Friday 6 November 2009

Choosing Good Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer And Neuropathy


Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage, usually peripheral nerves in the hands, feet, hands and feet. The chemotherapeutic agents commonly used to treat breast cancer are toxic to nerve cells healthy and cancerous cells. If the nerves are starting to stop working, the result is numbness, weakness, pain and decreased sense of touch.

Loss of sensation in hands and feet can be difficult to get small objects and cause clumsiness and difficulty walking. Some people with nerve damage first sign of  tingling  feeling, like when an arm or leg falls asleep. Damage to nerves can also cause constipation and bladder problems.

Common chemotherapy drugs to treat breast cancer, such as paclitaxel (Taxol) with vinorelbine (Navelbine), capecitabine (Xeloda) and other investments for nerves, especially the hands, feet, hands, feet and scratches. Larger or more frequent doses of chemotherapy drugs, most likely will lead neuropathy.

Radiation can cause also neuropathy, and diseases such as diabetes can cause kidney problems, nerve damage and malnutrition. For some people, the cancer may be the very cause of the neuropathy.
The doctors can not do much to prevent neuropathy from developing countries, but drug amifostine (Ethyol), has been shown to damage the nerves and tissues of the patient before starting chemotherapy. If possible, before chemotherapy, talk to your doctor about chemotherapy drugs, it plans to use and if we can expect a amifostine neuropathy in demand, too.
Some small previous studies have shown that the minerals calcium and magnesium by intravenous hydration during chemotherapy may help prevent neuropathy. It is also interesting to talk with your doctor beforehand.

If you - or someone you care - numbness or tingling, tell your doctor that tests for assessing the strength of feeling in hands, feet, hands and feet of management. The doctor may test your reflexes also to see if it affects the muscles.

It is important to neuropathy as soon as possible, because the loss of sensation can be difficult to perform certain tasks, as can be seen unbuttoning clothing stuck to the pots and pans, and pipe. It is scary and risky, not leaking from a tank hot water or tripping and falling.

If someone in support begins to lose the feeling in hands and feet as a result of nerve damage is sensitive to minor injuries and infections may go unnoticed. You should avoid using knives, scissors and other sharp objects whenever possible. Also, make sure the claws and feet trimmed regularly, because the loss of sensation, are easy to scratch or injured.

If your mother you care, make for a manicure and pedicure, manicure, but tell them not to avoid cutting skin infections.
At home, watching the thermostat, that the ends of hot and cold increases cause pain in some people with neuropathy.
 During a conversation with the doctor about the symptoms of nerve damage as possible. Fortunately, the doctor has a long list of drugs that may try, so if you do not work, do not hesitate to ask one another.

In addition, a topical cream of pepper extract (capsaicin) works well with pain in hands and feet to relieve. Some patients do not like because it causes a burning sensation on the skin, but this feeling will disappear when used regularly there.

Chemotherapy can cause the body vitamin B and magnesium, and these defects can cause neuropathy. To identify patients with breast cancer, it helps to take a combination of vitamin B with plenty of folic acid and magnesium supplement. Some cancer patients found that high doses of glutamine in powder form also help.

Neuropathy can be treated with medication. The doctor may first prescribe antidepressants or anticonvulsants, according to the symptoms. Tingling and numbness are often a good antidepressant, while responding Sharp, throbbing pain most anticonvulsants.

Although many patients with breast cancer feel neuropathy causes less mobile sport is one of the best ways to prevent and treat the neuropathy, because the blood of the extremities. Exercise effective for people with nerve damage are walking and swimming. During the course, but be sure to choose sturdy and comfortable shoes that fit well.

Neuropathy can cause great pain. If you or someone you feel pain in general, consult your doctor about prescribing opioid analgesics, may make the current day activities much easier to bear. Opioids can be administered in combination with tricyclic antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs.
Numbness lidocaine patches reduced pain in some areas.

Many cancer patients found that acupuncture is an effective means to control the pain of neuropathy. Doctors differ in their attitudes towards these alternative therapies, but there is a growing acceptance of acupuncture for pain relief in many major cancer centers. While the doctor actively opposed the use of acupuncture is worth trying.

In most cases, the neuropathy caused by chemotherapy disappear with time. However, the long-term nerve damage often results. If mobility is a problem, ask your doctor, what services are available. Physiotherapy can help patients back strength and flexibility, while occupational therapy can help to get patients, strategies for everyday tasks such as dressing and preparing meals.

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