Cancer Treatment and PPS
Question: I am on chemo and last week began a new course that started with Gemcitabine. It turned my legs to jello. Now, 10 days later after stopping that drug, my strength is coming back. Can you tell me anything about how chemo might interact with PPS?
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Chemotherapy agents for cancer can damage the axons ("wires") that come out of your motor neurons and conduct the impulses that turn on your muscles. Chemo agents can also affect the chemistry inside the muscle fibers, which sounds like what may be happening to you.
Poliovirus-damaged motor neurons and overworked muscle fibers may be more easily be weakened by chemo. Talk to your oncologist about the agent that’s best for treating cancer and causes the least muscle weakness.