Hilotherapy versus frozen gloves for prevention of taxane-related toxicities in early breast cancer: prospective study

Prevention of taxane-related toxicities at the extremities is important for patients’ quality of life and adherence to treatment. Several studies endorse hand/foot-cooling using frozen gloves as profylactic intervention. Unlike frozen gloves, hilotherapy produces cooling at a constant temperature. A prospective study in Belgium found that compared to frozen gloves, continuous cooling of hands and feet using hilotherapy results in better prevention of grade 2 and higher side-effects in patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. The authors conclude that from clinical and patient perspective, hilotherapy is the preferable option for preventing clinically significant taxane-related side-effects.