Xeloda feet

Jaylo969
Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
This week has been so nice. I finally have some positive energy and have been working in my garden a little bit.It really helps with stress, anxiety, as well as weight gain.

This morning at 3:00 AM I woke up with my feet on fire and it felt like they were cracking all up.Have been walking on toes like a baby just learning to walk. What a downer!

I guess now I will tippey-toe on out to Walgreens and get some of that Udder Butter stuff. I was kind of wondering if annointing them with the Magic Mouthwash might help :)

I still plan to have a good day, darn it!!!

-Pat
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Comments

  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    I hear ya
    I am still having problems with my feet. Sometimes burning, but mostly tingling and numbness, drives me nuttso, and let me tell ya thats a short drive...LOL

    I dont remember having this problem with my first round of IV chemo, but doing the Xeloda the second round had really done a job on my feet.

    Do you have one foot that is worse than the other? I do...

    Hope you have a great day...

    Beth
  • greybeard64
    greybeard64 Member Posts: 254
    Dang it
    Sorry to hear about your feet. Udder cream,the jar has a cow print on it, or bag balm which comes in a green square can, helped me. although the bag balm is really thick more so then Vaseline(patroleum jelly) Hope it helps and you can get out in that garden today.
    my big plan is to get the peas onions and spinach I started as seeds in the house out to the garden.
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Pat - Glad to hear
    Hey Pat - Glad to hear you've got some energy. I haven't had any burning in my feet. They just feel slushy. Walked into a door frame yesterday. Whamm!!!
    Hope your havin' a great day - darn it!!
    Roger
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    Crow71 said:

    Hey Pat - Glad to hear
    Hey Pat - Glad to hear you've got some energy. I haven't had any burning in my feet. They just feel slushy. Walked into a door frame yesterday. Whamm!!!
    Hope your havin' a great day - darn it!!
    Roger

    darn
    oh Pat what a bummer....I didn't get the feet that badly

    slather your goo on and then put on socks for sure....holds it in...other people here swear by different creams

    smile and go for a little walk on you tippytoes...sorry trying to make you smile :):)

    big hugs,

    mags
  • JR
    JR Member Posts: 139 Member
    Bag Balm
    I use the bag balm in the green can. Works good. Use on both hands and feet with gloves and sox. Although, my hands bother me much more than my feet. Good luck.

    John
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    JR said:

    Bag Balm
    I use the bag balm in the green can. Works good. Use on both hands and feet with gloves and sox. Although, my hands bother me much more than my feet. Good luck.

    John

    Tiptoeing and udder cream, etc.
    Thanks folks! All advice/suggestions is welcome here. I Googled Hand/foot syndrome and all the sites say to call your Dr.immediately. Is that necessary since she has already discussed w/me that this might happen? I am on my week off Xeloda starting today so hopefully it will heal some and I see my Onc the day before I start a new cycle.Think I’ll just pitter around in my garden today and forget doctors and cancer for a moment.

    Beth…both feet are equally affected. Neither one is showing any mercy. I didn’t have the foot thing with 5-FU although my hands itched and turned red.

    Greybeard & JR…I couldn’t find any bag balm at Walgreen’s. I bought something called ‘Udderly Smooth’ udder cream. Feels pretty good going on. ( I just remembered the word “udder” when I got to the store…should have written it on paper )

    Roger, I took your advice about getting out and thanks. Good advice for me. ( Try to watch where you are walking, ya’ hear? )

    Mags, you did make me smile. I’ll be outside tiptoeing through the tulips today.

    -Pat
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    Jaylo969 said:

    Tiptoeing and udder cream, etc.
    Thanks folks! All advice/suggestions is welcome here. I Googled Hand/foot syndrome and all the sites say to call your Dr.immediately. Is that necessary since she has already discussed w/me that this might happen? I am on my week off Xeloda starting today so hopefully it will heal some and I see my Onc the day before I start a new cycle.Think I’ll just pitter around in my garden today and forget doctors and cancer for a moment.

    Beth…both feet are equally affected. Neither one is showing any mercy. I didn’t have the foot thing with 5-FU although my hands itched and turned red.

