The importance of staying warm during chemotherapy

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Staying Warm during Chemotherapy…

is absolutely essential, especially if Oxaliplatin is part of your regime.  

Chemotherapy suites are one of the warmest places on the planet. I’m sure their heating bills must be enormous but believe me, it’s absolutely necessary.

Our nerve endings are shot. In my case, it is in both hands and feet. When cold, the sensation is like being constantly stabbed by sharp pins. ‘Pins and needles’ it is not but painful it most definitely is. My feet feel as if I they are blocks of ice.  They may be warm to the touch but feel frozen.

Wearing socks all day and all night is a must. It is only now, over 8 years since the end of my chemo, that I can sometimes wear shoes without socks or tights, but it has to be a very warm day.

During the winter months of my treatment, I would arrive in a coat, which I immediately took off once inside as the hospital was toasty warm.

In my bag I would have my scarf for later. This was essential. My oncologist  warned me that you must cover your mouth and nose or the cold air will be unbearable. She was not wrong.

My first session done, just before we headed out the door into the cold night air, I wrapped my scarf around my nose and mouth making sure they were firmly covered and went outside. My eyes tingled, but there was nothing I could do about that if I wanted to see where I was going and walked over to the car.

Big Mistake…

Once inside I pushed the scarf down – BIG MISTAKE. The air inside the car was cold and I took in a lungful. The sensation was like nothing I’ve had before or since. My throat started to close, my nose started stinging.  There was pain in my chest and I could only think that this is how a heart attack must feel.  Very quickly I pulled up my scarf and started gasping for air through it.  Thankfully that blocked out most of the cold and kept me warm.

After that, I made sure that my trusty scarf was always with me. 

If you want to know more about why ‘Oxaliplatin Hates the Cold’, this article from ONCOLOGY NURSING SOCIETY explains why in greater detail: Outpatient Oncology Drug Series: Oxaliplatin Hates the Cold. January 16, 2015 by Jill Weberding BSN, MPH, RN