Neuropathy - Halaven

[Barbara-Aschner]

Hello, I just started chemo drug Halaven and the neuropathy is more pronounced than it was when I was on chemo drug taxol.

My hospital does not support icing during treatment but they would not stop me from doing so on my own.

Any one have success with using ice on extreme throws, hands and feet, during chemo infusion?

Thank you.

[Barbara-Aschner]

Please forgive my typo. That would be extremities, hands and feet, during chemo infusion.

[daf10]

Ways to help relieve discomfort from neuropathy:

Try to keep your hands and feet cold during tx. This is the same as chewing ice chips during tx to prevent mouth sores. I was told by the onc nurse at our hospital that they will be getting a type of glove for patients that are like "ice gloves" but I'm not sure what they're made of or what they look like. At any rate, you want to decrease the circulation in your feet and hands so a hot bath after tx would probably not be a good idea. I also found this article as well and hope it helps. If I were to do it over again I'd stick my feet in bags of ice 'cause this can really decrease your quality of life.

Prevention: Prevention is very important in trying to reduce the development of hand-foot syndrome. Actions taken to prevent hand-foot syndrome will help reduce the severity of symptoms should they develop.

•This involves modifying some of your normal daily activities to reduce friction and heat exposure to your hands and feet for a period of time following treatment (approximately one week after IV medication, much as possible during the time you are taking oral (by mouth) medication such as capcitabine).

◦Avoid long exposure of hands and feet to hot water such as washing dishes, long showers, or tub baths.

◦Short showers in tepid water will reduce exposure of the soles of your feet to the drug.

◦Dishwashing gloves should not be worn, as the rubber will hold heat against your palms.

◦Avoid increased pressure on the soles of the feet or palms of hands.

◦No jogging, aerobics, power walking, jumping - avoid long days of walking.

◦You should also avoid using garden tools, household tools such as screwdrivers, and other tasks where you are squeezing your hand on a hard surface.

◦Using knives to chop food may also cause excessive pressure and friction on your palms.

Cooling procedures:

•Cold may provide temporary relief for pain and tenderness caused by hand-foot syndrome.

•Placing the palms or bottoms of your feet on an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas may be very comforting. Alternate on and off for 15-20 minutes at a time.

Lotions:

•Rubbing lotion on your palms and soles should be avoided during the same period, although keeping these areas moist is very important between treatments.

•Emollients such as Aveeno®, Lubriderm®, Udder Cream®, and Bag Balm® provide excellent moisturizing to your hands and feet.

Pain relief:

•Over the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may be helpful to relieve discomfort associated with hand-foot syndrome. Check with your doctor.

Vitamins:

•Taking Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may be beneficial to preventing and treating Plantar-Palmar Erythrodysesthesia, and should be discussed with your doctor.

Drugs/treatment changes that may be prescribed by your doctor:

•Chemotherapy treatments may need to be interrupted or the dose adjusted to prevent worsening of hand-foot syndrome.

When to call your doctor or health care professional:

•If you notice that your palms or soles become red or tender. This most often occurs before any peeling, and recommendations for relief of discomfort can be given. If you are on chemotherapy pills, you may be asked to hold treatment, or need your dose adjusted to prevent worsening of symptoms.

[Barbara-Aschner in reply to daf10]

Thank you! Barbara

[daf10]

Please don't hesitate to post if you have anymore questions or are in need of support

[Rkslaughter]

I have been doing the icing of feet and hands while the taxol is in treatment!! I keep ice on during the hour that it takes to run bag. They have done this the last three treatments and it seems to be helping with neuropathy and also from destroying the nail beds!! My oncologist recommended doing this!! Hope this helps!!

[Barbara-Aschner]

Thank you. As the Halaven is a push which only takes 5 minutes to administer I wonder if icing would help. Neuropathy is more noticible than on taxol. I plan on trying it as I've got nothing to loose.

[Tera987]

Yes, I did it on hands and feet for all my infusions. It was hard makes you have to get up to go to the bathroom while you are getting infusions. Sometimes twice in 3-4 hours. It helped a bit, still lost toenails. And my finger nails to this day from 2011 are ridges and weak.