Problems with walking and poor balance can result for any number of reasons during the course of cancer treatments. In some cases, the location of the cancer itself can be the cause of gait and/or balance problems, as can surgery to remove those cancers. Moreover, effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy causing fatigue and subsequent weakness can also contribute to difficulty with safe ambulation. In particular, some chemotherapies can cause peripheral neuropathy, which causes numbness in the hands and feet. When your feet are numb, it is very difficult to tell where your feet are in relation to the rest of you, and can lead to stumbling and loss of balance. Physical therapists at Oncology Rehabilitation Specialists are specialized in evaluating causes of balance and gait disorders. After evaluation and testing, our physical therapists can design individualized treatment plans that will restore mobility and independence while decreasing the fear of falling.
