Tingling and numbness in foot

Hello Sas,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. I see that you have joined several of our online community groups; I do hope you are finding them a good source of support.

I was sorry to read that you have recently had some difficult news in relation to your breast cancer and this has meant treatment amendments, with perhaps new treatments to follow.

As I understand it, you are currently taking your new anti-hormone treatment -  Exemestane, alongside the medication you have had for some time for your continued bone health - Denosumab and Adcal.  

You described a new sensation of numbness and tingling in your foot and you are concerned.

Denosumab can cause a lowering of the calcium in the blood - this is called hypocalcaemia. One of the symptoms of hypocalcaemia is tingling in the peripheries of our body i.e. our hands and/or feet. The same sensation can also be experienced around the mouth. 

I know you are seeing your team soon, but I would like to encourage you to tell your healthcare team what you are experiencing, and to do that today. It’s important as they may wish to do a blood test to check your calcium levels.

If you have been given a 24-hour chemotherapy helpline number, you can call the team to get reviewed.

Also, you mentioned that your spine has been affected by the secondary cancer and I wanted to flag up something that your team may already have talked through with you.  

Sometimes when a cancer grows in the bones of the spine it can press on the spinal cord. This can mean that someone experiences (among other symptoms) pins and needles in their hands and feet.

The condition is called malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC).

I do want to emphasise that this is a rare condition Sas, but one we always take seriously and for this second reason, I do encourage you to give your team a call today.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if there is anything else we can support you with.

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

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