I’ve just had my second session of chemotherapy. Both times, I’ve experienced very painful knee joints and aching thighs about 3 days after the chemo which is affecting my sleep and uncomfortable during the daytime. What would you advise? I’ve tried using Voltarol but it made little difference. Any advice would be much appreciated.
To Sioned,
Thank you for getting in touch with Macmillan Cancer Support. My name is Kelly and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists.
We’re sorry to hear that you are struggling with joint and muscular pains during chemotherapy.
We still don’t fully understand why some women experience this and others don’t during treatment. It is thought to be an inflammatory response to drugs which is why it is commonly reported within the first few days after each session.
Sometimes a symptom called peripheral neuropathy can develop which can aggravate any symptoms further. This is where damage to the nerves can be caused by some chemotherapy drugs causing pain in the body. It usually affects the hands feet and lower legs.
This depends on the dose and chemotherapy drugs given. For example, these type of symptoms are commonly reported with drugs called paclitaxel and docetaxel which may be given for womb cancer.
On the advice of your GP or medical team, taking pain relief such as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs (such as voltarol) may be recommended. Other self-help techniques are sometimes suggested to try and improve any symptoms if pain killers aren’t effective. This can include gentle massages and stretching, applying a heat pack to the affected areas and relaxation techniques such as mindfulness.
However, it’s important to report any new or worsening symptoms to your consultant, named cancer nurse specialist or GP. Especially if it is affecting your sleep. As they are directly involved with your care, they can assess the muscular and joint aches to confirm the exact cause and give more tailored advice about how best to manage this moving forward.
A physiotherapist can give advice and show you the best stretches or massage techniques to use see if this helps.
Sometimes local cancer support centres may have access to complementary therapies which can promote relaxation to help cope with any symptoms. You would always need to make sure that you confirm the appropriateness of any planned therapy with your consultant to make sure it won’t interfere with your treatment in any way.
It’s good to see that you have joined our womb cancer group on our online community. The support from others with similar experiences can be invaluable too.
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch with us if you need any further support.
Best wishes,
Kelly (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)
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 send us an email.
Our ref: KA/BG
