chemo coming up

[Goldberg]

Thank everyone for all the input. where do you purchase cool mitts and boots. I have a high mutational tumor burden in my bones. So I am apprehensive about the results.

[Yadifan]

We purchased gloves from Amazon. CryoGex brand...although they're probably all the same. We got 2 pairs and brought them in a cooler to the infusion lab. They thaw pretty quickly, so you may want 2 pairs also. We purchased ice socks also but couldn't get them on. What we ended up doing was filling up food storage bags with ice and lay them on my husband's feet for the trip home (2 hour drive).

Wishing you good results on your upcoming treatment! Many here have tolerated it well.

[GP24]

With a high mutational burden you could get an immunotherapy with Pembrolizumab. Discuss this with your oncologists.

[tango65]

Perhaps this info about chemo from a real expert in PC could be useful:

grandroundsinurology.com/dr...

[Spyder54 in reply to tango65]

Every time I read something from Dr Tanya Dorff, I think this is a compassionate person at the top of her game. Even her photo tells you, this is a bright light. Saved for future, if needed. Thanks, Mike

[MateoBeach in reply to Spyder54]

Agree. It’s a keeper.

[middlejoel in reply to Spyder54]

Spider, agree with your comments about Dr. Dorff. It so happens that I have an appointment with her tomorrow and chemo might be in consideration going forward. The article shared by Tango is 3 years old, there have been many changes in PCa treatment since then. Dr. Dorff has been my MO for many years going back to when she was practicing at USC's Keck center. She never pushed chemo on me. Today she is very involved in Immunization and car-t reasearch. I think many, if not most such treatments require prior chemo.

[hansjd]

We just used flexible icepacks held on with elastic bandages, both of which we had at home. Started 10 minutes before, on for 20 min, off for 10-15min, on again for 20 min etc. Extra icepacks in a cooler bag. Sucked ice cubes. It worked - no neuropathy. Good luck.

[AlvinSD]

I got them on Amazon (info below). After using them, I found the booties were more practical than the mittens. I have two sets of the booties…bring them in a cooler and change them out half way through.

For hands, I ask for four Ziplocs of ice and use those for my hands. Feet I use the booties. I also suck on ice chips during the infusion. For me, I found hydrating a lot the day of and two to three days after really helps me.

SuzziPad Cold Therapy Socks & Hand Ice Pack Cold Gloves for Chemotherapy Neuropathy, Chemo Care Package for Women and Men, Ideal for Plantar Fasciitis, Carpal Tunnel, Arthritis Hand Pain Relief, a.co/3wRMIgP

[spw1]

I bought for my husband from Amazon the cool mittens and sort of socks and a hat. He has just had his third treatment.

[rsgdmd]

For feet, I bought these smile.amazon.com/gp/product... my hands, they bring me a container with ice. I just put on nitrile gloves for a bit of a barrier.

[Cooolone]

I just asked for bags with ice, for both feet and hands. Ate ice chips too... Definitely mitigated the effects. I know because first infusion I didn't, especially the chips, and man, had that metal taste in my mouth, not fun!

Hair fell out anyways, but all the grey stayed! Lmao! Some hair still hasn't returned (legs & chest) but that's ok. Head is back to normal 1 year later, but with more grey! Hahaha. This stuff definitely sucks life force from us!

Make sure you hydrate well also... Before and after!

Good Luck and Best Regards!

[podsart in reply to Cooolone]

Wondering, I did a test at home with ice pack around hand, pretty quickly the extreme cold was rather painful in my fingers. Is that unusual?

[Cooolone in reply to podsart]

No, of course not. But you can remove bag here and there of too cold. I did... And hand that held cup eating ice chips stayed out of the bag, but I put the free bag on top of hand when not eating chips.

Point is to reduce circulation and chill the fingers. Neuropathy is real side effect for fingers and toes. It goes away, but why deal with it if some ice can mitigate it! I took as much cold as my hands could stand, then took the bags off, put them back on, etc. There's no rule so to say.

[Ian99 in reply to Cooolone]

Interesting. I had chemo 8 years ago prior to being diagnosed with PCa. No use of ice packs, they were never mentioned. I have had a tingling sensation equally in both feet ever since. So I would say the side effects don’t always go away. I have known a couple of similar cases.

I expect to need chemo down the road.. docetaxel or similar and for sure I will be looking to use ice on feet and hands.. perhaps also on throat to protect salivary glands.

[Seasid in reply to Ian99]

Interestingly in my cancer center they warmed up my hands prior to chemotherapy in order to have a better blood flow.

[podsart]

Thanks for your suggestions