carbotaxol - numbness in feet.

[acoy56]

I have finished my course of carbotaxol chemotherapy for ovarian cancer 6 weeks ago. my feet still remain numb and im just wondering if this is common and how long it might last?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
Yes it is very common. there is the rule of thirds for foot numbness from chemo: 30 percent will resolve, 30 percent will stay the same, 30 percent will have worsening of symptoms.
I personal experience is that it takes about 2 years to go away.

Remedies that have been tired include:

-acupuncture
-neurontin
-elavil
-b comp ex vitamins

best wishes

[Silver]

Hi,  just to let you know that this is a common side effect of this  chemo , i had the same chemo and finished 18 months ago but still have slight numbness in my feet . It is better than it was though and it usually eases with time . Take care - Silver

[spacewoman]

Neuropathy from Chemo can be prevented in some people by simply taking glutamine night before and after some chemo drugs.  My sister has had Ovarian cancer for 7 years and has lived on maintanence chemo cisplatin and gemzar the last year.  She does not have neuropathy.  She always takes the glutamine.  She has had taxol , doxirubicin, carboplatin until she became alergic (allergic) to it, and cisplatin and gemzar.