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I have been on Doxil for 14 Months have developed Peripheral Neuropathy in the feet any info would be helpful

A MyBCTeam Subscriber asked a question 💭
April 30
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I looked this medication up on drugs.com and it stated, "This medicine may cause hand-foot syndrome. Check with your doctor right away if you have tingling or burning, redness, swelling, blistering, or small sores on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet." The website also said common side effects include "numbness, pain, tingling, or unusual sensations in the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet" so it does cause neuropathy like symptoms. Please contact your doctor and let them know that you are experiencing the issues you mentioned in your post.

Doxil is also known as Doxorubicin. It is a chemotherapy medication and neuropathy is a common side effect. I was given this particular chemo the second time I underwent chemotherapy and it make my pre-existing neuropathy that developed the first time I was taking chemo get worse after each dose I was given of the Doxorubicin. I've had 5 different types of chemos now and all of them have contributed to my neuropathy.

May 1 (edited)
MyBCTeam

Developing peripheral neuropathy (PN) in the feet after extended chemotherapy treatment is unfortunately quite common. It can feel like numbness, tingling, burning, or "pins and needles" — and it's important to take it seriously. Beyond the discomfort itself, PN in the feet can affect balance and mobility, which raises the Show Full Answer

Developing peripheral neuropathy (PN) in the feet after extended chemotherapy treatment is unfortunately quite common. It can feel like numbness, tingling, burning, or "pins and needles" — and it's important to take it seriously. Beyond the discomfort itself, PN in the feet can affect balance and mobility, which raises the risk of falls. It's really important to let your oncology team know about these symptoms right away, if you haven't already, so they can help prevent the neuropathy from getting worse or becoming permanent. There are several ways doctors may help manage peripheral neuropathy. Here are some options that may be discussed with your care team:

- Medications like pain relievers (NSAIDs), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., gabapentin), or antidepressants (e.g., duloxetine)
- Topical treatments like lidocaine or capsaicin patches or creams
- Dose adjustments to your current treatment
- Physical therapy and exercise to help with balance and mobility
- Acupuncture or massage as complementary options Every situation is different, so working closely with your oncology team to find the right combination of approaches for you is the best path forward. You're not alone in dealing with this — many MyBCTeam members have navigated the same challenge. 💙

April 30

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