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

[Oldie68]

I am having my second infusion in a week. From the first infusion I got some pain in my wrists and feet, especially when cold. Not sure if it is arthritis. Also food doesn't taste the same anymore. I've read that using ice during infusion can mitigate these effects. Googling helped, but I would like to hear personal experiences. Does it really help? I doubt it helps for preventing arthritis. I read that it does help with nails changing color and falling off. How is ice applied to the hands and feet? Does it have to start before the infusion (how long?) or at the same time? Sucking on ice for an hour seems like a good recipe for soar throat, maybe worse. Any personal stories and advice will be appreciated.

[StePeteMN]

My Taxotere experience is from four years ago and my fingers and toes, in ice, did pretty well at not getting too much neuropathy. Taste is more annoying. I do recommend getting a nice smoothie or cold shake to suck on because ice chips get old, fast. I think it helps. Finally, Arm and Hammer Peroxide toothpaste.

[Oldie68 in reply to StePeteMN]

Thank you for sharing. Smoothie or shake sound very good. What do you do with the toothpaste?

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Oldie68]

I have some ideas about why he recommended that toothpaste.

A small percentage of people can develop stomatitis ( cold sore like sores developing on the gums or inner cheeks).

My dentist whose brother had chemo gave me Crest Clinical mouthwash.

I used it a couple times a day then quit using it. I developed one cold sore and used the mouthwash about 5 times a day and the cold sore resolved in about 12 hours (coincidence or the mouthwash I don't know).

I suggest making sure you use a soft toothbrush and dont be to aggressive as the gums can be susceptible to damage which can turn into sores while having chemo therapy.

[StePeteMN in reply to Oldie68]

Brush the teeth. You get a metallic minerally taste from Taxotere and I found the Peroxide helped.

[strummer]

my husband did it and didn't develop neuropathy or nail issues. we bought big mitts that you could put blue ice in. -found it on amazon. who knows if it helps but no harm in trying.

[Oldie68 in reply to strummer]

Thank you for your input. What is "blue ice"? Where do you get it?

[strummer in reply to Oldie68]

At grocery or drug store/ they’re used to keep food cold in your cooler

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Oldie68]

target.com/p/igloo-refreeza...

[Brysonal]

Only had 1 chemo so far but had cold cap , ice mits and slippers.

No side effects so far but could only bear ice on hands for 20 mins ( I have reynauds disease) and when they changed ice on feet at 35 mins I couldn’t bear that either. Cold cap was no problem and for Lu-177 I was iced for 4 hours after on face to protect salivary glands. That was no problem but feed and hands were real pain but guess it’s my Reynaulds

I have read on another site sucking frozen pineapple helps to protect taste buds. I may try that!

Good luck

[Oldie68 in reply to Brysonal]

Thanks for sharing. I'll try the frozen pineapple. How do the ice mits work? Where do you get them? Or do you improvise?

[Brysonal in reply to Oldie68]

The hospital in Finland did the mits/ slippers with ice as part of the treatment. Re the frozen pineapple I just read of a bad experience so that’s put me off that one!

Warning re frozen pineapple

[Javelin18]

I had tingling in my finger tips and soles of my feet after my first docetaxel treatment. I bought cryocold flexible ice packs to wrap my hands and feet, which seemed to keep it from getting worse on following treatments.

I'm using them now with my cabazitaxel treatments. Along with my acupuncture treatments, my residual neuropathy is going away.

You can get them at CVS or on Amazon. I have small ones for my feet, and large ones for my hands. I wear thin gloves so my hands don't get too cold. I heard that I should start 15 before infusion, and continue 15 minutes after, but I can't imagine hanging around the infusion center any longer than I have to.

Sipping on a smoothie is a good idea.

[Oldie68 in reply to Javelin18]

Thank you for sharing. I'll look for the flexible ice packs at CVS. The cold smoothie is another great idea!

[Yadifan]

We got "Cryogex" brand gloves from Amazon. It's a 2 pair pack. We keep them in the freezer and pack them in a small ice chest to take with us. You'll want 2 pairs. You'll use them both. I don't know if it will help with arthritis but is helping with neuropathy. He just finished his 21st chemo session. He had 10 sessions and a small break of 2 months and just completed his 11th. He has a little neuropathy in his fingertips but says it's not bad. When we get home, we'll toss them back in the freezer. We got socks also but had trouble putting them on. What we've ended up doing is filling up food storage bags with ice and he'll put them on top of his feet. He'll chew on ice chips for a few days after chemo and that helps. Foods are difficult for him for a few days but seems to do well with fruits. Fresh and canned. Hoping that you'll find things that help you through your chemo. There's a lot of helpful advice and people here.

