Chemo Socks and Gloves

[Hillwalker87]

Hi everyone, can anyone recommend a particular brand of chemo socks and gloves at all? Also, I take it you transfer them to the hospital in a cooler bag packed with ice packs on the way to your infusions? Thanks!

[Avanat]

My husband bought NaturaCure chemo socks from Amazon. He also bought extra cold packs so he could change them during his chemo treatment. He didn’t think they kept his feet cold enough though. He said if he had to go through chemo again he would take baggies, fill them with ice and put his feet on them while he sits in the chemo chair. He did not buy ice gloves but instead used frozen water bottles and held them in his hands wearing lightweight gloves. He also chewed on ice chips during treatment. The cancer center provided the ice. He brought the items with him in a small cooler on wheels. He also used a chemo ice cap (also on Amazon) but his hair came out after the first dose of chemo so he didn’t use it again. Good luck with your treatment!

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Avanat]

Thank you very much!

[Cooolone]

I just let them pack these little plastic baggies with ice for my hands and feet. No need for fancy stuff, as ice was the point. Worked very well, hands and feet frozen throughout treatments. Still got some neuropathy in feet and finger tips but both have since abated following the completion of chemo. Additionally, I had that burnt mount side effect with the first transfusion and in subsequent transfusions I also melted ice chips in my mouth, same as ice on hands and feet. The burnt mouth and sores never came back! Nurse asked me how I knew to do that and I said I researched side effects from chemo, no just Docetaxel and that there were reports that the ice chips worked. She agreed and noted that patients using other chemo have used it with success, but hadn't seen too many Docetaxel patients use the ice chips.

Anyways, for me it worked. It was a dance though to take my hand out of the ice bag and bring to cup up to my mouth continually with the ice chips. So to keep that hand cold I placed my opposite hand on top of the feeding hand, ice bags top and bottom, which kept the hand cold regardless that I kept taking it out.

Air is the biggest issue when they put together these baggies of ice. Sometimes they put too much ice and left little room for the hands or feet. Easily adjusted for, but maybe this is something you won't experience with those booties and gloves.

Best Regards

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Cooolone]

Thanks! I don't think the chemo dept over here do that sort of thing so I'm thinking if he packs a cooler full of ice chips, holds a couple of frozen ice bottles and sucks on ice chips throughout, this should do the job eh?

[Cooolone in reply to Hillwalker87]

Reach out to your doctor they should know... And if not, yes, I agree, then the socks and mittens would be best! Bring your own chips too. But honestly, it's not unknown (ice/chemo) so I don't see how they wouldn't have it available. But don't assume, make the call, know what they have or can provide.

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Cooolone]

I'll bell them tomorrow before his infusion on Tuesday then. Thanks for the advice mate, much, much appreciated!

[CountryJoe]

This theme raises a question for me. I know we are all different, but is there a clear estimate of howMuch chemo prolongs life? How many years does it add?

[Hillwalker87 in reply to CountryJoe]

I think it varies from person to person mate but I'm sure the more educated fellas on here can shed some light 😊 the best of luck to you going forward

[CountryJoe]

Thanks Hillwalker. Be well my friend.

[JamesAtlanta]

I can offer advice for fingers. It was simple. I put on a pair of surgical gloves and put my finger tips in ice. Put your fingertips in the ice as long as you can stand it…then remove them. Then put them back. Do this for the duration of the infusion. I had no neuropathy or issues with fingernails doing this. I don’t think you need any fancy gloves. Just some good surgical gloves they should give you at the infusion center.

I did not know about doing something for my feet. Wish I had. I have permanent neuropathy in the toes and balls of my feet. Very uncomfortable walking without shoes on. But you get used to it and it isn’t a big deal. I’ve read here that some people use frozen gel pads for the feet and had good success.

Hope this helps!

James

[Hillwalker87 in reply to JamesAtlanta]

That's great James, thanks for the advice, the best of luck to you going forward 🙏

[longleaf]

Someone recommended an electric blanket to us for my husband which helped with the chill that developed from the ice packs on the hands and feet