Forum Discussion

angg66's avatar
angg66
Member
8 years ago

Neuropathy while on Eribulin

Hi all,

I've had mets in the the bones & liver for a few years now. Over the last 3 months I've been doing chemo (Eribulin). The side effects have been ok. But over the last few weeks I've noticed some numbness of my feet. It was usually when I rest and put my feet up. But today I woke up with numbness in my right calf muscle and some numbness in my right arm too. it feels like the numbness is travelling up my legs and now my arm. I know it is neuropathy as it is one of the common side effects of Eribulin. So what happens if this neuropathy gets worse? Do they stop my chemo indefinately or permanently? Anyone had the same experience?

Thanks
Ange
chemotherapy
side-effects
  • angg66's avatar
    angg66
    Member
    8 years ago
    Thank you everyone for your responses. I went to do chemo today & when I mentioned that the numbness in my legs & arms is getting worse the nurses called the locum oncologist (as mine is away on a conference). The locum wasn't willing to make a call regarding reducing the chemo dose so I was sent home without doing chemo. Now I have to wait until Tuesday next werk to see my oncologist. The joys of cancer & chemo! What is worse - the disease or the treatment?? 
  • Tennille's avatar
    Tennille
    Member
    8 years ago
    I am also on Eribulin. I hope to stay on it as long as I can as I have the side effects so easy to manage. I do have a bit of neuropathy not bad but my legs feel numb to touch. My onc said they only stop if you start falling over and have balance issues. I am in Perth and I am sure different oncs have different opinions.
  • Jlb's avatar
    Jlb
    Member
    8 years ago
    I was on Eribulin for 10 months. I was feeling great. The lesions in my liver reduced by a third in size each 3 months and the lesions in my lungs disappeared. I was feeling healthy with no pain and plenty of energy.

    Neuropathy in my feet was slowly progressing up my legs so the dose was dropped by 10% for one round and another 25% for the next 2 rounds. I did not think I was that bad but was advised I could end up in a wheel chair with rapid neuropathy progrssion.

    Unfortunately my scan last week showed significant progression of the cancer in the liver and the images from my bone scan today do not look good.

    There are only 2 chemos left. One causes neuropathy and one causes heart damage which I already have. 

    I was diagnosed in 2008 with metastisis in 2012. Will see my oncologist in 2 days to see where to from here.

    Hopefully there is another chemo out there that is effective like Eribulin without the neuropathy.

    I empathise with your concerns.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    8 years ago
    I had peripheral neuropathy, so only in hands and feet not elsewhere. My oncologist was reluctant to stop chemo ( I was two thirds through the course) but agreed to monitor on a week by week basis. But that may not help if you are on a long course of treatment. I would suggest talking to your oncologist soon and getting further advice. The worry can be as bad as the actual impact.