Chemo icing

[flyguy]

To anyone who has done icing or is doing it now during Docetaxel infusions I have some questions. When icing your feet did you ice both the soles and top of the toes or just the soles, the socks have provisions for both.? Same for the hands, palms and top of the fingers or just the top of the fingers? Did you start the icing prior to the infusion or right when it began and did you do it continuously for the hour long infusion or take some breaks? I read that more than 20 minutes at a time could cause some damage. As for chewing on ice chips again did you start early and how often did you take the chips, continuously or some other time interval? Lastly how did it work out, was it worth the effort? Thanks in advance for your input.

[Cooolone]

I believe the ice chips worked very well...

I learned about the cryo preventative prophylactic effect just prior to starting Docetaxel. Was going to go the route with the skull cap and machine too, in order to try and help mitigate hair loss. My team screwed up with the script and order and the delay caused me not to have this during my first infusion. But the nurse at my 1st infusion was nice and they provided the ice for hands and feet regardless. This was provided in little plastic baggies that work just fine. I subsequently had seen those special gel socks and gloves and stuff, but I'm not sure they would work any better. Although I did not use them so can't really attest to that.

So, it was about a week post 1st infusion my hair began to fall out anyways, so not sure if the skull cap would have helped anyways. I cancelled the order. Funniest thing is that all the normal hair came out, leaving behind the grey! So if it's grey - it stays! Just figures right? Lolz...

The little baggies are ok, but can leak, so I always wore thin socks and brought along an extra pair in case they got wet. The ice would be provided for me just prior to the infusion when I was getting my IV Steroid. So maybe 10-15 minutes chill time prior to chemo infusion. Many patients like to use their chairs and lean back, feet in the air. I didn't. I kept my feet on the ground, on the ice packs. The ice packs remain throughout the infusion, I didn't take them off, both hands and feet. I would lift my feet and place one foot in top of the other and chill top&bottom and switch it back and forth. But supposedly just the ice on the bottom is ok (per nurse). But when they got too cold I would stop that.

For the hands, I would do the same thing, your hand is in the bag and the ice is on the bottom, but placing your one hand on top of the other really chills the hand, freezingly so, lol. I felt this was needed more for the hand that I kept taking out of the ice bag so I could eat the ice chips provided. Definitely could be issue with being too cold, but with the bags you could self regulate if too cold.

So, I didn't eat ice chips during my first infusion. And I had a nasty "burnt" mouth effect like a swallowed an entire bowl of hot soup and my taste buds were shot, etc. Had that "metal" taste in mouth when infusion started, etc. This burnt mouth feel stayed for at least a week or more, but did eventually wear off. So between 1st and 2nd infusion I had come across some reports that eating ice chips may help.

On my 2nd infusion I requested this and ate ice chips just prior to the infusion and right through the completion. More like letting the ice chips melt in my mouth than eating them... And it worked!!! No metal taste while infusing, no after effects of the burnt mouth feeling. It worked great IMO. Again, a little bit of juggling things around because you have to take your hand out of the bag to grab the cup to eat the ice chips, but it's workable... again, that hand would get the double ice treatment (top/bottom) to make sure it was cold prior to removing it from the bag to handle the cup of ice.

And yes, I would never have a bare handed snowball fight for an hour... We all know what the hands would feel like. And when done with your infusion your hands are very, very cold... Beware too, that consuming the ice makes for the need to urinate, and usually when done I would vacate prior to leaving hospital. Hahahaha, as you can imagine, the cold hands are a problem! Not only with assisting the urination, but when washing you hands afterwards!

DO NOT use hot water! Or you'll feel pain like you didn't realize! Lmao, ask me how I know O.o

Cold water or just hand sanitizer as a suggestion there

Did it work? Of course we could never know the "with" vs "without"... And I do have some mild neuropathy in my finger tips, and balls of my feet. The feet was there prior to chemo, so I can't really say if it's that much worse, and is why I say mild. The finger tips, that's new. But there is another issue I'm not sure might be a cause as well. I experienced a lot of dehydration, like really drying out. My skin, I never ever had issue with dry skin. During chemo it got chalky, dry hands and feet, face, neck, ears, scalp, etc. And the sensation in my finger tips could be described as like having callous there... Or dull sensation as well due to neuropathy. Only time will tell if permanent.

This was closely monitored and discussed with my MO, and the onset began just prior to the 5th infusion. We discussed and I felt it hadn't progressed so there was no change in the dosage. The dosage would typically be reduced from 75mg to 60mg, and if neuropathy continued or worsened, the Docetaxel could be stopped all together! Typically around the 5th infusion this occurs and can be permanent! So don't take it too lightly if it occurs. Study reports that those with propensity, like diabetics or other underlaying circulatory issues, can experience this more so than others. The information is out there, I don't have the links, sorry.

Anyways, that's my story, hope it helps shed some light on icing the cake while getting Docetaxel, lolz.

Good Luck and Best Regards!

[flyguy in reply to Cooolone]

Thank you for the very detailed response.

[leebeth]

Yes, we bought the gel mittens and gel socks on Amazon. They have gel packs on the soles of feet, and a smaller pack for above toes. The mittens have gel on both sides and your hand slides inside. My husband applies the ice 15 minutes prior to beginning infusion, and continues for 15 minutes at end. He changes the gel packs midway...so after about 45 minutes. I spoon feed him ice chips throughout, since his hands are in these huge mitts! He has thus far had no taste alterations or irritated mouth, and has had no signs of peripheral neuropathy. He has had 3 treatments, so he is halfway through.

[6357axbz in reply to leebeth]

Good! Keep it up. Hoping for the best for you

[leebeth in reply to 6357axbz]

Thank you. We received a fantastic interim report at Mayo today, so it is very worth while!