red burning hands

telecomjd said:

Are Her Hands Peeling?

I was on taxotere and cytoxan, and I had red, cracking, blistering, peeling hands.  I ended up getting a prescription from my PCP for clobetasol.  I was instructed to slather on a thin layer of the stuff, then put a layer of aquaphor over it, and then wear a pair of cotton gloves.  I did this twice per day.  Getting improvement was slow going -- and my symptoms were getting progressively worse as chemo went on -- but my hands have totally healed up now (finished chemo on March 8).  Depending on what you mean by burning (a burning sensation versus skin looking burned), this may help...

Megan

I did not have Taxol, but had taxotere and cytoxin like Megan.  My hands and arms were burned from the taxotere, each cycle more so.  My oncologist acted like this was a big deal although to this day I don't know why  - but I had a choice to either stop chemo (really? why would I want to do that?) or have a reduced dose and increased steroids.  No option for continuing at full speed ahead, tho.  I chose to reduce dose and take steroids longer.  Still burned.  Then blistered and peeled.  Photos on my Expressions page called Taxotere arms.  My first cycle it was only hands.  After that it was all the way up to sleeve level.

Taxotere seemed to really damage my skin and hair, altho my skin seems fully recovered.  I just hope it did the same work on any stupid cancer cells!

Suzanne

McMarty said:

Hi Linda,
I has that side

Hi Linda,

I has that side effect around my heels and on my toes and sides of my feet and in between my thumb and forefinger, on the sides of my hands and at my knuckles.  It generally started the day after Taxol (Paclitaxel for me).  At first it cleared up a great deal by the time I went back.  By week 8 it was intolerable pain.  I couldn't put any shoes on at all NO WAY.  The Dr gave me week off from Taxol and it cleared up real fast.  Then we went to 75% with 4 weeks on 1 week off - no recurrence.  Now I am starting 3 weeks on 1 week off.   So you still get the same amount of Taxol but it just takes a little longer.  PLUS my weeks off help my blood counts rebound and I generally feel significantly better.

Marty 

Horrible horrible side effort for sure -- I agree with all that has been said above - what I also did was to place ice packs on my hands and feet periodically to help with the inflammation and pain. Non stop itching between my fingers drove me crazy !!!!!!!

Intolerable pain - describes this side effort perfectly.

Vicki Sam

camul said:

vickisam
Hi, What did you do for he itching between the fingers. I am off all but Evista and weekly adrimycin and My nils are cracking and peeling, they hurt and my feet itch an burm when ever I am not walking. It is miserable and now everyhing is cramping up, I know it is but some of the big se are the same.Mr hands burn then I drop everyhing.
What did you do to manage the effects.

Hugs,
Carol

placed over my left hand -- held in place with right hand -- then alternated.  5 minutes each hand.    I placed my burning feet into spa like tub - cool water, and added ice cubes.

Carol -- if you can tolerate - old bowl, cool water with ice next to you - place 1 hand in bowl, adding ice.  

Burning itching feel - that blistered (my case - blood blisters), I keep 100% cotton socks on - 24 hours - and slathered vaseline on the bottom of my feet at least once a day.  Before going to bed, I also put vaseline on my hands and wore cotton socks, or cotton gloves on my hands to bed.  

This helped me .. and I hope, and pray you find some relief, Carol.

Vicki Sam