Although it can be very simply defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, the term “cancer” actually covers more than 100 different types of pathologies that can affect different parts of the body and have different prognoses.
There are also a wide variety of treatments available – surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy… – but perhaps the one that worries patients the most is chemotherapy because of the possible side effects.
Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, anemia, infections, digestive problems, inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract (musocitis), nerve damage (neuropathy) and problems concentrating are some of these unwanted effects.
There are different approaches to preventing and relieving these symptoms, and the use of ice has gained popularity in recent decades. So-called cryotherapy can be used through a variety of systems, such as cold caps, gloves and socks, and direct application of ice to the mouth.
Cold caps to prevent hair loss
One of the most common and visible side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. It can begin within a few weeks of starting treatment, affecting the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and even other body hair. This loss occurs because the drugs not only attack the tumor cells, but act globally and can damage the hair follicle.
Although alopecia is usually reversible, it can undermine self-esteem, causing anxiety and depression, and impair the social interaction of affected people. They often feel lonely, and the sight of themselves without hair constantly reminds them that they are sick.
A technique to reduce this effect is as follows. scalp cooling system or a cold cap, which aims to reduce the amount of medication reaching the base of each hair by applying local cold. Low temperatures constrict the blood vessels in the scalp, thereby reducing the flow and absorption of chemicals in the area. Oncology guidelines already include cold cap among their recommendations.
Although the effectiveness of these “helmets” is not the same for all people, some studies show that approximately 66% of patients who used them retained more than 50% of their hair, and 39.3% retained all of their hair, compared to 0% of them. patients who did not use anything.
The cooling cap should be applied approximately 45 minutes before the start of the infusion (drip), maintained throughout the treatment, and left on the head for approximately 90 minutes after the end of treatment.
Tolerance and level of compliance scalp cooling system are high and their side effects are mild or moderate. These include headache, feeling cold and scalp discomfort.
Gloves and socks against neuropathy
Another common adverse effect is something called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This is primarily due to the use of taxanes, a group of drugs that damage peripheral nerves and typically cause a tingling sensation, spontaneous pain, or discomfort when exposed to common stimuli such as touch. This effect on the nerves also results in weakness in the muscles of the legs and arms and changes in sensation.
Symptoms may begin throughout treatment or after it ends. Their duration is also variable: 68% of patients suffer from them for one month, 60% – three months and 30% – six months or more. CIPN may even limit daily activities.
In these cases, cryotherapy is carried out wearing gloves and socks, which reduce the temperature of the extremities during treatment. The vasoconstriction created in this way prevents significant amounts of the drug from entering these areas and damaging the peripheral nerves.
Various studies, including a systematic review published this year, show its effectiveness and improvement in patients’ quality of life.
Ice in the mouth to combat mucositis
Finally, chemotherapy-induced mucositis is an inflammation of the lining of the mouth, esophagus, and digestive tract. The patient experiences pain and redness in the mouth and throat, ulcers, and difficulty eating and drinking.
One strategy to prevent this disease is to slowly dilute the ice in your mouth during treatment. Some studies suggest that this action limits the drug’s exposure to the oral mucosa, reducing damage and ulceration.
In short, the use of cold seems to open up new and promising possibilities for the preventive treatment of the dangerous effects of chemotherapy.