I was scheduled for 21 days on and 7 days off. Oral meds were 3 500mg tablets of Capecitabine twice a day and IV Gemzar once a week for the 3 weeks and skip the off week. I did a search of those meds on this site and found that they were said to be a milder chemo than others with low side effects. But this was not the case for me. Saturday morning, I had red tingling hands. I was told this could happen and put lotion on them. They worsened as the day went on and Saturday evening the bottom of my feet started to be a little sore. I put lotion on my feet. Sunday morning things were a lot worse and neuropathy pain started. The soreness in my feet became so bad I could barely walk, and the neuropathy pain increased to a brutal level. I called the on-call doctor and advised him of what was going on and he had me stop the oral mads. He said it usually takes 2-3 weeks for Hand-Foot Syndrome to develop and for mine to happen with in 24-48 hours was indication that I needed to stop the Capecitabine. He said my symptoms could get worse and there was nothing he could do. I was not able to sleep at all Sunday night. Monday, I called my doctors nurse's direct number and left a message about the HFS and Neuropathy pain. I advised them to cancel all my scheduled appointments. Not what I signed up for. I didn't even have any diarrhea. I had just the opposite with a bit more constipation. The symptoms I had Saturday were not bad enough that I would have continued with the treatments. But after the brutal pain on Sunday, treatments are no longer an option I want continue. I gradually improved and today was the first day I could take my dog to the dog part. My feet are still a little bit sore, and I last had a little neuropathy pain last night. I will have to see if it occurs again tonight. I am starting feel better and can exercise again. I hope I will be able to continue to improve.

Thank you for checking on me and all the best to everyone dealing with cancer.