I have had 6 cycles of FOLFOX for colorectal cancer this year,which I completed in late April.I was pleased to get an all clear from my Oncologist.During my treatment I experienced numbness,tingling, jangling sensations in my fingers each cycle for several days especially in very cold situations.Then when treatment finished I was back to normal in my hands.Now however almost 3 months later my feet and my hands are affected by numbness,tingling,mild electric shock feelings etc...I did not expect to be experiencing these side effects weeks after the end of my treatment.Has anybody else been affected in a similar way and if so how have you coped with it.I believe its called Peripheral Neuropathy and may not get better which is quite depressing..
Hi Maria D and I see that this is your first post so welcome to this corner of the Macmillan Community.
Sorry to hear this but Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a real pain....... I have a different type of cancer and treatment journey but after my main 2 years treatment my PN lasted for a good 2 years before I could say it was all gone but even now being 7 years 9 months out from my last treatment I still experience stiffness in my hands especially during the winter months.
I was told to get a few stress balls and would sit in an evening watching TV and be working my hands, getting the blood flowing and exercising the muscles and nerves in my hands.
My feet were ok but the people who I have talked with have found using balls under their feet and rocking their feet back and forward and this had the same effect as the stress balls in the hands.
I have lived with and been treated for my incurable blood cancer (Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) for over 24 years and the treatments used are rather different but I do see that you have already joined our dedicated Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer support group……it would be worth posting in there as well as you will get first hand experience from people who have had the exact same treatment.
Just kick on the text directly below
Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer
…… then once the group page opens you can introduce yourself by clicking “+new” or “+” in the top right next to the group title and you are ready to go.
Hi Rita Maria D it’s so frustrating that the post treatment ‘left overs’ can come along. We endure the treatment to then be left with other demanding challenges.
As I said my feet were ok….. so don’t have specific experience of this….. over the two years the level of discomfort in my hands and at times up my arms came and went….. but eventually it all got to the point that my mind was not thinking about what was left and further down the line I realised it was gone.
Are you able to get out for a walk and walk comfortably-ish?……. I think that most of the time it’s down to getting the blood flowing and the nerves exercised 
