According to research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022, women who wore frozen or tight-fitting gloves during chemotherapy for breast cancer were less likely to develop moderate to severe peripheral neuropathy. While both methods were effective, the compression method was easier to use and tolerated.
Certain chemotherapy drugs are known to cause peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage in the extremities. This can cause pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or decreased sensation in the hands and feet, interfering with daily activities and decreasing quality of life.
Cryotherapy of hypothermia is one method for treating peripheral neuropathy that uses cold temperatures to limit blood circulation to the hands and feet, reducing the amount of toxic drugs that reach the peripheral nerves. Breast cancer patients who wore gloves and socks containing a frozen gel during chemotherapy were less likely to develop symptoms of nerve damage in their hands and feet, according to a previous study. Hand and foot compression may have a similar effect. A similar approach restricts blood flow to the scalp with tight-fitting cooling caps, which reduces chemo-induced hair loss.
