Numbness

Numbness is a loss of feeling in an area of your body. You don't feel touch, temperature, or pain. Numbness can be caused by nerve damage or neuropathy. Hand-foot syndrome can increase the risk of numbness.

Certain breast cancer treatments can cause numbness:

• surgery
• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant), a hormonal therapy
• Avastin (chemical name: bevacizumab), a targeted therapy
• Tykerb (chemical name: lapatinib), a targeted therapy

Duragesic (chemical name: fentanyl), a pain medicine, also may cause numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.

Managing numbness

• Protect numb areas. If your feet are numb, wear thick socks and shoes to avoid injury that you can’t feel.
• Wear extra warm clothing in cold weather to protect numb areas from frostbite.
• Use care when showering and try not to let the water get too hot. You might get burned without feeling it.
• Use potholders when cooking so you don’t unknowingly burn yourself.
• Wear gloves to garden and wash dishes to keep from cutting or burning yourself.
• Immediately treat any cuts and scrapes. Inspect your fingers, toes, hands, and feet daily. Treat any cuts and scrapes right away to avoid infection.
• Consider complementary and holistic medicine techniques such as acupuncture, massage, and guided imagery to help regain feeling in numb areas.
• Talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy or exercises may help you.