Persistent Experts Manage Neuropathy

When the doctor says, “nothing more can be done,” what does a patient do? For Patty Fecker, an experienced nurse who suffered from neuropathy related to cancer treatment, the answer and a lesson would come from the multidisciplinary cancer team at Henry Ford Health. The long line of resourceful physicians would hunker down to help her. The result? An 85% reduction in pain.

Patty did monthly breast self-exams for decades, and she’s not a stranger to mammogram machines, having received routine screenings for more than a dozen years. After her last exam, she checked her medical records for the test results and was shocked to read, “highly suspicious for malignancy”.

“Although I had been a nurse for 40 years, I hadn’t worked in oncology and cancer was a death sentence,” says Patty, 62. “Waiting for a biopsy was horrible. I went through some depression, thinking I was going to die. And I learned that some websites aren’t your friend – they paint an awful picture.”

Because Patty could not quickly receive a biopsy, she looked for a different healthcare provider. That’s when she met Jessica Schering, M.D., an oncology specialist at Henry Ford Cancer - Brownstown.

“She gave me hope and options, and she painted a much better outlook,” says Patty who lives on the outskirts of Belleville.

Her multidisciplinary cancer team created a plan – chemotherapy to shrink the stage 2 tumor, surgery to remove the cancerous tumor and radiation treatments
to kill any stray cancer cells. The director of Henry Ford Health’s breast cancer program, Jessica Bensenhaver, M.D., performed Patty’s surgery. Then, all her appointments were made by nurse navigators.

“They’re wonderful,” says Patty. “I never had to call and follow up because there was great communication throughout the system. Nurse navigators gave me a packet of all available support, including group therapy and art therapy. I realized I needed to surround myself with survivors, instead of hearing and thinking about negative stuff.”

Just 30 days after the diagnosis, chemotherapy treatments began and so did a major side effect: chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy.

“Pain in my hands and feet progressively got worse after treatment. I’d walk my dogs, and I’d have to quit because my feet were always freezing. My fingers were cold, and I had pain in my fingernails. I’d sit at my desk with a heating pad wrapped around my feet. I’d wrap one hand in another heating pad and type with the other hand,” says Patty who works remotely.

But the problem was buffered by her attitude and faith. “I’ve always had a good relationship with God,” says Patty. “And I figured the symptoms were a small price to pay for being alive. I felt like things could be worse, so I adapted my life to what my symptoms were.”

Prescription medications, vitamins, acupuncture and over-the-counter products didn’t help. Although one doctor thought nothing more could be done, specialists thought otherwise.

During a six-month follow-up appointment, Patty asked Dr. Schering when the symptoms would go away. Concerned, Dr. Schering referred Patty to a specialist in neurological complications related to cancer treatment, Lisa R. Rogers, D.O., at Henry Ford Health in Wyandotte.

Says Dr. Rogers, “It was demonstrated in a clinical trial that Cymbalta can be very effective for many people with chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. However, it could not be prescribed for Patty because it was contraindicated with one of her existing medications.”

Neuropathy can be debilitating for some people, causing intense shooting or burning pain, tingling, numbness or a sensation similar to frostbite, says Dr. Rogers. Worse, the condition can last for months or years.

To find a solution, Dr. Rogers tapped further into the multidisciplinary team and referred Patty to David Henkin, M.D., a palliative medicine physician at Henry Ford Health in downtown Detroit. He is part of a unique group of specialists who treat chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

“When I saw Dr. Henkin, he had already read my records and talked with Dr. Rogers and another specialist about how to get me off the one medication and get me on Cymbalta,” says Patty. “I was impressed that he already had a plan. I didn’t have to wait for another appointment. Dr. Henkin even called the pharmacy to make sure they understood the dose, so they wouldn’t give me a hard time. I got the medication right then, and they started transitioning me the next day.

“I’m very happy with the results. I’m about 85% better now. I can walk, and my feet are no longer freezing,” says Patty who enjoys gardening, camping and walking with her four rescue dogs. “Sometimes, my hands get cold, but nothing like before, and I no longer have pain in my nailbeds. I feel kind of reborn.”

Through her experience, she’s learned a lesson: Sometimes, you have to pursue a problem, even when you’ve been told there’s nothing else that can be done. “I figured the original doctor knew what he was talking about after he tried several treatments, but my oncologist said I should get evaluated by Dr. Rogers,” says Patty.

Happy just to be alive, Patty is determined to make the most of her life. In addition to spending time with her loved ones and friends, she’s a hospice volunteer, supporting cancer patients and doing pet therapy.

She encourages patients to remain positive and surround themselves with people who have had positive outcomes. Take one day at a time. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And if you have faith, rely on it.

Patty also advises women to get a yearly mammogram. The discomfort from pressure only lasts a few minutes, but the pain from cancer treatment lasts for months.