Hand&Foot or neuropathy?

[Patty H]

What is the difference in hand&foot syndrome and neuropathy? The first time I took xeloda I had H&F, my feet blistered and peeled and my finger tips peeled. This second time I tried xeloda my hands and feet felt there were needle pricks going through them, like when your foot has went to sleep and is waking up. They also got so sore I could hardly walk. I have been off xeloda for around a month now and they are better but they feel funny. The best way I can describe it, is they feel like they have an extra layer of thick skin on them. I am suppose to start abraxance next week, but if I have neuropathy I'm afraid my Dr. won't give it to me. I think I have tried all the other chemos so I don't know what will happen now. I have been on a month break since I got out of the hospital from the xeloda in June. I feel GREAT now. It has been 2 1/2 years since I have went with out anything. So anyone out there with neuropathy, what are your symptoms? Patty H

[*_Sandy H._*]

Some times my hands and feet burn, feels like someone is stabbing my toes with a needle. I have numbness that comes and goes. Some time it feels like bugs are crawling up my feet or legs. This is from the Taxol. I have been off it for 8 months now and still have it. I asked about the Abraxine and my oncologist said he would not put me on it because the neuropathy can be worse then Taxol. He said the only benefit was that no steriods were needed as a pre med. Taxol works really well for me but the neuropathy is a big concern for me. I had the H and F syndrome but did not think it was like the neuropathy. It was nasty to have but went away after I stopped the xeloda. It got worse for the first month I was off it but then it went away. The neuropathy has not gone away. Hugs, Sandy

[Lani]

Check out the following -- I believe the Clinical Trial is at the NIH but may be available elsewhere ( or may be soon). Recent reports show Ixabepilone to much less likely to cause neuropathy than the usual taxanes or abraxane:

Sandra Swain is at the NIH.

Low JA, Wedam SB, Lee JJ, Berman AW, Brufsky A, Yang SX, Poruchynsky MS, Steinberg SM, Mannan N, Fojo T, Swain SM. Related Articles, Links
Phase II clinical trial of ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an epothilone B analog, in metastatic and locally advanced breast cancer.
J Clin Oncol. 2005 Apr 20;23(12):2726-34.

You can access the abstract via PUBMED by looking up ixabepilone

Hope this helps
Lani