Preventing peripheral neuropathy during Taxotere treatment.

[jholmq]

A question: I will be starting Taxotere soon. Has anyone used the cold gloves and footwear to avoid issues with peripheral neuropathy, and how successful were they in avoiding this side effect? Thanks in advance for your response.

[Shooter1]

Iced hands and cold packed feet. added xtandi at cycle 5 and continued cold packs/ ice through cycle 9, Permanent neuropthy in both hands and feet. Combination pushed stage 4 cancer into remission with help of orchiectomy. Cut xtandi dose in half. 2 years phys. ther. to get strength back to acceptable level.

[jholmq]

Thanks for your input Shooter.

[Shooter1]

No. Feet numb toes to heals. Hands- finger tips and back of hands. Now too burned to tell much about hands. Finished Taxatore in Feb. 2018.

[Hidden]

Interesting response...I’m about to start my bout with Taxotere...what is the water under the dam?

[rust]

I finished round 6 last week and had none yet unless it develops afterwards.

[easeytiger]

Hi. I've just finished 10 rounds of Docetaxel. From the first session I used cold mitts and socks with extra ice if the pouches were starting to melt. I've had no neuropathy, so consider myself to be fortunate with the side effects. Also wore a cold cap and sucked on ice chips.

[6357axbz in reply to easeytiger]

What cold mitts, socks and cold cap did you use? What brand names?

[easeytiger in reply to 6357axbz]

Iceinger mitts and natracure socks both on Amazon. The icecap was supplied by the hospital

[6357axbz in reply to easeytiger]

Thanks

[6357axbz in reply to easeytiger]

Couldn’t find Iceinger mitts on amazon or via google. Did the cold packs for the natracure socks last for the entire chemo session?

[bellyhappy]

Just done with my 6 th and last infusion 100 days ago . I did use cold hand pad as well as cold pad socks. I had also sucked on ice cube during infusion. So far no neuropathy and impact on my taste buds was minimum.. drink a lot of fluid before and after infusion. Do some form of exercises as your body allows you to.. it helps a lot. Good luck and God bless

[Captain_Dave]

Some of us are looking at starting chemo. Where can we get this water under the dam?

Thanks

[Hidden]

We used ice packs on hands and feet, cold cap on head. No neuropathy so far. Completed 4 rounds m 2 to go. No fancy equipment just plain old ice pack with Velcro straps - good luck!

[Rexwaterbury]

I simply packed large freezer bags with ice and placed them below and above my feet. Likewise I held onto bags of ice. Sucked on ice chips. Started 30 minutes before chemo and stopped one hour after chemo. Minimal numbness on balls of feet. No hand issues. No taste issues. You will get hypothermic. Use an electric blanket. Wear a heavy coat.

[Raymonda100]

My husband had chemo at Duke Cancer Center and when we asked about using cold packs/ice they discouraged it. Suggested it wasn't effective and reduced circulation of the chemo. After 6 doses, my husband has some minor numbness in hands and feet. But his dose was reduced after the first because the first dose was so bad he was going to stop. He wound up in the hospital for 5 days on IV antibiotics with a WBC of .5.

[j-o-h-n]

Over the dam.... or under the bridge......... (picky picky picky).... no r's please

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 12/08/2019 9:37 PM EST

[Hidden]

I used nothing. Oncology RN at Infusion Center asked and checked each time. No need.

GD

[Hidden]

Hello jholmq,

My father did 6 rounds of Docetaxel. His oncologist recommended taking B6 before infusions. We made 4 ice packs from 2 gallon freezer bags with a solution of water and rubbing alcohol which makes the packs more “moldable” while frozen. We transported packs in a cooler to the infusion center and they kept well until use.

He began using 15 minutes before the infusion. The 2 gallon sized bag wraps nicely around hands and feet. He wore socks and gloves to avoid any ice burns. During the infusion he would take a few small breaks. We’d unwrap him for 3 minutes at a time when he became terribly numb. He continued icing 15 minutes after the treatment. He also chewed on ice shavings to thwart mouth sores.

This protocol worked for him and he avoided neuropathy altogether.

Wishing you well,

Linda

[6357axbz in reply to Hidden]

What was the water alcohol mix proportions?

[Hidden in reply to 6357axbz]

For every two cups of water, add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. I doubled the bags for durability and made sure that all air was released. A regular frozen bag of water will freeze solid. Adding the alcohol will make the ice pliable and you’ll be able easily mold it around feet and hands.

[6357axbz in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!

[Hidden]

Anytime. 😃

[tom67inMA]

I didn't use any ice. If I recall correctly my MO frowned on such things. What I did do was run and walk as much as possible during chemo. I've since read that exercise does in fact help get the drug into the tumors where it can be more effective. I also believe it helps keep neuropathy away, but have no proof other than it wasn't a significant problem for me. I did get some tingling but it would usually be gone before the next infusion.

[cesces]

"I would have used something else, to help, during Chemo"

What would you have used?

[monte1111]

Did not know about icing. Foot neuropathy after 8 cycles Taxotere. DWDaughter's solution sounds good. I think there is a pun in there somewhere. Or Three-tz's velcro. It is something most don't seem to have to worry about. Considering the consequences, think ALL doctor's should inform patients, unless a clinical test proves there's no results from icing. Would I do the chemo if I knew I would get neuropathy? At that time, March 2017 .... yes.

[MarkBC]

I am in British Columbia, Canada. Ice gloves were provided to all patients receiving docetaxel. The nurses brought out a fresh pair of gloves from the freezer half way through the 60 minute infusion.

We could pay extra to have ice booties but I didn't. I did get neuropathy in my toes after the fourth session. It started to go away after chemo was finished but I still have some in my two littlest toes.

The chemo also impact my tastebuds during rounds 5 and 6. That went back to normal soon after chemo finished. I have heard sucking on ice cubes can prevent that.

Good luck with your treatment. I didn't find it to be as bad as I expected.