Chemo
Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
Chemotherapy
drugs are poisons that attack fast growing cells
(rapidly dividing cells).. The
theory behind using these toxins is that it will
destroy the fast growing cancer cells before it does
too much damage to normal cells.
Hair is a quickly
dividing, fast
growing cell and the reason that hair loss is a common
side effect of chemotherapy.
Bone marrow produces
fast growing cells. Normally, when blood cells wear
out in the body, they are replaced by new ones from
the bone marrow. When the chemotherapy drugs
damage these fast growing cells, it can
cause a low blood count which can result in other side
effects such as fatigue, headaches, and chills.
Nerve damage
The nervous system is the system that transmits
information between the central nervous system (brain
and spinal cord) and the rest of the body. It is
designed to transmit feeling such as touch and
temperature. It delivers messages from
sight, it delivers messages to the muscles to move.
Chemotherapy is hardest on the nervous system due
to the fact that nerve cells are more sensitive than
other cells.
Nerve
cells are more sensitive to these toxins then other
cells and thus they are often affected
and can be damaged easily. This is the
also reason for
nerve damage to the brain, also known as "chemo
fog" or "chemo-brain", and the
peripheral neuropathy side effects of chemotherapy
treatment.
After
exposure to the chemotherapy drugs, the cells that
responsible for producing myelin, the fatty substance
that helps insulate and protect nerve conducting
fibers, can become damaged.
Nervous system
changes in chemotherapy patients can develop months or
years after treatment. The
onset of these symptoms are variable. Some drugs
may cause symptoms during or immediately after the
first dose, and some have a delayed onset of symptoms,
up to several weeks, months, or even years after the
last dose.
The
severity of these symptoms is related to the
cumulative dosage of the drug received.
Additionally,
someone with pre-existing neuropathy (no matter the
cause) may be at risk for more severe and long lasting
neuropathy.
Loss of feeling in
the hands and feet can make it hard to pick up small
objects and cause clumsiness and difficulty walking.
Some people with nerve damage first notice a
"pins and needles" feeling, not unlike when
an arm or leg falls asleep.
As motor nerves are
the most sensitive to toxins, this nerve damage
may make you feel clumsy and cause difficulty in daily
activities such as opening jars, fastening buttons, or
even squeezing toothpaste tubes. Loss of
balance and coordination is also due to this
damage.
Per the American Cancer Society,
"Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy is caused by the
chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment."
(Neuropathy is also sometimes called paraesthesia.)
The symptoms or signs of CIPN depend mostly on
which nerves are involved. The most common symptoms
are:
- pain
- burning
- tingling (or a "pins and needles"
feeling)
- muscle shrinkage
- weakness
- balance problems
- trouble with tripping and stumbling while
walking
- loss of feeling (numbness)
- decreased or no reflexes
- increased sensitivity to temperature (usually
cold) or pressure, so that things hurt more than
usual
- constipation
- trouble passing urine
- blood pressure changes
- trouble swallowing
"CIPN often affects both sides of the body the
same way; for example, the toes of both feet. It can
cause severe pain and can affect your ability to do
everyday things like walk, write, button your shirt,
or pick up a coin. If it gets very bad it can cause
very serious problems like changes in your heart rate,
trouble breathing, paralysis, or organ failure"
This is the reason that medical doctors have to
keep close watch over their patients when receiving
chemotherapy.
Are these long term side effects of
chemotherapy?
The only way to
correctly manage this chronic neuropathy is to address the
real causes, not the symptoms.
Can
the Nerve Damage be Reversed?
When
the myelin sheathing of the nerve cells are damaged or
degenerate due to the cancer treatment, the signals
being transmitted are scrambled, resulting in your
body receiving signals that real interpreted as
numbness, heat, cold, tingling, pain, etc.
This
is similar to an electrical wire that is covered with
insulation, and the
insulation is beginning to crumble. Without
insulation, the unprotected wire will start
short-circuiting.
It
has been known for some time that increased levels of Thiamine
(Vitamin B1) in the blood stream are very
effective in reducing and reversing nerve damage.
Unfortunately, the oral intake of vitamin B1 does not
greatly increase the levels of B1 in the blood
stream.
Previously,
the way that blood stream levels of B1 was increased
was through periodic intravenous feeding or through
injections every few weeks.
The
reason that injections have to be used is that
Thiamine (sometimes spelled Thiamine), like all of the
B vitamins, is water soluble. Thiamine cannot be stored in the body and flushes out within 4
to 5 hours.