    Greybeard & JR…I couldn’t find any bag balm at Walgreen’s. I bought something called ‘Udderly Smooth’ udder cream. Feels pretty good going on. ( I just remembered the word “udder” when I got to the store…should have written it on paper )

    Roger, I took your advice about getting out and thanks. Good advice for me. ( Try to watch where you are walking, ya’ hear? )

    Mags, you did make me smile. I’ll be outside tiptoeing through the tulips today.

    -Pat

    Xeloda
    I am curious as to how much Xeloda you are taking? I took 4600 mg a day for almost 8 months, 2 weeks on one week off, and its been over 9 months and I am still having problems, everyday with my feet. It sucks...sure hope yours get better soon..

    Beth
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    dorookie said:

    Xeloda
    I am curious as to how much Xeloda you are taking? I took 4600 mg a day for almost 8 months, 2 weeks on one week off, and its been over 9 months and I am still having problems, everyday with my feet. It sucks...sure hope yours get better soon..

    Beth

    Xeloda dose
    Beth, I am on 3,000 mg daily...2 wks on, 1 wk off.I have 5 more treatments/cycles. My Doc says that every 3 wks when she sees me we will reassess everything.I think she is about ready to take me off of chemo completely but I am not ready to do that....yet. I want to give it my best shot and then I'll be content to let the chips fall where they may.

    Is your feet problem due to neuropathy or is it the hand/foot syndrome ( or both?)

    -Pat
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    Jaylo969 said:

    Tiptoeing and udder cream, etc.
    Thanks folks! All advice/suggestions is welcome here. I Googled Hand/foot syndrome and all the sites say to call your Dr.immediately. Is that necessary since she has already discussed w/me that this might happen? I am on my week off Xeloda starting today so hopefully it will heal some and I see my Onc the day before I start a new cycle.Think I’ll just pitter around in my garden today and forget doctors and cancer for a moment.

    Beth…both feet are equally affected. Neither one is showing any mercy. I didn’t have the foot thing with 5-FU although my hands itched and turned red.

    Greybeard & JR…I couldn’t find any bag balm at Walgreen’s. I bought something called ‘Udderly Smooth’ udder cream. Feels pretty good going on. ( I just remembered the word “udder” when I got to the store…should have written it on paper )

    Roger, I took your advice about getting out and thanks. Good advice for me. ( Try to watch where you are walking, ya’ hear? )

    Mags, you did make me smile. I’ll be outside tiptoeing through the tulips today.

    -Pat

    Udderly Smooth
    I liked that much better than the Bag Balm, which is greasy. My onc suggested it.

    Grease your feet well. Also ask about B6 supplements to cut the neuropathy/hand-foot syndrome

    Good luck - it's no fun.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Oh yea
    Hi Pat,

    I've got that burning feeling like I'm getting cracks in my feet right now. I'm not on Xeloda, but I'm on 5FU. Weird, cause I didn't get this before when I took 5FU, but I did get it pretty badly from the Xeloda. When I took 5FU before, my feet peeled a lot and my hands turned dark, but no pain or burning. Lucky me, this time I'm getting all that plus the burning and blistering. Watch how much you walk- more walking will cause blisters to pop out. Last week I thought it was all over (since it was a week after I got the 5FU), so I went for a nice long walk. That evening I was regretting it, with blistering feet again. I'm going to go get out my udder relief cream right now and slather it on my feet, then put my socks back. I've found that nothing really makes this side effect go away, but the cream helps to soothe it.
    Take care!

    Lisa
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    lisa42 said:

    Oh yea
    Hi Pat,

    I've got that burning feeling like I'm getting cracks in my feet right now. I'm not on Xeloda, but I'm on 5FU. Weird, cause I didn't get this before when I took 5FU, but I did get it pretty badly from the Xeloda. When I took 5FU before, my feet peeled a lot and my hands turned dark, but no pain or burning. Lucky me, this time I'm getting all that plus the burning and blistering. Watch how much you walk- more walking will cause blisters to pop out. Last week I thought it was all over (since it was a week after I got the 5FU), so I went for a nice long walk. That evening I was regretting it, with blistering feet again. I'm going to go get out my udder relief cream right now and slather it on my feet, then put my socks back. I've found that nothing really makes this side effect go away, but the cream helps to soothe it.
    Take care!

