Why do my hands and feet tingle during chemo?

Tingling in the hands and feet during cancer treatment can happen because some cancer treatments cause peripheral neuropathy. That means damage to the peripheral nerves, which carry information from the brain to other parts of the body.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the side effects depend on which nerves are affected. Tingling in the hands and feet points to the sensory nerves. Those are the nerves that help you feel pain, heat, cold, and pressure. Damage to sensory nerves can cause:

• Tingling, numbness, or a pins-and-needles feeling in your feet and hands. It may spread to your legs and arms.
• Not being able to feel heat or cold, such as a hot stove.
• Not being able to feel pain, such as from a cut or sore on your foot.

If you start to notice any of these problems, talk with your doctor or nurse. NCI says that finding and treating nerve problems early is the best way to control them. Early care also helps prevent more damage and reduce pain and other problems. Your care team can explain what is causing your symptoms and what may help.