Experiences with Oxaliplatin

Hello Seraphina

Oxiolatin can cause tingling/numbness in hands and feet which can lead to peripheral neuropathy.

It is worthwhile discussing with your team as the dosage can be changed if necessary.  I had 12 cycles of Oxiplatin in 2024 and still have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet.  The dosage was reduced and I have subsequently had acupuncture to try to help.

If you experience any tingling etc during infusions you should let the team know as it could be the start of an allergic reaction.  This happened to me on cycle 10 of Cetuximab and 5fu but was quickly sorted out with an injection.

Wishing you all the best with your ongoing treatment.

Many thanks for taking the time to respond, Sqaurebox, I really appreciate it. 

I’m sorry to hear that you still have peripheral neuropathy in your hands and feet. Thanks for letting me know about the potential for it to be the start of an allergic reaction during the infusion - I hadn’t considered that. I will definitely let them know if it happens again and it is really reassuring to hear that yours was quickly sorted with an injection. 

many thanks for your good wishes - wishing you all the best too. 

Hi Seraphina,

my husband had six rounds of oxaliplatin alongside capacetamin (sorry sure I spelt that wrong). He did find that symptoms got a little worse each time but they never reached unbearable for him. Generally they faded by his next treatment, usually day 8-10 (his was two weekly) and it was only with the final two where he found the tingling lasted longer.  He wore gloves whenever he handled anything cold and towards the later cycles would wear them most of the time which got a few comments when it was boiling hot in July! 
We were given the tip of placing a heat pad/hot water bottle on the arm he was having the IV in (about a hands width above the cannula) which worked really well in reducing the pain and tingling in his arm during the infusion and after so would definitely look into that.

he finished chemo end of September and from memory within a month all tingling had gone so hopefully it will be the same for you. Not sure about sickness as he went on to have chemo-radiotherapy which made him feel a little sick, but again nothing that couldn’t be managed with anti sickness tablets.

he finished radio in November, started feeling much better in December, and by January he was like a new man, feeling the best he’d felt in well over a year! 

Best of luck with treatment and hope all goes smoothly for you xx

Hi Rosie in the sun, thanks so much for your response. 

It’s good to hear that your husband didn’t find the side effects unbearable even though they did get a little worse. That’s reassuring. I found it manageable last time even though it was unpleasant and I’m really hoping it will be manageable again but am a little nervous. 
thanks so much for the tip about the hot water bottle - I shall definitely try that with the next one. 

so glad to hear that your husband is feeling so much better! Thank you for your good wishes xx