM Cancer Coach
Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Effectiveness Association Between Acupuncture Temporal Parameters and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patients: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the commonly reported symptoms impacting cancer survivors. This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments for CIPN.

Methods: We searched six databases from their inception to August 2024 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcomes were pain scores. Secondary outcomes were quality of life including FACT/GOG-Ntx and EORTC QLQ-C30. The robust error meta-regression (REMR) method was used to evaluate the dose-response relationship across treatment parameters, including number of sessions, frequency, and duration.

Results: In total, 11 RCTs featuring 740 participants were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the primary analysis achieved a significant reduction in pain scores, with a standardized mean difference of [SMD= -1.23, 95% CI = (-2.22, -0.24); P < 0.01; I² = 95%], improvement quality of life including FACT/GOG-Ntx [SMD = 0.95, 95% CI = (0.02, 1.88); P < 0.01; I² = 93%] and EORTC QLQ-C30 [SMD = 0.36, 95% CI = (0.03, 0.68); P = 0.14; I² = 46%].

The nonlinear dose-response analysis suggests that pain improvement achieves the MCID at 16 treatment sessions, over 8 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week.

Furthermore, analysis of the treatment duration chart shows that acupuncture maintains therapeutic effects during the follow-up period. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings…”

Updates in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

“Introduction-

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a serious potential side effect of treatment with a number of chemotherapeutic agents, including taxanes, platinum-based compounds, vinca alkaloids, epothilones, and bortezomib, and CIPN affects between 30 to 40% of patients treated with these agents [1, 2]. Symptoms of CIPN result from damage to dorsal root ganglion neurons or their axons, leading to physical findings of a sensory peripheral neuropathy including sensory loss, paresthesia, ataxia, and allodynia [2, 3]. Nerve conduction studies in patients with CIPN show that both small and large motor and sensory nerve fibers undergo axonal degeneration, leading to these often debilitating symptoms [4]…

Cryotherapy and compression therapy

Cryotherapy involves cooling the skin surface in an attempt to limit local effects of chemotherapy. This can involve limb-induced hypothermia or cooling gloves or socks, and it is often combined with compression therapy, a process that utilizes elastic stockings or surgical gloves to apply diffuse pressure to the skin surface [82].

Used for the prevention of CIPN, prophylactic cryotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of dose reduction of taxane-based chemotherapy [83]. Additional studies have sought to determine its ability to prevent CIPN symptoms.

Compression therapy can be used with or without cryotherapy for prevention of CIPN, although it is much less expensive than cryotherapy when used alone. Prospective and phase II trials have shown the benefit of cryotherapy in preventing peripheral neuropathy in patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy [84, 85], although it should be noted that studies of cryotherapy and compression therapy showed that compression therapy alone appears to be just as effective as cryotherapy [82].

All of these studies were limited by sample size and warrant further investigation with multi-institution, randomized controlled trials in the future. These studies are currently under development…”

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