Neuropathy after cancer treatment
Numbness, tingling, and balance.
What is going on
Some chemotherapy can leave numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet. For some people it improves slowly; for others it persists.
Balance and fall risk matter as much as the sensation itself.
What tends to help
- Balance and strength work with a therapist
- Home safety review: lighting, rugs, footwear
- Foot checks if sensation is reduced
Questions worth asking
- Which of my treatments is associated with nerve symptoms?
- Is a physical or occupational therapy referral appropriate?
- What can be done about balance and fall risk?
Who usually owns this
- Cancer rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Primary care
Contact a clinician promptly
- New weakness, falls, or loss of bladder or bowel control
This page cannot tell you whether your cancer has returned, and it does not adjust any medicine. Anything sudden or severe belongs with emergency services.
Where this comes from
- ASCO guideline on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyHigh confidence
Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Next scheduled review 2027-02-10. Where oncology, cardiology, and general medicine differ, this page says so rather than picking a side.