Tingling & Burning Hands and Feet

Some chemotherapy medicines can affect the peripheral nerves, the long nerves that carry sensation to and from your hands and feet. This is called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN.

It is common. Studies report that up to 68% of patients have nerve-related discomfort in the first month after chemotherapy. It is most often linked to taxanes (such as paclitaxel and docetaxel), platinum medicines (such as oxaliplatin and cisplatin), vinca alkaloids and bortezomib.

Symptoms can begin within days or weeks of starting treatment and tend to build with each cycle. They usually start in the fingertips and toes and may spread in a glove-and-stocking pattern.

For many people symptoms ease in the months after treatment ends. For some they last longer, which is why reporting them early matters.

• Tingling, or pins and needles
• Burning, or a feeling of heat
• Numbness, or feeling as if you are wearing gloves or socks
• Sensitivity to touch or temperature. With oxaliplatin, cold can trigger symptoms
• Difficulty with buttons, writing, or feeling the ground when you walk

Hands and feet are often dry at the same time, which adds to the discomfort.

• Tell your oncologist early. They can adjust your treatment or prescribe medicines for painful neuropathy. Do not wait for it to become severe.
• Protect hands and feet. Wear well-fitting shoes, and use gloves for washing up and gardening.
• Test water temperature with your elbow, not with your hands or feet.
• Check your feet daily for cuts or blisters you may not feel.
• Keep floors clear and use a night light to reduce the risk of falls.
• Keep skin moisturised. Dry, cracked skin adds to discomfort.
• If cold triggers your symptoms, keep hands and feet warm and avoid cold drinks and cold surfaces.

CIPN Relief Cream is a cosmetic comfort cream for hands and feet. Menthol, menthyl lactate and camphor give a cooling sensation within about a minute, while niacinamide, panthenol, squalane and ectoin care for dry, sensitive skin. It is non-drug, NSAID-free and capsaicin-free.

It is designed for comfort. It does not treat nerve damage and is not a substitute for the care your oncologist provides.