Hey All,
If there's a post about this already, it didn't come up when I searched so I'm sorry if I'm repeating...

My dad just finished treatment 4 weeks ago and in the last few weeks seems to have lost sensation and control of his right foot. He drags it or very consciously picks it up with each step in order to walk. A google search about radiation effects to extremities when radiation is received in the head/neck yielded nothing. SO, my question is, is this a typical radiation side effect or is this more likely some goofy thing unrelated to his cancer treatment?

Thanks in advance for your help here!

Did your father receive cisplatin? One of the side effects of cisplatin is nerve damage which can cause a 'dropped foot.'

I agree with Margaret. Sounds like a peripheral neuropathy from chemo. Very common with Cisplatin.
Tammy

This is fairly common for OC survivors. Neuropathy of hands and feet has been mentioned by many members. Here is a recent thread...

Neurological symptoms thread

It is possible that he has peripheral neuropathy... but I would make sure he is checked... a TIA or minor stroke can cause similar difficulty with function. Hugs.

Hi LuckyJenni,

It's been my experience with a bunch of different chemo agents that they all are very capable of causing neuropathy where ever they find an opportunity.

Hearing and sensation in the extremities are prime examples, and the warnings you get from your medics are not always adequate to warn you about the extent of the symptoms involved.

I was told to be watchful for, and promptly report any "tingling sensations" in my fingers and toes, but not to watch of "strange and inexplicable" sensations in other parts of my feet.

I did notice that when I got in bed, it felt like the bed linens were crushing my toes and that when wearing shoes, it felt like I had something like a twig or a wrinkle in the shoe-lining between my sock and shoe; yet when I took my shoe off to check, nothing was there. Coupled with the sensations in bed, I decided that the shoes were too tight. Brilliant, I know.

Anyway, I figured it all out long after it was too late to do anything about it and have simply adapted to the sensations.

I've also experienced a "functional loss" of about 50% of my hearing, and have actually experienced significant loss of function in the muscular sheath surrounding my colon! With the latter issue, I already had significant loss there but from physical damage from decades ago.

My advice from all this is this:

Take any warnings about neuropathy VERY seriously;

If you are unsure AT ALL about any part of such warnings, ASK for a detailed explanation of the warning and do not stop doing that until you are satisfied that you understand them;

Be very vigilant for changes in your normal perceptions and report any weirdness ASAP.

Then, let it all go, you've done everything you can so be serene, it will all work out. None of it is life-or-death in scope or impact.

Good luck to you and your dad!

Bart

Thanks for your replies and help. A medical term proves way more helpful in internet searching!
Thank you!

Foot, toe drop is a symptom, not a disease, of an underlying cause, and periphael neuropathy can be one, and there are many types of periphael neuropathy caused by a number of reasons, some from chemicals, and illnesses, as mentioned, injury, disease, etc, so it's best to see what is the cause, and not saying it will, but neuropathy, if severe enough, can progress and effect the organs.

I can relate to what Bart experienced with what they call glove and stocking syndrome since that is what it's called, and had to wear socks all time, and gloves for a year. I was paralyzed basically from the waist down for 10 months unable to walk, experienced foot drop, toe drop, with no sensation to them, and wasn't even able to stand on my feet. Mine was basically caused by 5 days high dose chemo, Taxotere, Cisplatin and 5-FU, which resulted in septic shock, infections, loss of 110 pounds, and many others, which can also cause neuropathy, but I suspect other causes in addiction, which resulted in optic ishemic neuropathy too causing my eye blindness in one eye, which is more to do with the lack of blood supply to the optic nerve. Anyway, I still have neuropathy in the hands, feet, muscle loss, some paralysis, and unable to move my toes, toe drop, almost 5 years later, but able to walk, although tiring. With the toe, and foot drop, in addition to other problems, I sometimes trip getting out of bed, and the shower not realizing they ate dragging.

Like Bart, I had a number of chrmo/targeted drug treatments with Erbitux and Taxotere again, and Carbopatin all which worsened my neuropathy. Taxotere was eventually stopped, which is one thing that can be done, lower the dose or increase the duration

I haven't investigated fully what happened, been busy lol, but the direct cause is difficult to find out if you have multiple causes or underlying conditions since many can cause it, I had nerve conduction tests, which showed what I already knew lol, I have nerve damage, and went to physical therapy a number of times, and going to start again next week after falling, and take Lyrica now after I took Gabapentin. It somewhat helps, and found no relief with any vitamins. I called an acupuncturist I saw years before, who said if it is treated before it's permanent, it may be of help, but was already dealing with it for a year then, so I never went. Biofeedback is another that may help.

Here is some information on the Management and Treatment of Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, CIPN, but rather long, if anyone cares to read.

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2014/04/09/JCO.2013.54.0914.full.pdf

Good luck, and I hope this helps.