Cancer Treatment-Related Side Effects

Chemotherapy can damage the peripheral nerves, affecting the ability to feel and/or move your hands and feet. You may experience numbness, tingling or pain in the hands or feet and have difficulty with balance. Peripheral neuropathy is usually limited to nerves in your fingers, hands and toes, but it may affect your arms, legs or your trunk. Diabetes, alcohol misuse, hypothyroidism, immune system disease and other medications increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy. Physical therapy may help improve neuropathy symptoms, build strength, increase balance and promote safety. Medications also may reduce symptoms. Talk with your doctor or nurse about treatment options.

Cancer treatment sometimes causes changes in memory and mental processing or concentration. Referred to as “chemo brain," the changes are usually temporary but can still cause people embarrassment. These changes also may be related to stress, medicine, the cancer and/or treatment, or other health problems. Tell your doctor or nurse about any changes in memory or if you're experiencing confusion so they can help determine the cause and offer ways to help. Our speech-language therapists offer thought and memory retraining that can improve your symptoms.

Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can make it difficult to swallow. This condition, called dysphasia, can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening. You may have a swallow study performed to analyze your swallow mechanism, diagnose a swallowing disorder, and determine the most appropriate swallow therapy for you. Our speech-language pathologists are certified in VitalStim® therapy, a leading-edge treatment for swallowing disorders. Our VitalStim-certified therapists work one-on-one with you to develop a customized treatment plan. Through VitalStim, painless, noninvasive electrical stimulation retrains the muscles responsible for swallowing. Your therapist may combine VitalStim therapy with other swallowing therapies for the best results.