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—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—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, which may spread to your legs and arms
• Not being able to feel a hot or cold sensation, 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 getting nerve problems diagnosed and treated early is the best way to control them, prevent further damage, and reduce pain and other complications. Your care team can explain what is causing your symptoms and what may help.