Hi, I had my 2nd course of chemo last week (taxotere and cyclophosphomide) n was wondering whether anyone else has had this side effect? The tips of my fingers have gone very red n very sensitive, kinda feels like I’ve burnt them. The same thing happened after the first course too, not sure what day it started last time but it started on around day 4 this time n is still quite bad now at day7.
Hi there!
Yes, me too. With both taxotere and Taxol. Couldn’t even change the bog-roll holder.
It started to wear off slowly before I had finished the courses of treatment. Hope it does the same for you.
X
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Me too - then the nails came off both hands and both feet - very annoying - you suddenly realise how import your nails are for picking up stuff and for protecting you finger tips - My finger tips keep splitting, but at least my nails are growing back now xxxx Rachel
Hi Mumof3, I was on a different chemo regime (Cappacitabine) and had similar problems with my finger tips. I causes you to lose your fingerprints and one guy in the USA had problems getting through Customs because he had no fingerprints! I found I couldn’t feel things at all. I would walk across the room with an envelope in my hand and not realise I had dropped it. Also couldn’t judge things properly and was amazed at just how much information the brain uses along with the nerve endings of your fingertips. I had to stop drying wineglasses as I broke so many. And picking up small things like pills was a small problem too. It lasted a wee while but it is wearing off now that I have stopped for over a month. Hope things improve for you. Take care, love Val XX
Sounds like hand and foot syndrome. I had it very severely after my first Taxotere and my hands peeled very deeply on the finger tips.
If it is this it is caused when the small blood vessels in the palms and/or soles break due to use, pressure, or increased temperature, causing an inflammatory reaction and possibly releasing the drug into the area. To avoid this happening, you should use you hands as little as possible immidiately after chemo when the drug is at it’s highest level in your blood. It’s difficult to say how long this is but I did as little with then as possible for a couple of days after. Not always easy if you have kids to look after or are working.
You should avoid hot water too. My onc gave me a strong steroid cream to combat what was there already and this took about a week to work. I also used this as precaution on the other cycles too, hsut for a day or two.
I am assuming you are having steroids for a couple of days as I believe this is a must with Taxotere which is why it probably doesn’t start immidiately as the steroids are preventing the reaction.
I hope this helps.
All the best, Macc
There are special ice mittens (and ice slippers) - a bit like cold caps for hands - which can help to stop the worse of these symptoms. I;ve had them and I’m sure they do help a bit. And protect your nails to a certain degree, too.
Not many UK hospitals seem to have them yet (if ever), but it’s worth asking, just in case they have some but are rationing them.
Failing that, you can always take some chilled/iced water and some small plastic containers to dibble your hands and and feet in whilst the Taxotere is being administered.
X to all
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Thanks for your replies everyone. I couldn’t particularly remember whether anyone had mentioned this as a side effect at the start n I forgot to mention it when I was there last week. Will have to make a note to tell them next time. I’ve forgotten who mentioned it but yeah I take steroids twice a day the day before, day of and day after treatment. X