Does chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy cause numbness or tingling in hands and feet?

Some chemotherapy medicines can injure peripheral nerves, changing how touch, temperature and pain signals travel between the limbs and the brain.

Symptoms often begin in the fingers or toes and may include pins and needles, reduced sensation, burning discomfort or unusual sensitivity. They can make buttons, writing, walking or balancing harder. Weakness may occur when motor nerves are affected.

Other problems can also cause altered sensation, including nerve compression, vitamin deficiency and diabetes. Your clinician will consider the pattern, timing, medicines and examination findings rather than assuming a cause from the symptom alone.

Report new tingling, numbness, pain, weakness or balance trouble before your next chemotherapy dose. Early reporting helps the oncology team monitor nerve effects and decide whether medicine, dose or timing needs adjustment. Do not change treatment yourself.

Check numb skin for cuts or blisters, wear supportive shoes, use handrails, keep walkways clear and test bath water with an area that has normal sensation. Gloves can protect your hands when handling cold or hot objects.

Contact the treatment team urgently for rapidly worsening numbness, new weakness, repeated falls, inability to walk safely, severe burning pain or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Call emergency services for sudden one-sided numbness or weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe dizziness or a sudden intense headache. These are not typical gradual neuropathy symptoms and may signal a medical emergency.

You may ask whether your chemotherapy can affect peripheral nerves, how to track symptoms between visits, what daily activities need extra care and which treatment changes might be considered if sensation worsens.