Ways 2 Decrease Neuropathy during chemo

NATSGSG

Hello everyone, 

Will be starting chemo in 3-10 days time,  depending on whether small infection at suture site gets cleared. 

LLike everybody,  worried about side effects esp neuropathy. My MO suggested that I either buy hypothermia gloves and slippers to wear on my hands / feet during therapy (2 pairs each,  very expensive $100/pair ) or bring at least 10-16 frozen blue ice in a cooler., including:

- floor mat to prevent water spilling on the floor, 

- plastic containers to soak my hands in,  and a separate one to soak my legs in 

- towels to dry 

- thicker plastic food gloves for hands, wear double layers with rubber band around wrists, 

- plastic vegetables bag for each foot with rubber bands tie around shin 

- half an hour before and after the infusion of paclitaxel,  to soak hands / feet in cold water filled with 2-3 blue ice each. When water is not cold,  get the nurse to change it from the extra blue ice in cooler. 

The rational is that when hands / feet are cold,  it is more difficult for paclitaxel to travel to hands / fingers and toes / feet,  therefore it reduces the likelihood of neutropathy. 

I did an NLM search and found two scientificalky proven articles that this is true of patients who had docetaxel.(-10 to -20 degrees are best ) prone to neutropathy.  Of course,  It may not work on some people,  but it worked on most people in their studies

So,  that's what I'm gonna do despite the inconvenience.  I only need to do it 9-13 times, but saving my fingers and toes from nerve damage is worth more than the inconvenience. Hope this info helps everyone. 

I dont worry abt hair loss as it will grow back though mine grow too slowly. 

Still researching on how to reduce bone and joint aches.  Will share when found. 

All the best. 

PS 

My MO wanted me to do one year chemo but I refused.  I wanted to do the 9 weeks that NEw Zealand PHARMAC recomnended to early breast cancer HER 2+cancer patients.  We finally compromissession on this 12 weeks though I might stop at 9 weeks if I have no allergy to paclitaxel.  You can request yr regimen if you do your own research.  I have decided not to go for radiation if I do 9 weeks of this. bBut if this chemo combo is not for me,  I will stop after one treatment and request radiation