Taxotere and Icing Fingers and Toes

thanks Omaz... will report back after tomorrow

Dear Theresa

I had a terrible time with very painfull fingers, nails and toes after my first treatment with Docetaxol- it felt like my finger nails were in a clamp or had been hit with a hammer. I also got bad pins and needles and found doing fiddley jobs with my hands difficult- but thanks to people like you on the forums sharing their experiences and advice -I used a freezer cooling element wraped in a teacloth and plastic carrier bag to keep my hands cool during my second and subsequent treatments and I took my shoes and socks off and Im pleased to say i have had no pain or pins and needles in my hands and feet since. 

Iv discussed this with my hospital and they are researching into it for other patients on taxol

Im also keeping all my nails painted very dark and keeping my hands and feet as cool as pos- wearing flipflops or nothing at home and using special thin 'cool' socks (available from outdoor/walking shops). i think im also lucky that im having my chemo over the winter months although its been unseasonably warm in the UK this winter- I always feel a bit better when the weather is cold and clear.

I have also used the special neoprene cool cap for all my treatments-( 4no epirubicin with cyclophosphamide and 4no docetaxol)- iv lost about 30% of my hair but mainly where I wore a bandana as a hair band- probably because this made my scalp too hot under the band- so iv stopped wearing it except for 'special occassions and only now wear the thinest I have. Also had my hair cut short to take alot of the weight of it and bought several very high 600 thread egyptian cotton pillow cases that were very smooth to reduce heat and drag on hair at night and i frequently turn it if awake at night to keep cool.

Other advice I can share- I found ginger great for stopping/ reducing nausea- (lots of cookies with large lumps of crystal/ stem ginger! ) and honey helped reduce sore mouths and tonge (can use Manuka but any good honey worked). Kept as active as i felt I could and lots of fresh air and i carried on working but very reduced hours to keep some normality in my life- also reward yourself arrange special outings etc when you are feeling a bit better at the end of each cycle- i found going to music events/concerts with friends particularly uplifting also  riding (when up to it)/ being with my horse a very good therapy.

I begin TC chemotherapy June 2. I am being told to ice before it. I was wondering about during it. I will tell them I want to. Thanks for the thread. Very creative, ladies

Yes, icing works! 

Many of the problems with hands and feet during chemotherapy could have been avoided or reduced by icing 30 minutes before,during and 30 more minutes after taxane and platinum based chemotherapy sessions! Why doctors and nurses do not advocate it, is beyond belief! Had to bring my own basin in a private hospital, fill up with ice and water for my feet and two cereal bowls for my hands. No neuropathy, no onychopathy. I watched 4 people who had seen me doing all this for 9 sessions getting all the hand and feet problems as they would not try icing themselves. You can even buy mittens with gel on Amazon for £70 each and in France you can buy footsies with gel that freezes. It is a bit like cold caps for the hair. The drugs do not reach your exremities so you are spared. I researched it when after my first dense dose got a huge ridge on my thumb nail. I did not have another dense dose after the first one as I had huge amount of pain on my legs, they had sent me home with Arthrotec for aches and pains, useless on nerve pain which is what you get with taxane and platinum chemo!