Forum Discussion
A tip to ease hand-foot syndrome side effects
Hand-foot syndrome, or Palmar Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (PPE) can be a side effect of chemotherapy, as I found out. It is not a nerve thing - it is a skin toxicity associated with some chemo chemicals, including docetaxol which was part of my treatment. Symptoms can include redness, swelling and blistering.
On my third round I copped it badly from days 7 - 17. For three days I could hardly walk. Staff at my Cancer Centre suggested I use cold mitts during by fourth and last infusion. These look like giant oven mitts, including a gel/freezy layer with velco strapped around the wrist. Very cold but I just managed it.
After a bit of internet searching (I know, I know) my husband helped me to make my own cold mitts for home use for feet and hands. Ingredients were an old towel, masking tape, and a freezer/gel pack. I used this twice a day for about 15 minutes for each hand and food. I know I can't say for sure what prevented or helped, but I was so happy that I had no PPE symptoms during my last round.
I would be very interested to hear about other network members' experience of PPE, and your tips to help. Perhaps it is not a common side effect? Photos included for you to have a giggle. Best wishes to all from jennyss
On my third round I copped it badly from days 7 - 17. For three days I could hardly walk. Staff at my Cancer Centre suggested I use cold mitts during by fourth and last infusion. These look like giant oven mitts, including a gel/freezy layer with velco strapped around the wrist. Very cold but I just managed it.
After a bit of internet searching (I know, I know) my husband helped me to make my own cold mitts for home use for feet and hands. Ingredients were an old towel, masking tape, and a freezer/gel pack. I used this twice a day for about 15 minutes for each hand and food. I know I can't say for sure what prevented or helped, but I was so happy that I had no PPE symptoms during my last round.
I would be very interested to hear about other network members' experience of PPE, and your tips to help. Perhaps it is not a common side effect? Photos included for you to have a giggle. Best wishes to all from jennyss
13 Replies
- Dear @Blossom1961; Hope the AC and now taxol do the trick for you and side-effects stay at a minimum!
from jennyss in Western NSW - Jennyss thanks for the response. I have my fifth treatment of twelve of taxol on Monday. Previously finished four rounds of AC. I will be having my RH breast and all lymph nodes under that arm removed.
- Dear @Blossom1961, Hope your lavender oil trick continues to work. Are you in the middle of chemotherapy?
- I get blisters on my toe tips. My oncologist said she had never heard of it. I place a drop of essential lavender oil on each toe. Blisters stay away but I still get a minor irritation which is okay.
- @Mollygirl Which I hasten to add I'm grateful for!
- @jennyss It was noticeably tender to walk round the house in bare feet yesterday. I looked at the soles but they didn't strike me as especially redder than normal. I'll keep an eye on it.
Thanks @Mollygirl. I had plans for 2018. Now all I have is time... - Dear @kmakm , Is your foot pinky/red? Is it sore/hard to walk? Could try a cold pack? But suggest get advice from your clinic staff or oncologist soon. And keep the moisturiser up to it. Best wishes from jennyss
- Takes time @kmakm, but it eventually goes away. Xx
- I've got that swollen thing in my left foot @Mollygirl. So strange.
- @LMK74 I suspect it can carry on while on hormone therapy as well. Both my hands and feet on Tamoxifen are always red and have little burst blood vessels in them. Some days are worse than others according to if I have been on my feet a lot or using my hands a lot.
