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Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is damage to the nerves in the extremities (non-brain).  In lymphoma patients this is usually in the hands and or feet.  Neuropathy can be caused by radiation or chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a common cause of PN in lymphoma patients and survivors.  The drugs which tend to cause the most damage are vinblastine (the "V" in ABVD chemotherapy used for Hodgkin's Disease) and vincristine (used in some regimes for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma like the "O" in CHOP).  Both these drugs are of the vinca alkaloid family (derived from the periwinkle plant Catharantus roseus). 

Radiation therapy can also cause neuropathy. These can take the form of brachial plexopathy (arm/shoulder neuropathy), cervical plexopathy (neck), and lumbar-sacral plexopathy (lower back and legs).

If diabetes is involved, then there is a condition called diabetic neuropathy.

Often a fair percentage of chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced neuropathy is temporary - the nerves recover or regenerate in a matter of weeks.   Some neuropathy may be permanent or increase after time (Late Effects)..

Books (also see left):
 

• Numb Toes and Aching Soles: Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy by John Senneff, 1999.  The first and best authoritative book on helping people deal with peripheral neuropathy.  Available in paperback at a discount and in hardback.

• Numb Toes and Other Woes is the second in a series of PN books that is out by MedPress Online.

• Nutrients for Neuropathy is the third book in the series and has helpful information

• The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Peripheral Neuropathy: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age by Icon Health Publications may be the right book for those who are not interested in the above books (different writing style).  The description on Amazon is quite good.

Reference Links:

• Info on Common Lymphoma Chemotherapy Drugs
• The Neuropathy Association is dedicated to help those with peripheral neuropathy (PN) in the US and the Neuropathy Trust helps those in the UK.
• Good NINDS article on Peripheral Neuropathy (updated)
• The NCI dictionary has definitions for
  • vinca alkaloid
  • vinblastine
  • vincristine
• NLM has good monographs (new source)
  • vinblastine and
  • vincristine
• Diabetic Neuropathy (new!)
• Neuropathy in AIDS

For more information on Adult Lymphomas:

• Adult Hodgkin's Disease Chemotherapy
• Adult Non-Hodgkin's Disease Chemotherapy

For more information on Childhood Lymphomas

• Childhood Hodgkin's Disease Chemotherapy
• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Chemotherapy

Other pages of interest:

• After Lymphoma
• The Lymphoma Information Network

This page is a work in progress - if you have more complete information, references, or other information please contact the author. The author is not in the medical field and does not warrant the correctness of the material on this page or the sites linked - please take online information and consult with your own medical team to make informed decisions.

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Update November 19, 2005