    Lisa

    Oh Lisa
    I am sorry that you are having the burned foot syndrome too. I'm sure walking and gardening caused mine too. I think Crow is the one who told me to walk....love him anyway..LOL.

    My feet look & feel like I have walked barefoot in mid summer over a freshly paved tar road..ouch!

    I guess I'll become best friends with udder cream now. Yesterday I put on some old crocs
    ( ugly shoes )and socks and I found the crocs didn't irritate like my other shoes.

    -Pat
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    ♪♫♫♫ Tiptoe thru the Tulips
    to your garden, that's where I'll be so tiptoe, thru the tulips, with me ♪♫♫♫

    I know what you mean with gardening being relaxing. I've started with planting a few iris bulbs and not I need to do spring cleanup since it's drying up a bit.

    I have foot problems caused from Erbitux. I've always gotten very dry feet from treatment and I find Bag Balm to be the best on the feet. Rub it in after a shower and put a sock on the foot and it stays OK for the day. The Erbitux also sometimes causes these growths in the corner of where my toenail meets the skin on the side. They can hurt. I am on a short Erbitux break and things clear up very fast.
    You know Jaylo, one can always sit on a milk crate or kneel on one of those mats while in the garden too.
    ;-)

    Feel better. Enjoy your garden. Post photos when you can.
    I'll try to do the same in a few weeks.
    -p
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    PhillieG said:

    ♪♫♫♫ Tiptoe thru the Tulips
    to your garden, that's where I'll be so tiptoe, thru the tulips, with me ♪♫♫♫

    I know what you mean with gardening being relaxing. I've started with planting a few iris bulbs and not I need to do spring cleanup since it's drying up a bit.

    I have foot problems caused from Erbitux. I've always gotten very dry feet from treatment and I find Bag Balm to be the best on the feet. Rub it in after a shower and put a sock on the foot and it stays OK for the day. The Erbitux also sometimes causes these growths in the corner of where my toenail meets the skin on the side. They can hurt. I am on a short Erbitux break and things clear up very fast.
    You know Jaylo, one can always sit on a milk crate or kneel on one of those mats while in the garden too.
    ;-)

    Feel better. Enjoy your garden. Post photos when you can.
    I'll try to do the same in a few weeks.
    -p

    Tiny Tim Phil?
    Weren't those the days?..LOL

    I do know about milk crates and mats but the country girl in me refuses to remember that gardening has been modernized.I like to get down and get dirty. Seriously, I spent a day with my weedwacker and I believe that was what put the stress on the feet.Should have known better...doing too much too fast...but oh glory it felt so good!!!!

    I will try to post some pics when the Azaleas bloom . They should be gorgeous! My Iris, Wisteria, tulips, Lilies are already blooming.They are late this year because of the very cold winter we had.

    Can you tell me exactly where I can go to buy bag balm? Walgreen's didn't have it.

    -Pat
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    Jaylo969 said:

    Tiny Tim Phil?
    Weren't those the days?..LOL

    I do know about milk crates and mats but the country girl in me refuses to remember that gardening has been modernized.I like to get down and get dirty. Seriously, I spent a day with my weedwacker and I believe that was what put the stress on the feet.Should have known better...doing too much too fast...but oh glory it felt so good!!!!

    I will try to post some pics when the Azaleas bloom . They should be gorgeous! My Iris, Wisteria, tulips, Lilies are already blooming.They are late this year because of the very cold winter we had.

    Can you tell me exactly where I can go to buy bag balm? Walgreen's didn't have it.

    -Pat

    Another suggestion
    Pat,

    I also had severely red, burning feet(Folfox not Xeloda though). I used bag balm and it did help. But my mom had also gotten me a pair of slippers that had packs you inserted that could either be put in the freezer or microwave for hot or cold. I would freeze them and AAAHHHHHH...... instant relief for my burning feet.


