I am currently taking Xeloda and have been for 6 mos. The hand/foot syndrome has been a big problem for me even though many have much less or no problem. Early on I had much more of a problem but now it is better after a lowering of the dose. I still have pain in feet and hands which starts a week into the two weeks I am on it. It goes away during the following week when I am off of it. My skin peels but less than on higher dosage.

What has worked for me to lessen side effects: take medicine right when you are eating.
Get some light weight gloves ( I got on Amazon).
Get some very good moisturizer preferably with urea in it.
At night lather up your feet and hands with moisturizer and wear socks and gloves over feet and hands.
During the day apply moisturizer a number of times.
After moisturizing I wear socks and athletic shoes and gloves. The gloves help do things that might be too painful otherwise.
Moisturize all the time even when you are on a week off from medicine.
Do not take hot showers or wash hands in hot water.
As always in this journey you also discover other things that help you. It took me several months after starting Xeloda to figure out what works for me.

It is definitely working as my last Petscsn showed no active cancer !

Wishing you all the best!!