Hand Foot Syndrome capecitabine chemotherapy advice

Hand Foot Syndrome

Home Treatments Lifestyle Symptoms Cancers

Some chemotherapy can cause an unpleasant side effect called hand foot syndrome. In this condition, otherwise known as Palmer-Planter erythema, the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet become red, swollen and sore.

If severe, the skin will become flaky and your nails may become brittle and damaged. If severe it is associated with a rash in other parts of the body. The two most common chemotherapy drugs associated with this side effect include Capecitabine (xeloda) and Caelyx. Other biological agents such as Sunitinib and Sorafeneib can cause this uncomfortable condition.

Actions

Your doctor may reduce the dose of your medication or increase the time between the cycles - reduce dose intensity to allow your skin to recover.

Your doctors may prescribe some pyridoxine 50mg tabs to be take with capecitabine which may help.

It is helpful to keep the skin clean and moist. Avoid strong soaps but instead try gentle natural oils such as olive oil - massage into the hands and feet then rinse with luke warm water

Avoid friction - wear well fitting shoes

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.