    I believe she got them at JcPenny but I bet you could find them other places that sell "spa" items.

    I hope relief comes soon... mine usually lasted 2-3 days then better...until the next treatment(every 2 weeks)

    Smiles,
    Dawn
  • greybeard64
    greybeard64 Member Posts: 254
    Jaylo969 said:

    Tiny Tim Phil?
    Weren't those the days?..LOL

    I do know about milk crates and mats but the country girl in me refuses to remember that gardening has been modernized.I like to get down and get dirty. Seriously, I spent a day with my weedwacker and I believe that was what put the stress on the feet.Should have known better...doing too much too fast...but oh glory it felt so good!!!!

    I will try to post some pics when the Azaleas bloom . They should be gorgeous! My Iris, Wisteria, tulips, Lilies are already blooming.They are late this year because of the very cold winter we had.

    Can you tell me exactly where I can go to buy bag balm? Walgreen's didn't have it.

    -Pat

    Bag Balm
    I am not sure if you have these around you but I got mine at Rural King. It's original use was for cow udders (dairy), that might bother some I guess I never thought about it one way or the other. From the sound of your posts (country girl) it wouldnt bother you either, lol.
    If you dont have a rural king I would think any store that caters to farmers, livestock would have it, like Tractor Supply. Hope that helps, and it is MUCH greasier then the Udder cream. I used it pretty thick at night with socks, and a little less during the day as it does feel a little strange. strange is better then pain though.
    I was out today planting some Peas that I started in the house, along with seeds for yellow and green onions, spinach. Ground is still really wet though so its hard to work still. getting your hands a bit dirty sure does get the mind in a good place though!! I'll try to post a pic of the Magnolia tree in our yard. It really did well this year, poor thing most years we get a frost right as it starts to flower and it cant recover we are just a bit to far north for it really.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    dmdwins said:

    Another suggestion
    Pat,

    I also had severely red, burning feet(Folfox not Xeloda though). I used bag balm and it did help. But my mom had also gotten me a pair of slippers that had packs you inserted that could either be put in the freezer or microwave for hot or cold. I would freeze them and AAAHHHHHH...... instant relief for my burning feet.


    I believe she got them at JcPenny but I bet you could find them other places that sell "spa" items.

    I hope relief comes soon... mine usually lasted 2-3 days then better...until the next treatment(every 2 weeks)

    Smiles,
    Dawn

    Slippers with frozen inserts
    I will look for them. I believe that would feel oh so good!

    This is the 3rd day and my feet are still very red but feeling much better than they did a couple of days ago.

    Thanks Dawn!

    -Pat
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member

    Bag Balm
    I am not sure if you have these around you but I got mine at Rural King. It's original use was for cow udders (dairy), that might bother some I guess I never thought about it one way or the other. From the sound of your posts (country girl) it wouldnt bother you either, lol.
    If you dont have a rural king I would think any store that caters to farmers, livestock would have it, like Tractor Supply. Hope that helps, and it is MUCH greasier then the Udder cream. I used it pretty thick at night with socks, and a little less during the day as it does feel a little strange. strange is better then pain though.
    I was out today planting some Peas that I started in the house, along with seeds for yellow and green onions, spinach. Ground is still really wet though so its hard to work still. getting your hands a bit dirty sure does get the mind in a good place though!! I'll try to post a pic of the Magnolia tree in our yard. It really did well this year, poor thing most years we get a frost right as it starts to flower and it cant recover we are just a bit to far north for it really.

    Where to buy
    Patti
    There is a website...its bagbalm.com. It states that you can get it at drugstores,farm stores,pet stores,hardware stores, feed stores and tack shops. Also says if you can't find it you can order direct and gives you an email address.

    Hope it helps..... its thick and greasy but does work.

