杏吧直播

More than 80 per cent of bowel cancer survivors are living with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a form of chronic nerve damage which can cause symptoms that range from mild pins and needles to losing all feeling and control in your hands and feet.

CIPN occurs when chemotherapy treatments harm healthy peripheral nerve cells, which carry messages between the brain, spinal cord and rest of the body. When the cells are damaged, it becomes harder for the messages to get through.

No effective treatments are currently available, but a team of researchers from the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide is exploring a new approach and is seeking trial participants for the TMaC study, funded by The Hospital Research Foundation Group.

鈥淭he persistent pain of CIPN severely impacts the quality of life of people and makes it one of the most challenging long-term side effects of cancer treatment,鈥� says lead expert Professor Joanne Bowen, Head of the Cancer Treatment and Toxicities Group at the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide.

鈥淥ur TMaC study explores the potential of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific brain regions, as a promising treatment option.鈥�

Trial participants must be over the age of 18, experience ongoing pain in their hands or feet following oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy for bowel cancer and completed their treatment at least six months ago.

鈥淓arly evidence of TMS being used for other cancers, particularly multiple myeloma, suggests it could offer significant relief, transforming the way CIPN is managed,鈥� says Professor Bowen.

鈥淧atients will have between four and seven sessions involving pain assessments and TMS therapy to modulate pain through neuroplasticity.

鈥淲e鈥檒l assess if there have been any improvements after eight weeks, and if there has been, we will assess them again after six months.

鈥淲e are excited to explore how TMS may provide new hope for patients suffering from the long-term effects of chemotherapy.鈥�

In 2020, Brad Gauvin was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and after surgery he completed six months of heavy chemotherapy.

鈥淐hemotherapy has a number of physical and mental side effects which are a combination of short term, long term and permanent 鈥� peripheral neuropathy is a side effect which falls into all three camps,鈥� says Mr Gauvin.

鈥�I had mild peripheral neuropathy during the chemo which has also left me with some permanent nerve damage, and as a result, I became well read on cancer, its causes and treatment options and was exposed to cancer care, including pain management options, its limitations and the lack of knowledge by patients, and of a patient perspective.

鈥淣aturally, when asked if I鈥檇 like to then get involved with the TMAC study from a patient perspective by Joanne Bowen, I wanted to help in any way I could.鈥�

Mr Gauvin said most current cancer pain management methods revolve around prescription medications and felt it was important to explore other options.

鈥�In these times of cancer prevalence going through the roof, especially in younger people, we need to be focusing public and private investment more than ever into cancer research as to prevention and treatment with our best, open and creative minds,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his is the first clinical trial of its kind in the world so potentially groundbreaking for neuroscience, cancer care and many cancer patients all over the world.鈥�

Mr Gauvin was proud to work as a consumer advisory with the TMaC group.

鈥淭hey are doing Adelaide and South 杏吧直播 proud, by pushing the boundaries of medical research of neuroscience and cancer care with TMS brain stimulation technology to activate certain neurons in the brain associated with the pain response to peripheral neuropathy,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his TMS pain treatment could be a highly effective alternative to pain medications with no side effects.

鈥淚t means a great deal to me that this very caring, dedicated and leading group of medical researchers and clinicians are working extremely hard and pushing themselves to ease the pain and suffering of cancer patients associated with chemo induced peripheral neuropathy, and they are acutely aware of the need for patient perspectives on all aspects of their research and study.鈥�

For more information regarding the trial, contact Eva Moore at tmac@adelaide.edu.au or call 8313 5053.