red hands, feet... chemo?

charlotte · 09-02-2006, 04:25 PM

I have red knuckles on both of my hands and on my feet... It is very painful to walk on and my hands are very sore .. Could this be a side effect from the chemo?? I am on gemzar, and taxetore (spelling)... I had round 6 monday of chemo.

If this is so, what can I do about it??? I am taking pain pills and putting ice packs on my hands... is there anything else I can do...??

thanks for any suggestions.....

Charlotte

RhondaH · 09-02-2006, 04:54 PM

lest I remember. Yes, Taxotere DOES cause this, but as far as a sollution, I know of none (at least no one told ME of one). As a consolation, it DOES fade away. Good luck. Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

Becky · 09-02-2006, 06:40 PM

Charlotte

What pain killer did you onc tell you to take? Usually it is Tylenol but sometimes also Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If you can't remember or you think you need something else, call your onc - there is always someone on call.

The taxanes do cause problems in the extremities. Some folks escape but having something happen is almost unavoidable.

Have a nice weekend

Becky

Bev · 09-02-2006, 08:23 PM

Try Vitamin B-6 . BB

tousled1 · 09-03-2006, 04:28 AM

I never had the problem with red hands and feet. My problem was and still is neuropathy. I finished Taxatore in May and still have the neuropathy. It's better some days than others and I'm hoping that with time it will go away (wishful thinking).

09-03-2006, 04:30 PM

For the red hands and feet use udder balm loaded up at night before bed and put on socks and 'gloves'. I found Nivea also helped. I lotioned up many times each day. For Neuropathy try the B complex vitamins (B6 as Bev pointed out) and B12. I took them daily and found they did wonders for neuropathy in my fingers and toes!

athena453 · 09-04-2006, 11:45 AM

I had the same thing with taxotere. My hands and feet felt as if they had been scalded. My onc told me the name of this condition, sounded something like "Accral aphasia". She said that it was a strange side effect that 1% of patients get. Ice was the only thing that helped. I started icing my hands during the remainder of my taxotere infusions and it did help. Also, my palms and soles peeled after the redness subsided.