foot & hand syndrome from Xeloda – suggestions?

Tom: there are two different kind of problems with sensitivity to hand and feet.

Nervous System Changes (Neuropathy)

Sometimes cancer treatment can cause damage to your nervous system. This is called neuropathy (new-RAH-path-ee), or problems with nerve function. Sometimes these symptoms can be made worse by other conditions, such as diabetes, kidney failure, alcoholism, and malnutrition. Most people first notice symptoms in their hands or feet, usually starting with their fingertips and toes. Sometimes, the tingling and pain move up the fingers to the hands or from the toes to the feet.

Common symptoms include tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in your hands or feet; sudden, sharp, stabbing, or electric shock pain sensations; loss of sensation of touch; loss of balance or difficulty walking; clumsiness; trouble picking up objects or buttoning clothes; hearing loss; jaw pain; constipation; and being more – or less – sensitive to heat and cold.

Symptoms can start when you begin chemotherapy or after treatment. If they do, tell your health care team right away. Symptoms can improve over time, but it may take up to a year or more.

Treatments include medications, topical creams, and pain patches.
Other approaches include acupuncture, physical therapy, and exercise.
Managing Nervous System Changes

Be careful when handling knives, scissors, and other sharp objects.
Avoid falling. Walk slowly, hold onto handrails, and put no-slip bath mats in your tub or shower. Remove area rugs or cords you could trip over. Steady yourself when you walk by using a cane or other device.
Wear tennis shoes or other footwear with rubber soles.
Use a thermometer and gloves instead of your bare hand. These can help you avoid being burned when checking water temperature. If possible, lower the temperature setting on your hot water heater.
Allow yourself time to rest.
Copied from NCI website.

The other is:
Hand-Foot Syndrome (Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia; PPE)
which can occur with several types of chemotherapy or biologic therapy drugs used to treat cancer. (Capecitabine (Xeloda

Hi,
This is for information purposes only,seek doctor advice BEFORE any changes of your current treatment plan.

The “hand and foot syndrome” you mentioned has been reported in roughly 45-57% of patients who is on Xeloda.(package insert of Xeloda)

If I may suggested ,make an appointment to see your oncologist to determine the severity of the problem(there are four grades of severity of this side effect;and the treatment will be different depend on the grade of severity.)
This side effect of the Xeloda is very common ;it may occur as early as 2 weeks after treatment begins. sometimes it may require dose reduction if the problem is severe enough and that is why you need to talk to the oncologist about it.

Modification of normal activities of daily living to reduce friction and heat exposure ;keep palms and hands and sole of feet using emollients such as Aveeno or Lubriderm; OTC medications to relieve pain,rash and other symptoms(ask the pharmacists for their recommentions ).
God bless.