From the Guidelines
Numbness is a symptom of neuropathy, which can be caused by various factors, including chemotherapy, and is characterized by a lack of sensation or feeling in a particular area of the body. According to the American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology breast cancer survivorship care guideline 1, numbness and tingling are common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, which can be caused by chemotherapy. The guideline recommends assessing for peripheral neuropathy and contributing factors by asking patients about their symptoms, specifically numbness and tingling in their hands and/or feet.
Causes and Symptoms of Numbness
- Numbness can be caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) 1
- Symptoms of numbness can include a lack of sensation or feeling in a particular area of the body, tingling, and burning pain 1
- Numbness can be a symptom of motor neuropathy, which can cause problems with balance, weak or achy muscles, twitching, cramping or wasting muscles, or swallowing or breathing difficulties 1
Management and Treatment of Numbness
- The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends offering duloxetine for patients with neuropathic pain, numbness, and tingling 1
- Physical activity has been shown to improve neuropathy symptoms, including numbness and tingling 1
- Acupuncture has been shown to improve pain among breast cancer survivors, but evidence is lacking to show that it directly benefits breast cancer survivors who are experiencing CIPN 1
Recent Guidelines and Recommendations
- The ASCO guideline update on prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in survivors of adult cancers recommends assessing for neuropathy and contributing factors, and offering duloxetine for patients with neuropathic pain, numbness, and tingling 1
- The guideline also recommends physical activity and acupuncture as complementary therapies to improve neuropathy symptoms 1
From the Research
Definition and Explanation of Numby
- There is no direct information available in the provided studies to define or explain what "numby" is.
- The studies primarily focus on neuropathic pain, its treatment, and the comparison of pregabalin and gabapentin in managing this type of pain 2, 3, 4, 5.
- None of the studies mention the term "numby" or provide any relevant information to assist in answering this question.
- As a result, there are no research papers to assist in answering this question about "numby".