In the all-out battle to defeat cancer, there’s little thought given to the long-term effects of chemotherapy drugs.
In 20 to 40 percent of cases, patients who beat cancer with chemotherapy go on to develop nerve pain, which can last for months or even years. It can range from tingling to numbness or severe burning, or extreme sensitivity to cold.
The anti-depressant duloxetine, sold under the brand name Cymbalta, is the first drug that has been shown to be effective in treating the nerve pain caused by certain chemotherapy drugs.
“This is great, because to date there have been no studies that have demonstrated that anything really works,” said Ellen Lavoie Smith, PhD, a researcher who led the study at the University of Michigan School of Nursing.
The results are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Last Updated: 6/13/2013