Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or disease that impacts a diverse sensory system made of receptors and processing sensors that produce sensations such as touch, temperature, body position, and pain. Some of the drugs in chemotherapy treatments can damage nerves leading to Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain. Due to severe symptoms, cancer patients with neuropathic pain may not be able to tolerate optimal doses of chemotherapy needed to save or prolong their lives.

Learn more about Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain here.

All types of neuropathic pain can be extremely difficult to treat. As a result, it is important to prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic pain when possible. Although study results are mixed, medical professionals often use one or more methods to reduce the risk of cancer patients experiencing Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

How do you prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain?

Because chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells by different mechanisms, and the cause of nerve damage differs, physicians use a variety of methods to prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain:

• Vitamin E: This antioxidant may protect nerves from the damage caused by specific chemotherapy drugs.
• Anti-convulsants: Anti-seizure medication is under review to determine its effectiveness in preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.
• Calcium and Magnesium: One study has revealed that calcium and magnesium infusions before and after the administration of specific chemotherapy drugs could limit or prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.
• Other Vitamins and Substances: Other vitamins and substances are being studied to determine if they can be used to protect nerves from damage caused by chemotherapy.

Can you lower the risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain?

Some strategies have been revealed to reduce the risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

• Administering smaller doses of chemotherapy drugs three times a week instead of one large dose may reduce side-effects.
• Slower administration of drugs over a six-hour period, rather than one-hour period, may lower the risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.
• Reducing chemotherapy drug dosages.
• Administering chemotherapy drugs as a non-stop infusion over several days.
• Stop-and-go method of administering chemotherapy drugs until a certain dosage is reached, or until Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic pain limits are reached.

Because Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain interferes greatly with the ability to treat and eliminate cancer cells in the body, much more research must be done to discover effective ways to prevent and treat the symptoms.  Learn more about Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain here.

JBR Clinical Research is conducting a study of an investigational medication for Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

Participants 18 and older with Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain who are selected for the study will receive a no-cost investigational pain medication, healthcare related to the study, and compensation up to $700 for time and travel.

You can apply for the Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain study here.