Docetaxel...one down...advice wanted ... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

22,290 members27,988 posts

Docetaxel...one down...advice wanted on “chilling out”

Sea5 profile image
Sea5
15 Replies

My dad’s PSA recently went up from around 4 to around 6, so the local oncologist told us to put a lung surgery on the back burner and to start chemo, which we did today. My dad is 86 and had successful chemo for non-Hodgkins lymphoma several years ago. With this chemo, I think he’s a bit baffled that his daughter keeps telling him that he needs ice for his hands and feet?! The cancer center nurses said they haven’t ever had any patients using ice to prevent/minimize neuropathy, but that they’d be fine with that, as long as I understood that they wouldn’t be participating/assisting. Questions:

Dad lost his sense of taste with the previous chemo. Would eating ice be helpful to him during this chemo, or is that tactic just intended to help prevent losing the sense of taste?

Does anyone have advice on using the ice? Have you found any great insulated gloves/booties, or had success with just using ice packs for hands and for sock feet? I need a way for using the ice to be easy for Dad, and also easy to keep tidy...I don’t want to leave any melted ice on the floor at the cancer center!

My dad has always enjoyed walking and I really hope he won’t have neuropathy that might interfere with his balance and mobility. Thanks for any tips!

Written by
Sea5 profile image
Sea5
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
15 Replies
tom67inMA profile image
tom67inMA

I didn't use any ice during chemo and only had a bit of transient neuropathy. My belief is that keeping as active as possible helped. I'd get a little bit of tingling in my small toes when walking or running, but it would generally be resolved by the next infusion.

That said, I did take my shoes and socks off and tried not to use a blanket so my hands and feet were naturally cold.

Sea5 profile image
Sea5 in reply totom67inMA

Thanks Tom67...great to hear that you didn’t have persistent neuropathy!

tango65 profile image
tango65

Some expert opinion about some aspects of chemo for PC:

grandroundsinurology.com/dr...

Sea5 profile image
Sea5 in reply totango65

Interesting interview! Thanks for the link. I’ll read it again tmrw AM with fresh eyes. No mention of cryotherapy or any other way to avoid nerve damage from the interviewed doc, but I figure investing in a stash of frozen peas to give it a try is maybe worth a go...!

tango65 profile image
tango65 in reply toSea5

It is info from a recognized national expert in PC with real. clinical experience, something which is missing in this forum.

tom67inMA profile image
tom67inMA in reply totango65

Great link tango! I didn't know about all the failed attempts at pairing docetaxel with other treatments. It really shows the difference between having a sound theory, and having proof that the theory works in practice.

tango65 profile image
tango65 in reply totom67inMA

Best of luck.

DarkEnergy profile image
DarkEnergy in reply totango65

tango!

"I view the optimal sequence as Zytiga (abiraterone) or Xtandi (enzalutamide), followed by wiping out the AR-V7 population with a chemo drug, and then going to Zytiga (abiraterone) or Xtandi (enzalutamide) next."

Exactly what I'm doing at the moment at Dana-Farber, although other populations are circulating as well...

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

Ice chips may help prevent dysgeusia. If you bring several sealed ice packs in a cooler, he can change them when they warm up. An electric heating blanket can keep his core warm.

Sea5 profile image
Sea5 in reply toTall_Allen

Thank you for the good ideas...hadn’t even thought about an electric blanket!

rontara1 profile image
rontara1

I do ice my husband's hands and feet beginning 20 min before chemo and all the way through. He just completed 5 of 6 cycles. I found gloves and booties for his feet (not the same brand) on Amazon. They do tend to lose the cold factor over the hour so I also place flexible ice packs (also Amazon) around the gloves and booties to keep them cold for the duration. I pack them all in a small ice chest and bring to the hospital. We are at Duke and the staff gave me the same response you received. Don't know for sure if they work, but we are pleased that to date he has no neuropathy. Best of luck to you!

Sea5 profile image
Sea5 in reply torontara1

Thank you rontara, I’m so glad to hear how you made this work and that it worked well for your husband! Hopefully we’ll be set to try the ice at my dad’s next session.

Fairwind profile image
Fairwind

For me, Cabazitazel (Jevtana) worked better than Docetaxel with no nuropothy problems.. Doce was very hard on my feet, big toe-nail fell out, tingling persists.. It's like my left foot is half asleep..

Just my opinion but once the cancer overcomes chemo, and it will, after that, it just takes off and nothing works very well...The cancer that survives chemo is very hard to treat successfully..

Sea5 profile image
Sea5 in reply toFairwind

Thanks for sharing your experience with me...I’m sorry to hear about the lingering tingling in your foot. : (

And yes, it kind of makes sense that cancer would be extra-ornery when it manages to overcome chemo and fight its way back. : (

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

I've seen many, many posts here about icing (not hockey) which leads me to believe that it's the way to go.

BTW if you Dad's lung issue is cancer I think you should investigate the use of Keytruda for him.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 09/27/2019 6:34 PM DST

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Advice on Xtandi & radium 223 side effects

Hi all, my Dad is currently doing a trial, Peace 111, xtandi & radium 223 with zometa. He is...
Nickhmcg profile image

Ice on hands/feet during taxotere/docetaxel infusion: what for and does it work

I am having my second infusion in a week. From the first infusion I got some pain in my wrists and...
Oldie68 profile image

Suggestions to prevent Chemotherapy side effects

Hello, I'm so grateful to all who have reached out to help answer my naive questions regarding this...

leg weakness

How common is leg weakness with metastatic prostate cancer and/or treatment for it? My dad is 6...
mediocra profile image

Foot and Hand Pain

Hi warriors - my husband and 3.5 months post taxotere chemo. Now on lupron and Nubeqa. He is having...
Sunnysailor profile image

Moderation team

Bethishere profile image
BethishereAdministrator
Number6 profile image
Number6Administrator
Darryl profile image
DarrylPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.