# Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Methods Every Patient Should Know | Eisana Health

- Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/feed/341457
- Entity ID: wefunder:feed_item:341457
- Published at: 2026-06-22 14:32:27 UTC
- Updated at: 2026-06-22 14:32:42 UTC

## Author
Paul Klein

## Subject
Eisana Health

## Content
When chemotherapy is administered, powerful anticancer drugs circulate and destroy cancer cells. However, with long treatment, the drug can also destroy peripheral nerve cells (specifically in the hands and feet). Which leads to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Early symptoms start out mild, such as tingling or subtle numbness. But, it is crucial to recognize them early as prolonged chemotherapy treatment can cause worsening symptoms. That’s why promptly reporting signs to your oncologist is key for treating and reducing the chances of high grade CIPN. Once the patient presents symptoms of CIPN, the first step for many oncologists is to reduce the dosage of chemo or to stop the chemo treatment altogether. While lowering the dosage of chemo might seem like a practical solution for those with the most extreme and painful symptoms, it also holds the possibility that a lower dosage might allow the cancer cells to persist rather than killing them. In a recent study, of 123 patients with breast cancer 17% needed dosage reduction due to chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, and the median adjusted intensity was 73% of the original dose. However, in most cases this approach doesn’t lead to improved conditions. Research on weekly paclitaxel treatments (a form of chemotherapy), showed that patients who had dosage reduction due to neuropathy faced worse clinical and patient reported outcomes. Therefore, reducing chemo will likely improve CIPN symptoms, but could potentially lead to delayed cancer remission. There are other options for preventing and easing CIPN that still allow the continuation of treatment instead of scaling back the chemotherapy treatment.A preventative method for CIPN is Cryotherapy, in this method the goal is to chill the body rather than compressing it. By cooling hands and feet it constricts the blood vessels, which stops the chemo from reaching the fragile nerves. Usually done by applying a variety of different prechilled items to the patients hands and feet, like ice water, frozen vegetables, cold packs, and freezable gloves and socks. An early small study shows that cryotherapy can significantly decrease the risk of CIPN compared to the controls, with about a 41-73% risk reduction.