About Muscle Tremors After Cancer Treatments

Chemotherapy is designed to help your body get rid of cancer cells. However, chemotherapy is very toxic and can have many different side effects. The well known side effects are hair loss and nausea. Muscle tremors are not as common as other side effects, but they do happen. 

Why it happens: As the chemo goes into your system, it cannot always tell the difference between the healthy tissues and the cancer cells. The chemo may attack nerve function as it attacks the cancerous tumor. Tremors usually begin in the feet and then spread into the hands. Legs and arms may also be affected by tremors. 

Treatments that cause muscle tremors: The drugs that most likely cause nerve damage are: Bortexomib, Tacanes, Thalidomide Epothilones, and Alkoids. These classes of chemotherapy drugs are listed by the American Cancer Society. These are the generic classes of the treatments and may have many brand names.

Solutions: The problem of nerve and muscle damage after cancer treatment needs more study, but there has been research. Calcium, vitamin E and magnesium have been studied for protection of nerves from damage that is caused by the platinum drugs. Medicine that is used to prevent seizures is also being studied as a way to prevent damage. Certain patients see some kind of improvement when they are given certain proteins and amino acids before treatment and after. Another strategy is to change the treatment into more frequent smaller doses. When nerve damage is apparent, oncologists can delay treatment and spread it out over a longer period of time.

What you can do: Avoid conditions that appear to worsen the tremors. These could be anywhere from extreme cold or heat, tight shoes, or tight clothing. Alcohol causes nerve damage, so you should avoid that. Take good care of your feet.

What is ahead: Muscle tremors that are caused by chemotherapy may go away once the treatment stops. The tremors may last up to two years but can stop as soon as treatment stops.