Question regarding icing

I am thinking of icing too, had bought the usual cheap icepacks. I want to proceed exactly as moth described - with oven mittens and DH's big socks.

BUT

Lately, I'm thinking a lot about this.... Why icing obly during the i. v.? What about all the chemo that comes rushing to the iced areas, as they are getting waem later? I am thinking about my frozen hand in winter, say during a snowball fight - when I get home they get too warm, red with all the blood rushing in. wouldn't this cause even more chemo rush to the hands and feet?

well, just thinking...

RadagastRabbit - there are sone very usefull threads on icing during chemo, you can find some more info there...

Icing is a personal choice. I iced during the Taxotere portion of my 6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere. My rationale for doing it was that I could handle being uncomfortable for an hour and half for 6 rounds versus dealing with possible long term effects of neuropathy and nail damage. If you opt to ice, hope it helps. Below is quick info about icing that I previously posted.

With the okay of your onco, one can ice their fingernails/ toe nails to help prevent nail damage and possibly help with neuorpathy. . I found out about the icing on the Chemo Discussion threads and asked my onco if I could do it. She said it would be fine and but said she didn't know if it would help or not. I did ice and fortunately have had minimal nail damage and neuorpathy. I know some gals don't ice and are just fine while others who didn't ice wished that they had. The first minutes of icing are not comfortable but one gets used to the coldness after a while. I usually wore the same outfit to every chemo--- leggings, a men's undershirt, a pullover hoodie sweater, socks and boots. When it was time to ice, I would put on some fleece running pants over my leggings, wear a fleece jacket and get a warm blanket for the infusion center warmer.

Here are some tips to help you with icing.

FOR THOSE ICING NAILS : Always clear anything you want to do with your oncos. You will need to clear it with your onco about icing since not all oncos will allow icing during the infusions. The Taxotere icing time period is 1 1/2 hours ( 15 minutes before the infusion, 1 hour during the infusion and 15 minutes after the infusion. For Taxol, the icing period is 15 minutes before the infusion, the time period during the infusion and 15 minutes after the infusion. At the suggestion of my onco, I am using clear nail polish on my nails to help keep them strong and also icing the nails to help prevent nail damage which is a side effect of Taxotere. She suggested that use Sally Hansen Strong As Nails Clear Polish but I switched to Essie polish since it doesn't chip as much as the Sally Hansen brand. Essie polish costs more but for someone like me who never used nail polish before chemo, the fewer times I have to apply polish the better. I don't mani/pedis but some do. I'd rather avoid the germ issue at nail salons and taking of a chance of getting nicked.

ICING :

• Time period for icing- You will for 1/1/2 hours in total= 15 minutes before the Taxotere infusion + 1 hour during the infusion + 15 minutes after the infusion. For Taxol, the icing period is 15 minutes before the infusion, time period during the iTaxol nfusion and 15 minutes after the infusion.
• Ice- You can use frozen peas in quart size ziploc bags marked "Do no eat!!!" and reuse those bags of peas. Some have used small reusable/refreezable ice bags you can get at the drugstore in the first aid department. I opted to use ice. I have an ice tray that makes small rounded bottom circular ice. I tried the peas and decided I liked the ice better because I thought it stayed colder longer. My infusion center has ice available for me to use if I want to use it. I always bring an extra bag of ice just in case I need it.
• Transporting ice to infusion center- I used a cooler with a freezer pack plus take extra infusion ice bags.
• What to put the ice bags in- That is a personal preference. Some just put the ice bags on their feet and wrap a blanket around them so the bags don't fall off. Some use insulated or neoprene lunch bags and put the ice bags in those. Pot holders work also. My hands and feet are small so I'm using some neoprene wine cooler bags that I bought at Target for $6.99 each. I figured I could use the wine bags later on. I'm still able to hold an insulated mug so I can drink really cold water and eat ice during the infusion. I have pretty small hands/feet which explains how I am able to use those Neoprene wine bags.
• Hand & Feet Protection- I wear thin sports socks on my feet when I ice the toes. The socks keep the rest of my feet warm during the icing. On my hands, I wear a pair of knitted wristlets/fingerless gloves to keep the rest of my hands warm. If you don't have knitted wristlets, you can make some from men's socks by cutting holes in the toe area. Some people take their feet/hands out of the ice periodically; however, I don't do that.
• Process- I let the infusion nurse know that i'm icing so we can coordinate when I should start the icing. Once I know when I'm going to start the infusion, I put the ice bags in the bottom of the Neoprene bags. I put the ones on my feet first and adjust the ice bags so my toes nails are covered. I then put the ones on my hands on and adjust the ice to cover my fingernails. My husband helped me with this process.

Tips to Help Take Care of Your Nails

• Keep them short
• Use a polish with strengthener ( clear if your onco does a nail check at your appointments)
• Learn to not use your fingernails as tools----- No more opening cardboard boxes/cartons with your thumbnail
• Do not use your fingernails as staple pullers
• Use garden gloves if working in the yard
• Use rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products around the house

RadagastRabbit- I know that you and her husband are probably overwhelmed with your diagnosis. There is so much information and appointments and tests coming at both of you all at once. Hang in there.... One day at a time, one step at a time. You will get through this time and move forward with your treatment plan. When you have questions, please post. There are many who have travelled before you and ready to help you and give you comfort and support.