[leebeth]

My husband had 6 cycles of docetaxel last year and 3 so far this year of carbazitaxel/carboplatin. We bought Healthy Hands mitts and NatraCure socks on Amazon with extra gel inserts so he can change mid therapy. I feed him ice chips. He does not use an ice cap due to skull mets. He starts 15 minutes prior to infusion and keeps cold on for 15 minutes after. This is east because before hand he gets an infusion of an antiemetic and an antihistamine. After, he has flushes etc so he is always there that long.

He also uses Biotin mouthwash.

He has had no neuropathy, no alterations in taste, no nausea, no side effects other than hair loss with the docetaxel. He especially enjoyed losing his nose hair and is sad that it has returned.

We highly recommend cryotherapy.

We moved in December and haven’t yet found the first set so we even had to purchase a second. We didn’t hesitate.

[Oldie68 in reply to leebeth]

Thank you, this sounds great. Can you elaborate on the ice chips? How do you prepare them? I suppose there has to be a break between feeding him chips, right? Having ice in the mouth for 1.5 hours seems a bit much to me.

[leebeth in reply to Oldie68]

They have an ice machine at the infusion center. He has a snack along the way but really doesn’t complain at all about the ice!

[Frigataflyer]

I had orchiectomy and was on Zytiga until it failed. Oncologo put me on Xtandi. It took three months to receive generic Xtandi from India and during that time PSA was doubling every 6 weeks. By the time I got the Xtandi, My PSA was > 60 and Oncologo opted for 4 Docetaxel (110 mg/65kg) once per month and then switch to Xtandi. After second treatment of Docetaxel, PSA was 22 and for third treatment Oncologo raised Docetaxel to 130mg/65kg and started on Xtandi 40mg. PSA dropped to 19. For fourth treatment Docetaxel remained at 130mg/65kg and Xtandi increased to 80mg. It was planned to go to full on Xtandi (160mg) after the fourth treatment and cancel docetaxel, but possibility of fifth and sixth Docetaxel will be assessed.

I had heard about Importance of cooling extremities and head on this forum, but no one on “my team” suggested it and so I went in with no protection.

I had acquired neuropathy of the feet during Zytiga and it has not been exacerbated by Docetaxel/Xtandi. My appetite for certain foods was seriously impacted by 20 radiation treatments but the recovery towards “normal” did not seem to be impaired by Docetaxel/Xtandi.

Every one is different. I seem to be a low side effect/low PSA response kind of guy

[Kevinski65 in reply to Frigataflyer]

How much is the generic Xtandi. It's the first time I've heard that was available.

[Frigataflyer in reply to Kevinski65]

About $200.00 per month when add shipping. Shipping to USA is much better than shipping through Canada. I just got a three month supply and it cleared customs and was on door step in four days after landing in New York.

[Kevinski65 in reply to Frigataflyer]

What address do I order it from? I read that Astrellas had an exclusive agreement and there is no generic. Maybe some lab is doing it illegally I don't know. If it works I'd like to get some.

[Frigataflyer in reply to Kevinski65]

I ordered Zytiga from Towada Products for over a year before my Oncologo switched me to Xtandi. I have ordered XTANDI ( Enzalutamide) four times from Towada products, with no problems.They get their Enzalutamide from Glenmark and I have no reason to belief it is not the “real deal.” If you want to order you will need WhatsApp on your phone. When you have WhatsApp send message to Ravindar Pal Singh Ghandi who is the point person for English speakers. His number is [phone]. The product is Glenza 40.

Glenza 40 is 40 mg Enzalutamide and it is sold in units of 28 capsules, which at max dose of 160 mg/day is a one week supply and costs USD$67.50. Hope that this helps.

I have done the following due diligence on Glenmark products and found that Glenmark is one of the brands sold by a Canadian discount pharmacy. Also my first treatment with Zytiga was with the real deal and following one month of that I switched to,the generic Glenmark version and the trend line for my PSA continued downward.

[olloreda in reply to Frigataflyer]

I sent you a direct message to ask you something about this! Thanks

[Frigataflyer in reply to olloreda]

I am looking for your message.

[Kevinski65 in reply to Frigataflyer]

I wrote to Glenmark And they won't sell it to me.

[Frigataflyer in reply to Kevinski65]

Writing to Glenmark is like writing directly to Pfizer, write to Ravindar who works for the distributor, Towada Products

[Kevinski65 in reply to Frigataflyer]

Ok I'll try that.

[Frigataflyer]

I did not use Ice.