How to treat neuro problems in someone with breast cancer?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother is suffering from primary breast cancer, and she has brain metastasis. We have been taking treatment for the last three years. She underwent so many chemotherapies, radiation, body and brain radiation, surgery, etc. Presently, my mother is taking Herceptin and Halaven medicines.

My mother's problems are: she cannot stand for more than a minute and is unable to walk properly. She is also unable to get up from the floor when she sits on the floor. I have consulted a neurologist here. He recommended a nerve conduction study. Please see the attached report. He said that the nervous system was damaged because of the chemotherapy medicines. He has written some tablets on the prescription.

He asked us to admit him to the hospital, and he said that he would give an injection for three days, which would help him recover faster and be better. But it would be costly. If we cannot afford that much, he can prescribe us an affordable injection.

Please suggest whether we should take the injections or not. If so, which one is better? Please give the correct decision whether to take the injections or not, or if tablets are enough. Kindly recommend the tablets and injections, which are very good, so that she can recover quickly.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I have gone through your mother's NCS (nerve conduction study) report, which mentions symmetric sensory motor radiculoneuropathy (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

To be straight, if it is due to radiation and chemotherapy, then IVIg is unlikely to help that much. On the other hand, if etiology is something else, like CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy), of which there is a lesser chance, IVIg is likely to help.
So, in a nutshell, if affordability is not an issue for you, IVIg may be considered. Alternatively, you may visit a centre capable of doing plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis is a very reasonable option and as good as IVIg. Every metro city has centres capable of doing plasmapheresis, even some government hospitals. Further, I am not clear regarding what injections your treating doctor is referring to.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.