{"id":200262,"date":"2026-03-11T19:34:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/200262\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T19:34:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:34:07","slug":"how-to-cope-with-cold-sensitivity-due-to-chemotherapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/200262\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cope with cold sensitivity due to chemotherapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Platinum-based chemotherapy<\/a> drugs \u2014 including cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin \u2014 are well-known for causing nerve damage in the hands and feet. This can lead to a side effect<\/a> called peripheral neuropathy<\/a>. Patients who experience it often report abnormal sensations of tingling, burning or numbness.<\/p>\n

But patients who receive the drug oxaliplatin may also experience something extra: an extreme sensitivity to cold.<\/p>\n

Known as cold dysesthesia, this form of neuropathy is unique to oxaliplatin. It can make drinking ice-cold beverages extremely unpleasant and exposure to chilly temperatures very uncomfortable \u2014 whether they\u2019re due to air conditioning or just the weather. For some patients, the sensation can be so strong that it\u2019s actually painful.<\/p>\n

So, how soon does this cold sensitivity start after receiving oxaliplatin? How long can you expect it to last? And, is there anything you can do to manage it? Read on to find out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When\u00a0does\u00a0the\u00a0cold sensitivity\u00a0from oxaliplatin\u00a0start?<\/p>\n

The sensitivity to cold can come on very quickly after a chemotherapy infusion<\/a>. Still, some patients don\u2019t notice it for several days. It can even surprise them, especially when it comes to cold food and drinks<\/a>. That\u2019s why I warn patients before they start any oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How long\u00a0does\u00a0the\u00a0cold sensitivity last?<\/p>\n

That depends on the length of your treatment. The first couple of times you receive oxaliplatin, you might only have cold sensitivity for a day or two. But the longer you\u2019re on it, the longer your symptoms can last. A few months into chemotherapy, your cold sensitivity may linger for several days, or even weeks, after an infusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The good news is that cold sensitivity usually goes away once you\u2019ve finished chemotherapy. And, it\u2019s not dangerous, just unusual. The abnormal cold sensation of dysesthesia can be mild or bothersome. But in and of itself, it\u2019s just a side effect; it doesn\u2019t mean something bad is happening.<\/p>\n

Cold dysesthesia is a form of neuropathy that\u2019s unique to the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin.
\nThe severity of this side effect can vary, but it usually goes away after treatment stops.
\nTemporary lifestyle changes are the best way to manage it.<\/p>\n

Are there any strategies\u00a0you\u00a0can use to\u00a0manage\u00a0cold sensitivity?<\/p>\n

Absolutely.\u00a0The severity of cold sensitivity varies from patient to patient, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0typically very manageable.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0rare to need to adjust\u00a0your\u00a0dose or\u00a0treatment schedule\u00a0just\u00a0because of\u00a0that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In most cases, it\u2019s better to avoid the cold that\u2019s causing you discomfort than it is to look for ways to address it. So, some patients struggle with it more in the winter than the summer.<\/p>\n

But unlike side effects such as\u00a0nausea<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0diarrhea<\/a>, which can be improved with\u00a0medication<\/a>, coping with cold sensitivity is all about making lifestyle changes. Here\u2019s what I usually recommend.<\/p>\n

Food temperature-related cold sensitivities<\/p>\n

Ask for drinking water\u00a0at room temperature.\u00a0
\nRequest soft drinks with no ice.\u00a0
\nAvoid\u00a0smoothies<\/a>, popsicles,\u00a0ice cream<\/a>\u00a0and other frozen treats.\u00a0
\nSkip cold soups like gazpacho.\u00a0
\nStick with\u00a0foods\u00a0served warm or hot.\u00a0
\nChoose hot beverages like\u00a0tea<\/a>,\u00a0coffee<\/a>\u00a0and cocoa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some research suggests chewing ice chips during an infusion may help prevent this side effect altogether.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Air temperature-related cold sensitivities<\/p>\n

Wear gloves when reaching into your refrigerator or freezer.
\nAsk to relocate your workspace if your desk is by a drafty door or beneath an air vent.
\nBundle up in extra layers if you have to go outside in cold weather<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing cold sensitivity due to chemotherapy, try the strategies above to see which ones work best for you. If you\u2019re still struggling, contact your care team. They can help you come up with some additional ways to cope.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0call 1-877-632-6789.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs \u2014 including cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin \u2014 are well-known for causing nerve damage in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":200263,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[1145,13197,1143,1142,56,58,57,79015,1148,2822],"class_list":{"0":"post-200262","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-caregivers","9":"tag-chemotherapy","10":"tag-diagnosis-treatment","11":"tag-family-friends","12":"tag-houston","13":"tag-houston-headlines","14":"tag-houston-news","15":"tag-neuropathy","16":"tag-patients","17":"tag-survivors"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=200262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/200263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=200262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=200262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=200262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}