Oral
intake of Thiamine over 5 mg results in greatly reduced
absorbability, and is flushed right out of the body
(this is why urine frequently turns yellow when taking
larger doses of B vitamins).
Additionally,
chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy has been
found to be made worse by insufficient amounts of B12
in the body.
Vitamin
B12 supports the sheathing that protects nerve cells and has shown in studies to promote the regeneration
and growth of nerve cells.
In the past, it has
been difficult to remedy the B12 deficiency.
The reason for this is that while vitamin B12 is readily
stored by the body, it is not readily absorbed by the body. For this
reason much larger amounts have been used in supplementation, but even
large oral dosages have not been an adequate solution.
Keep reading, there is a solution:
The most common type of vitamin B12 used in supplements
is called Cyanocobalamine. Taking Cyanocobalamine can result in absorption
of as little as 1/2 of 1% of the amount taken, which makes it almost
impossible to get enough of this vitally important vitamin.
In addition to the very low absorption, the body must
convert the Cyanocobalamine (which cannot be used by the body) to a form
of vitamin B12 the body can use called Methylcobalamine. Unfortunately, as
the body gets older it loses this ability to convert Cobalamine to
Methylcobalamine.
For the above reasons, as people get older, many
physicians recommend regular monthly injections of vitamin B12 to maintain
adequate body levels or to replenish greatly depleted stores of this vital
nutrient.
A Remedy for this
Problem:
You might
have heard of the new type of vitamin B1
being produced, called
Benfotiamine. It is a fat-soluble version of vitamin B1. What does this
mean? It means this new form of vitamin B1 can be taken orally in
large dosages and it will not flush out of the body the way ordinary
Thiamine (vitamin B1) does.
The result is that by taking Benfotiamine the blood
stream levels of vitamin B1 can now be greatly increased, nutritionally
supporting the body to rapidly and effectively decrease or eliminate the
symptoms of Neuropathy.
Also available is Methylcobalamine (called Methyl B12).
This is the form of vitamin B12 that can be directly utilized by the body
and is available in the quantities nutritionally needed by the body to
repair itself. Methyl B12 can be taken orally and is immediately available
to the body much like injectable vitamin B12.
Where
can I find these supplements?
RECOMMENDED:
(This is where we have
researched products and found
one that we know will work for
you.)
The vitamins
talked about above are
available together. The
name of the product is “Nerve Support Formula”
It contains both
Benfotiamine and Methyl B12. The result is that the blood stream levels of
vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 can be greatly increased, providing the
nutritional support needed by the body to rapidly and far more effectively
to decrease or eliminate the symptoms of
neuropathy by repairing the
nerve damage that was
done.
Reports are
that someone previously using just
the Benfotiamine reported
a lessening of their symptoms
within 4 to 7 days. The “Nerve Support Formula” is far more effective than either the
Benfotiamine or Methyl B12 alone.
Both Benfotiamine and Methyl B12 have been shown to be
non-toxic and without any side effects even in very high dosages.
These vitamins have a 90 Day money
back guarantee
and the company who makes it also has a live support line.
This money back guarantee means that you can buy 1, 2 or
3 bottles (up to three months worth) and return them if this doesn't work for you.
They have consultants that will guide you
through whatever you need to do to get relief.
They don't just sell you a vitamin.
Sounds too good to be true. We researched it and
found that they have a 85-90% success
rate. How fast does it work? Well,
that depends on the individual's genetics and the
severity of the neuropathy.
However, people often have gotten relief in as little as two
weeks. Some take longer, due
to the fact that this remedy is actually giving the body
what it needs to heal the body. It allows the body to actually repair the nerves.
They have lots of great success
stories. that you can read here
Get more information
about this product
If you are
experiencing nerve damage with
symptoms such as:
- pain
- burning
- tingling (or a "pins and needles"
feeling)
- muscle shrinkage
- weakness
- balance problems
- trouble with tripping and stumbling while
walking
- loss of feeling (numbness)
- decreased or no reflexes
- increased sensitivity to temperature (usually
cold) or pressure, so that things hurt more than
usual
- constipation
- trouble passing urine
- blood pressure changes
- trouble swallowing
Go to the Nerve
Support Formula and
try it. It costs $42.70
for 120 capsules. For
FAQ
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? CALL 818
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QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
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We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
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