Dr. Cindy Tofthagen talks cancer-related neuropathies on WPTF’s That Cancer Show

University of South Florida College of Nursing Assistant Professor and Concentration Director for Oncology, Cindy S. Tofthagen, PhD, ARNP, AOCNP, discussed cancer-related neuropathies during WPTF’s That Cancer Show on Oct. 13, 2013. WPTS is a CBS-owned radio station, which broadcasts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

That Cancer Show, a weekly talk radio show, featured a two-part program about the impact of cancer treatment on the five senses. Dr. Tofthagen, who is a member of The Neuropathy Association’s Neuropathic Pain Management Medical Advisory Council, participated in the second part of the program to discuss cancer-related neuropathies.

 Neuropathy is a chronic disease that affects more than 20 million children and adults in the United States, six million of whom struggle with neuropathic pain. Neuropathy Association reports that the disease impacts one in 15 Americans making it the leading cause of adult disability in the country. According to the organization’s website, peripheral neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves, which usually affects hands and feet causing weakness, numbness, tingling and pain.

“I have been working with cancer patients for over 20 years now, and during this time, I have seen neuropathy escalate with the use of neurotoxic chemo-therapy drugs,” Dr. Tofthagen told That Cancer Show’s co-hosts Mary Lawrence and Dave Richmond. “Now, most everything that we use in terms of chemo-therapy does affect the nervous system, so it is a huge problem not just for patients who are currently under treatment but also for the 15 million cancer survivors in the United States.”

To listen to Dr. Tofthagen’s full interview on WPTF’s That Cancer Show click here.

Dr. Tofthagen has twenty years of experience as a nurse specializing in cancer treatment. Her research interests include symptom management, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, psychological aspects of cancer, and survivorship issues. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Massachusetts and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Tofthagen also leads a Neuropathy Association support group in Tampa to help people with neuropathy and their family and friends better understand the disease and find support.

The Neuropathy Support Group is part of the Neuropathy Association, which is a national non-profit organization that helps increase public awareness of the nature and extent of peripheral neuropathy, and educate the public and healthcare providers about the disease. All the members of the Neuropathy Support Group are neuropathy-diagnosed patients. The organization issued a press release about Dr. Tofthagen’s radio interview with That Cancer Show. To read the full press release click here.

Dr. Tofthagen will be back on That Cancer Show this Sunday, Oct. 27 , 2013 to discuss cancer-related neuropathies. To listen to the show visit WPTF’s website.

For questions or general information about the Neuropathy Support Group or the Supportive Care Clinic contact Dr. Cindy Tofthagen at neuropathyhelptampa@gmail.com.

For related stories on Dr. Cindy Tofthagen visit USF College of Nursing’s News page here.