We learn together. It's amazing what you are not told upfront. This team is amazing because we share so much info and help each other.
August 1
I didn’t know this either!
July 31
Wow, so much I didn’t know and I just had a ck up w/ my Oc. He didn’t even mention that this could have happened or be related to the Chemo/Radiation Therapy.
This sucks really bad in my opinion and is a little hurtful! However I will get through this as well, Gods got me for sure.
July 30
Yes, both chemotherapy and radiation can potentially lead to spine-related issues down the road. It's a really important question to ask, and here's what's known:
Chemotherapy can cause a condition called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is nerve damage that can affect the lower back and put strain Show Full Answer
Yes, both chemotherapy and radiation can potentially lead to spine-related issues down the road. It's a really important question to ask, and here's what's known:
Chemotherapy can cause a condition called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is nerve damage that can affect the lower back and put strain on the sciatic nerve. This can result in:
- Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
- Shooting or burning pain down the legs
- Muscle weakness and balance problems
- Sciatica-like symptoms
One MyBCTeam member shared, "My sciatic pain started midway through my first six chemo treatments and has now progressed to the point where I can hardly function." Radiation therapy can also contribute to nerve damage (neuropathy) and muscle pain over time, which may affect the spine area.
It's also worth knowing that back or spine pain can sometimes be linked to metastatic breast cancer spreading to the bones, so any new or worsening back pain should always be reported to your oncology team promptly.
Don't hesitate to bring up any spine-related symptoms with your healthcare provider — the sooner they know, the sooner they can help manage it.
July 30
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