1 1/2 years later

Hi - The current state of medical research and knowledge will be constantly changing and always improving. I think there's hope - really good hope - that you won't be in pain forever. With the new survivorship clinics springing up, and the growing awareness that cancr is a lifelong challenge, I think more attention than ever will be paid to these treatment "lasting effects," as they're called. Keep your eyes on the horizon - there's hope for your future, truly. - PJH

When my hands and feet started hurting about a year after I finished chemo, my oncologist said I had ,"Taxol toes."  Of course, she went on to explain that a more accurate term is peripheral neuropathy, which means nerve damage in the extremities--hands and feet.  There are quite a few drugs that can help neuropathy, mainly in the anit-seizure family like Neurontin and the anti-depressant family.  In my case, I've decided that enduring my level of pain is better than coping with the side effects from the meds I've tried.  However, I know other people who are very happy with the results of their medications.  I've learned to ignore the tingling in my hands and feet, and to compensate for the numbness by being very careful when walking on uneven surfaces and to hold on extra tight to small objects.

A neurologist is a good doctor to talk to about possible ways to reverse the damage.  Some people do get over it.