I was wondering if anyone has experience with cold mitts/booties and transporting ice to keep them frozen for chemo IV infusions? I'm starting abraxane infusions on August 12 and my doctor said that the cold mitts/booties can help prevent neuropathy. I sent my medical team a message asking for suggestions of what kind of cold mitts/booties to get, how many, what kind of cooler is best for transport, do I need dry ice to keep them cool enough, and what temperature they should be kept at. One of the nurses replied that they can't really provide any direction because cold mitts are not FDA-approved and said I need to do my own research :'(. A member of the team says the infusion lasts 3 hours, and I read that I need to keep the mitts/booties on 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the infusion, so that's a total of 210 minutes. The mitts I found on Amazon seem to stay cold for 40 minutes, so I would need 5-6 cold mitt/bootie sets to keep the hands and feet cold for a full 210 minutes. Does anyone have advice they would be willing to share? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Also going in for a port placement tomorrow. Please wish me luck!
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Hello! I use ones from amazon (NaturaCure) but only need them for about an hour and a half or so. I purchased two sets and bring them in a medium sized lunch cooler with frozen ice packs from food deliveries. It's worked well for me so far. I also suck on ice chips throughout my infusion that I bring in a vacuum sealed tumbler. My center doesn't help out with it earlier but it's been okay on my own.
Hi purplelikep! Good to hear that frozen ice packs are doing the trick. Why suck on the ice chips? Is it also to prevent neuropathy? Or to keep hydrated?
My first infusion caused me to loose my taste and then I developed a reaction in my throat that prevented me from comfortably eating solid food. It felt like I was swallowing rocks! I read to try the ice sucking during the infusion and I haven't had the problem since. It could have been a one time thing but maybe the ice is the reason so I've kept it up! I'm on docetaxel and hercecptin and perjeta for being newly Her2+.
It is thought that sucking on ice chips might help to reduce the likelihood of mouth sores. I don’t know if mouth sores are likelihood with only my type of chemo, though I suspect other types as well. I did that and rinsed a few times a day with a solution of baking soda and salt water also and so far I’ve not had a problem.
SAN FRANCISCO—Patients undergoing paclitaxel (Taxol) therapy to prevent breast cancer recurrence appear to dramatically decrease their risk of developing painful peripheral neuropathy by wearing cold gloves and socks during infusions of the chemotherapy agent, researchers reported.
Instead of 20-30 percent of patients experiencing at least grade 2 neuropathy as expected, only two of 39 patients who used preventive cryotherapy—5.1 percent of the patients—reported grade 2 neuropathy, said Mary Wilkinson, MD, Director of Breast Cancer research at the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Center, Falls Church, Va. (Abstract 124).
At her poster presentation, Wilkinson said that, of the 39 patients in the study, 15 of the patients had no neurotoxicity, and 22 patients had grade 1 neuropathy. "So we had a remarkable improvement in the percentage of what we might have expected," she said.
She said that none of the patients in the small study experienced neuropathic pain, but those with symptoms reported numbness in the fingers and feet.
Cryotherapy Administration
"Paclitaxel-induced neuropathy occurs in the hands and feet. It is a common and potentially debilitating side effect of taxanes," Wilkinson explained. "The patients have two types of problems with this kind of induced neuropathy—they can experience numbness or pain. One of the concerns is that they can have ongoing pain long-term.
"The idea with this study was to see if we could reduce that neuropathy," she said. "If you keep the feet and hands cold, you can keep the blood supply away and that keeps the drug away. That's how it works. If the fingers are cold, the blood vessels constrict. It's the same idea used when patients get mouth sores and we have them chew on ice, and people use cold caps.
"We give them gloves and socks that are kept in the freezer, just like we give people ice packs to reduce swelling," Wilkinson told OT. "We have to change the gloves and socks during the 1-hour infusion. We have two sets of gloves and socks for them to use."
She noted one patient could not participate in the trial due to intolerance to cold.
I haven't any experience with cold caps/mitts etc. other than what I have read here in the past. I am sure you will get some answers from someone.I want to wish you all the best and I know you will get the best of care. I have read here that having a port is very convenient for taking blood samples etc.
I used mitts for feet and hands and they were very beneficial. Use dry ice to keep them cool. Use a timer to know whennto change them out. A cooler on wheels is best.
What kind of cooler do you use? Another nurse also mentioned coolers with wheels... Any suggestions for size or brand? I have a 90 minute commute to my infusion center.
Mine was a hard one that you would typically take to the beach. I rented everything from Artic Cold Cap as I cold capped try for my hair, there is a photo of the cooler on their website.
One more thing the trick to the baggies is one bag has the ice in it The other baggie goes over the ice bag and you slide your hands and feet between the two baggies
Hence your toes and fingertips stay cold and not wet from the ice
I also drive 2 hours to infusion center and then have to wait for blood work, doctor visit, etc. I bought ice mittens and booties on amazon and transport them in a cooler (with wheels) with several ice packs. I bought a second pair of ice mittens and booties to change out half way through treatment. Everything stays frozen in my cooler and works great. I also purchased a V neck electric blanket shawl on Amazon to wear during infusion to keep warm. I look like I am going on a major trip when I go to the infusion center but it works for me! Cooler is nothing special....I think I bought it at Walmart. Wheels just make it easier to move it all around.
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