October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – How Cancer Treatments Can Affect Your Feet

As we recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, it’s important to acknowledge the various ways breast cancer and its treatments can affect more than just the primary site of the disease. In some cases, breast cancer can even impact your feet and ankles. While uncommon, breast cancer can metastasize to the foot or ankle, causing significant discomfort and mobility issues. Additionally, chemotherapy and other cancer treatments may lead to side effects that affect foot health, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

At Align Foot & Ankle, we are here to support patients who may be experiencing foot-related issues due to cancer treatments. We offer advanced therapies, such as MLS laser treatment, which can alleviate some of the symptoms related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Here’s what you need to know about how cancer treatments can affect your feet and what you can do to manage the symptoms.

Metastatic Breast Cancer and Your Feet: Acrometastasis

Though rare, breast cancer can spread to distant sites, including the bones of the feet and ankles. This is referred to as acrometastasis, which occurs when breast cancer metastasizes to the bones in the foot or ankle. Symptoms may include:

  • Persistent pain in the foot or ankle
  • Swelling
  • A noticeable limp or difficulty walking

If you have a history of breast cancer and experience unexplained skeletal pain, particularly if it does not respond to conventional treatments, acrometastasis should be considered. Early detection is key in managing this condition, and any unusual foot pain should be evaluated by a specialist.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

A more common foot-related complication among breast cancer patients is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Chemotherapy, while effective in treating cancer, can cause damage to the peripheral nerves, particularly those in the hands and feet. Symptoms of CIPN include:

  • Pain, often described as burning, stabbing, or shooting
  • Numbness in the feet
  • Tingling sensations
  • Loss of balance or coordination
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
  • Feeling of extreme warmth or cold in the feet
  • Increased sensitivity to pain

These symptoms can make walking or standing difficult and affect a patient’s overall quality of life. In fact, women undergoing treatment for breast cancer often report a decline in foot health due to CIPN, which can affect their mobility and independence.

How Chemotherapy Affects Your Feet

Chemotherapy drugs are designed to target rapidly dividing cancer cells, but they can also harm healthy cells, including nerve cells. When the peripheral nerves are damaged by chemotherapy, they fail to send the proper signals from the feet to the brain. This miscommunication leads to the symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy.

The severity of CIPN can vary based on factors such as the type and dosage of chemotherapy, and unfortunately, these effects can last long after treatment has ended.

Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy at Align Foot & Ankle

At Align Foot & Ankle, we understand the challenges posed by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. One of the most effective therapies we offer is MLS Laser Treatment. This non-invasive treatment uses Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser technology to reduce pain, inflammation, and other neuropathy symptoms by stimulating healing at the cellular level. Patients often report significant improvement in their foot pain and mobility following MLS laser treatment.

In addition to MLS laser treatment, we provide a range of therapies to support patients experiencing foot issues due to cancer treatments, including:

  • Custom orthotics to improve balance and stability
  • Physical therapy to help regain strength and mobility
  • CBD-based creams for natural pain relief

Foot Health Matters in Cancer Recovery

Taking care of your feet during cancer treatment is essential to maintaining your overall health and well-being. If you or someone you know is experiencing foot-related issues as a result of chemotherapy or metastatic breast cancer, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thuy Ho-Ellsworth at Align Foot & Ankle. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate care and effective treatment options to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Contact us today at 512-882-4911 or visit our website to schedule your consultation. Let’s work together to keep you moving forward, even during the most challenging times.

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