Peripheral neuropathy is a rare complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It may also be a side effect of certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) makes up about 1 in 3 new leukemia diagnoses in the United States. Though CLL commonly progresses more slowly than acute leukemias and may never require treatment, it can eventually lead to complications.

The most common complications of CLL include:

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a very rare manifestation of CLL.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

PN is caused by damage to your peripheral nerves, which carry messages both to and from your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms depend on the exact type of peripheral nerves involved, but may include:

PN is uncommon in people with CLL, but may develop from leukemia treatment or caused by co-occurring conditions, including:

  • shingles
  • myeloma
  • diabetes
  • fractures of the spine bones that may pinch nerves
  • autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
  • thyroid disease
  • kidney disease
  • chemotherapy drugs
  • radiation therapy

Cancer treatment and PN

PN is rarely associated with leukemia itself. Instead, it usually develops from one or a combination of other causes, such as treatments for cancer, especially chemotherapy.

CLL treatments may lead to PN, including:

CLL can lead to a variety of complications, including:

The treatment of PN depends on which types of peripheral nerves are affected. Some of the potential treatments that a doctor might recommend include:

PN isn’t a common occurrence for people with CLL, but may develop from cancer treatment and co-occurring conditions like shingles, diabetes, and lupus.

If you’ve recently received a CLL diagnosis, it may be a good idea to let them know if you’ve ever had symptoms of neuropathy, like tingling or numbing in the limbs or loss of sensation. This will help your health team tailor CLL treatment or take certain precautions.