Vincristine, marketed as Vincasar PFS and Oncovin, is a cancer chemotherapy agent or antineoplastic agent used in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. It works by using its cytoxic effects by binding to a specific site on the cell, causing a disruption of development of a new cancer cell. Lymphoma and leukemia can be rapid in their development of producing more white cells, which inhibits the platelet count needed in blood to become lower. There are check and balances in chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. If the side effects outweigh the benefits, a different type of treatment must be used. The more vincristine is used in chemotherapy, the more the severity of neurological side effects.
Reflexes and Muscles
Because vincristine is used in your chemotherapy, you may experience a loss of reflexes, particularly in the deep tendons. This may affect how you walk, making walking difficult. The drug also may affect the muscles and cause them to atrophy or become reduced. According to RxList.com, you also may develop a "slapping gait" when walking.
Senses
Vincristine also may cause you to experience diminished senses such as numbness in fingers and toes that is caused by peripheral nerve irritation. Sensation in fingers and toes is controlled by nerve endings, which communicate to each other within the periphery of the nerves. When nerves are irritated, they cannot send messages and therefore the tingling and numbness in toes and fingers occur. Parasthesia, or irritation among peripheral nerve endings, is a sensation of pins and needles and can be felt on any part of the human body. This is caused by irritation among the nerve endings located in the hands and feet, which are inhibited from sending messages back to the brain, because they are irritated.
Other Side Effects
The use of vincristine also may cause problems such as esophageal motor dysfunction that cause disphagia, which is difficulty in swallowing. Other types of neurological side effects include peripheral neuropathy, which is caused by damage in the nerve endings that causes severe, painful sensations in the feet, testicle pain, cramps in the stomach, unconsciousness and an inability to sweat.
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