University of Adelaide's Associate Professor Simran Sidhu, Leader of the Integrative Human Neurophysiology Laboratory; Professor Joanne Bowen, Head of the Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group; Eva Moore, Higher Degree by Research Candidate; and Associate Professor Hannah Wardill, Leader of the Supportive Oncology Research Group demonstrate the TMS equipment.
More than 80 per cent of bowel cancer survivors are living with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a form of chronic nerve damage which can cause symptoms that range from mild pins and needles to losing all feeling and control in your hands and feet.
CIPN occurs when chemotherapy treatments harm healthy peripheral nerve cells, which carry messages between the brain, spinal cord and rest of the body. When the cells are damaged, it becomes harder for the messages to get through.
No effective treatments are currently available, but a team of researchers from the University of Adelaide is exploring a new approach and is seeking trial participants for the TMaC study, funded by The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
"The persistent pain of CIPN severely impacts the quality of life of people and makes it one of the most challenging long-term side effects of cancer treatment," says lead expert Professor Joanne Bowen, Head of the Cancer Treatment and Toxicities Group at the University of Adelaide.
"Our TMaC study explores the potential of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific brain regions, as a promising treatment option."
Trial participants must be over the age of 18, experience ongoing pain in their hands or feet following oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy for bowel cancer and completed their treatment at least six months ago.
"Early evidence of TMS being used for other cancers, particularly multiple myeloma, suggests it could offer significant relief, transforming the way CIPN is managed," says Professor Bowen.
"Patients will have between four and seven sessions involving pain assessments and TMS therapy to modulate pain through neuroplasticity.
"We'll assess if there have been any improvements after eight weeks, and if there has been, we will assess them again after six months.
"We are excited to explore how TMS may provide new hope for patients suffering from the long-term effects of chemotherapy."
In 2020, Brad Gauvin was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and after surgery he completed six months of heavy chemotherapy.
"Chemotherapy has a number of physical and mental side effects which are a combination of short term, long term and permanent - peripheral neuropathy is a side effect which falls into all three camps," says Mr Gauvin.
"I had mild peripheral neuropathy during the chemo which has also left me with some permanent nerve damage, and as a result, I became well read on cancer, its causes and treatment options and was exposed to cancer care, including pain management options, its limitations and the lack of knowledge by patients, and of a patient perspective.
"Naturally, when asked if I'd like to then get involved with the TMAC study from a patient perspective by Joanne Bowen, I wanted to help in any way I could."
Mr Gauvin said most current cancer pain management methods revolve around prescription medications and felt it was important to explore other options.
"In these times of cancer prevalence going through the roof, especially in younger people, we need to be focusing public and private investment more than ever into cancer research as to prevention and treatment with our best, open and creative minds," he said.
"This is the first clinical trial of its kind in the world so potentially groundbreaking for neuroscience, cancer care and many cancer patients all over the world."
Mr Gauvin was proud to work as a consumer advisory with the TMaC group.
"They are doing Adelaide and South Australia proud, by pushing the boundaries of medical research of neuroscience and cancer care with TMS brain stimulation technology to activate certain neurons in the brain associated with the pain response to peripheral neuropathy," he said.
"This TMS pain treatment could be a highly effective alternative to pain medications with no side effects.
"It means a great deal to me that this very caring, dedicated and leading group of medical researchers and clinicians are working extremely hard and pushing themselves to ease the pain and suffering of cancer patients associated with chemo induced peripheral neuropathy, and they are acutely aware of the need for patient perspectives on all aspects of their research and study."
