Anyone experience hand-foot syndrome from chemotherapy?

Posted by lindask60 @lindask60, Jan 25 12:29pm

My husband developed a rare reaction to chemo on his hands and feet. It was so bad they canceled his last infusion…bright red, swollen, extremely painful to touch, open sours, peals after a while. Has anyone else experienced this and what have you done for it. He has been referred to dermatologist at Duke and Kansas, but would just like to know if you may have tried something that will make him more comfortable. It has gotten better, but he has his next infusion on Thursday. Thank you so much ❤️

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Profile picture for lindask60 @lindask60

@colleenyoung thank you so much for your response. They determined it was not hand foot syndrome, but a rare reaction called something I don’t remember.
Yes, the Dr did prescribe a steroid cream which helped some. He had to miss one infusion due to the severity. They didn’t want permanent nerve damage as he also has numbness in his fingers and toes. I sure appreciate your input…thank you for responding!

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@lindask60
I'm sorry you and your husband are going through this. I have just gotten better after having to go off my target therapy for almost a month.
I still have scabs on my knees and elbows that looks like I have fallen and scraped them, yet I haven't; along with blisters filled with puss or water, and I was told find my Medical Oncologist,
the only thing recommended was to put lotion on them. The pain and inability to walk or drive was so hard. So I decided
to stop putting lotion on my feet, heels and the front of my feet and my toes; and the blisters popped and peeled off revealing the bloody next layer of skin which was very painful and made walking even more difficult. I decided to stay off my feet as much as I could for the whole week. The only thing my Oncologist was able to recommend
was to apply lotion (without any scent of course), but I found out that lotion was adding moisture to those blisters and keeping them sore. So maybe if your husband could stop using lotion, the blisters may pop open which began the healing process (at least for me).
I did not have the rash and blisters/scabs because of "Chemo" though...
I was on a target therapy drug. I couldn't even drive or walk. I had to use the computer chair to get around and roll around the house. I had to cancel my appointment and come more than a week later because I couldn't drive. Staying off my feet and not applying lotion and my Medical Oncologist recommending a lower dose of my target therapy drug have all resulted in my feet being better. My elbows and knees are still scabby and bloody but are getting better as well.

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Profile picture for cubeth77 @cubeth77

@lindask60
I'm sorry you and your husband are going through this. I have just gotten better after having to go off my target therapy for almost a month.
I still have scabs on my knees and elbows that looks like I have fallen and scraped them, yet I haven't; along with blisters filled with puss or water, and I was told find my Medical Oncologist,
the only thing recommended was to put lotion on them. The pain and inability to walk or drive was so hard. So I decided
to stop putting lotion on my feet, heels and the front of my feet and my toes; and the blisters popped and peeled off revealing the bloody next layer of skin which was very painful and made walking even more difficult. I decided to stay off my feet as much as I could for the whole week. The only thing my Oncologist was able to recommend
was to apply lotion (without any scent of course), but I found out that lotion was adding moisture to those blisters and keeping them sore. So maybe if your husband could stop using lotion, the blisters may pop open which began the healing process (at least for me).
I did not have the rash and blisters/scabs because of "Chemo" though...
I was on a target therapy drug. I couldn't even drive or walk. I had to use the computer chair to get around and roll around the house. I had to cancel my appointment and come more than a week later because I couldn't drive. Staying off my feet and not applying lotion and my Medical Oncologist recommending a lower dose of my target therapy drug have all resulted in my feet being better. My elbows and knees are still scabby and bloody but are getting better as well.

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@cubeth77 thank you so much for that information. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I will definitely pass this on to my husband. Blessings

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Last year I switched from biweekly IV chemo to capecitaben (caplets). Was an improvement over biweekly IV but after a moth or so hands began drying out, cracking, Feet began drying out. Skin cracking. Interfered with guitar playing. Standing in shower (had tile floor and I could feel every joint). Three weeks ago I returned to IV and symptoms have started to go away. Dr suggested Utterly Smooth hand cream. Has urea acid in it which might help.

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Profile picture for wku @wku

Last year I switched from biweekly IV chemo to capecitaben (caplets). Was an improvement over biweekly IV but after a moth or so hands began drying out, cracking, Feet began drying out. Skin cracking. Interfered with guitar playing. Standing in shower (had tile floor and I could feel every joint). Three weeks ago I returned to IV and symptoms have started to go away. Dr suggested Utterly Smooth hand cream. Has urea acid in it which might help.

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@wku thank you so much for the suggestion…we sure appreciate it!!

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