    Smiles,
    Dawn
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    hand and foot
    Between hand and foot syndrome and neuropathy, in both hands and feet, I have been pretty unhappy some days. I have tried a few creams and they all seem to work to some effect for the hand/foot syndrome. Since finishing chemo, the hand and foot syndrome seems to be clearing up some. I had the unhappy occasion a few nights ago of having my large toe on each foot in pain (due to neuropathy), even at the touch of the sheet. I was beside myself (not really, that would be some trick, eh?) and needed to do something so I ran down to my local Walgreens, at 1:30 in the morning, and got myself one of those Scholl's foot massage/soak/bubbly things and some epsom salts. Like I said, I needed to try SOMETHING. Well to make a long story short, the soaking did crap for the pain, but after a week my feet are all but cleared of hand and foot syndrome and are as soft as my grandson's hind end. I checked today when I was changing him. Really, just as soft. Go figure.
    I am thinking about trying to find a way to fix me eyes (I need glasses for reading) so that I might perhaps discover a cure for the pain and/or numbness in my hands and feet!
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member

    hand and foot
    Between hand and foot syndrome and neuropathy, in both hands and feet, I have been pretty unhappy some days. I have tried a few creams and they all seem to work to some effect for the hand/foot syndrome. Since finishing chemo, the hand and foot syndrome seems to be clearing up some. I had the unhappy occasion a few nights ago of having my large toe on each foot in pain (due to neuropathy), even at the touch of the sheet. I was beside myself (not really, that would be some trick, eh?) and needed to do something so I ran down to my local Walgreens, at 1:30 in the morning, and got myself one of those Scholl's foot massage/soak/bubbly things and some epsom salts. Like I said, I needed to try SOMETHING. Well to make a long story short, the soaking did crap for the pain, but after a week my feet are all but cleared of hand and foot syndrome and are as soft as my grandson's hind end. I checked today when I was changing him. Really, just as soft. Go figure.
    I am thinking about trying to find a way to fix me eyes (I need glasses for reading) so that I might perhaps discover a cure for the pain and/or numbness in my hands and feet!

    eyesight Rick
    I too have noticed that my eyesight is getting very bad since starting chemo. Prior to this I only needed drugstore reading glasses for small print.Last night I was watching the news and the lady reporting had 2 sets of lips..one right on top of the other.Sometimes it is worse than other times...

    So now with 7 tx completed I can't see, can't hear, can't think, walk like a cripple, and my insides are inflamed. I woke up w/bruises on my stomach yesterday. Unfortunately no one had 'touched' me. Sure hope this chemo is killing the bad cells too....( early morning pity party..LOL )

    It's gonna' be a lovely day. Spring has advanced into summer here. Was using the furnace last week; air conditioner this week.

    Hoping your feet get better. It is hard to function when the feet hurt.

    -Pat
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member

    hand and foot
    Between hand and foot syndrome and neuropathy, in both hands and feet, I have been pretty unhappy some days. I have tried a few creams and they all seem to work to some effect for the hand/foot syndrome. Since finishing chemo, the hand and foot syndrome seems to be clearing up some. I had the unhappy occasion a few nights ago of having my large toe on each foot in pain (due to neuropathy), even at the touch of the sheet. I was beside myself (not really, that would be some trick, eh?) and needed to do something so I ran down to my local Walgreens, at 1:30 in the morning, and got myself one of those Scholl's foot massage/soak/bubbly things and some epsom salts. Like I said, I needed to try SOMETHING. Well to make a long story short, the soaking did crap for the pain, but after a week my feet are all but cleared of hand and foot syndrome and are as soft as my grandson's hind end. I checked today when I was changing him. Really, just as soft. Go figure.
    I am thinking about trying to find a way to fix me eyes (I need glasses for reading) so that I might perhaps discover a cure for the pain and/or numbness in my hands and feet!

    HFS & neuropathy
    If you are done with chemo, you might want to try Alpha Lipoic Acid - 600 mg once or twice a day. It did wonders for me, giving me back my feet in short order. I was still having trouble walking a year later; within a couple of weeks of starting that ALA my feet felt significantly better. I met with an integrative medicine specialist who recommended this.

    ALA is medically proven to help for neuropathy from diabetes. Here's a reference from Memorial Sloan Kettering: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69117.cfm

    Not good during chemo, tho, as it may lessen the effect of the chemo drugs.

    Good luck.