Page 1 of 1

Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:07 pm
by Beckster
Need some help...

I am starting my 5th cycle on Xeloda. The soles of my feet thickened and darkened. I put lotion on 2 times a day. However, after taking a shower, a part of my foot was white and started to peel off. Is that normal? If so, what can I do to help with the peeling. My doctor lowered my dose, instead of 14 days of 3000mg, I am taking 3000mg for 12 days.

Any suggestions? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:41 pm
by mypinkheaven
I've read that a thick lotion that contains urea helps. You need to look at the ingredients label. Higher the percentage of urea, the better.

Good luck!!! 8)

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:13 am
by LeonW
Beckster wrote:Need some help...Any suggestions?

Hi Bexter,

I also lost the callouses (both feet) during the latter chemo cycles. Frequent rubs with lotion (we used Eucerin, 10% urea) didn't prevent this, but did help to soften the tingling from neuropathy throughout and after chemo. We still use it occasionally.

Don't know if this is 'normal', but it is certainly not exceptional to lose the thick skins under your feet. Mine came off completely, almost in one piece. It all grew back later but some of the neuropathy still remains. Worst times are during the night.

We found that the Eucerin was nicest after a really-hot foot bath ('we' as my DW was so kind to set-up the baths and massage-in the lotion :D ).

Best wishes, L

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:27 am
by Beckster
LeonW wrote:
Beckster wrote:Need some help...Any suggestions?

Hi Bexter,

I also lost the callouses (both feet) during the latter chemo cycles. Frequent rubs with lotion (we used Eucerin, 10% urea) didn't prevent this, but did help to soften the tingling from neuropathy throughout and after chemo. We still use it occasionally.

Don't know if this is 'normal', but it is certainly not exceptional to lose the thick skins under your feet. Mine came off completely, almost in one piece. It all grew back later but some of the neuropathy still remains. Worst times are during the night.

We found that the Eucerin was nicest after a really-hot foot bath ('we' as my DW was so kind to set-up the baths and massage-in the lotion :D ).

Best wishes, L


L,

Thanks! I am using Eucerin too, and I noticed that is when my callouses peeled. As far as nephropathy, I thought it is rare with Xeloda monotherapy. I am on no other chemo except Xeloda. after the "peel" my feet felt softer. Hopefully with the dose reduction, it will start to go away... :)

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 2:46 pm
by juliej
Beckster, Xeloda removed all of my hard-earned calluses from running in just a few months! :shock: Tons of skin peeled off my feet! I used Aquaphor (which has similar ingredients to Eucerin) and put on a pair of socks afterwards to let it all soak in. I also put it on my hands and then put on a pair of cotton gloves. Unlike LeonW, I could not handle a hot foot bath. Hot water made my already sore hands and feet much worse. At the end of treatment I had to wrap each toe individually in gauze tape to be able to put my feet in running shoes because my skin was so delicate.

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 3:37 pm
by Beckster
juliej wrote:Beckster, Xeloda removed all of my hard-earned calluses from running in just a few months! :shock: Tons of skin peeled off my feet! I used Aquaphor (which has similar ingredients to Eucerin) and put on a pair of socks afterwards to let it all soak in. I also put it on my hands and then put on a pair of cotton gloves. Unlike LeonW, I could not handle a hot foot bath. Hot water made my already sore hands and feet much worse. At the end of treatment I had to wrap each toe individually in gauze tape to be able to put my feet in running shoes because my skin was so delicate.


How long after chemo, did your feet get back to normal? I will be finished the first week of June.... Summer sandals are making their presents soon! :lol:

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 3:49 pm
by juliej
Beckster wrote:How long after chemo, did your feet get back to normal? I will be finished the first week of June.... Summer sandals are making their presents soon! :lol:

It took less time than I thought. Normal (not red, swollen, or peeling) skin showed up the first month after ending treatment. After 2 months my feet looked like their old selves! I would start buying summer sandals if I were you! :D

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 4:19 pm
by Beckster
juliej wrote:
Beckster wrote:How long after chemo, did your feet get back to normal? I will be finished the first week of June.... Summer sandals are making their presents soon! :lol:

It took less time than I thought. Normal (not red, swollen, or peeling) skin showed up the first month after ending treatment. After 2 months my feet looked like their old selves! I would start buying summer sandals if I were you! :D



THANKS JULIE!!!!!

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:24 am
by Stewsbetty
Beckster wrote:Need some help...

I am starting my 5th cycle on Xeloda. The soles of my feet thickened and darkened. I put lotion on 2 times a day. However, after taking a shower, a part of my foot was white and started to peel off. Is that normal? If so, what can I do to help with the peeling. My doctor lowered my dose, instead of 14 days of 3000mg, I am taking 3000mg for 12 days.

Any suggestions? Any help will be greatly appreciated.


It is the 5fu that causes the hand/foot troubles. Hot swollen feeling and then the peeling skin. I lost the skin on my feet 3x through my treatment ( though I did Folfox). I have been done chemo for about 6 weeks now and my hand and foot skin is looking normal now. Since I had the oxaliplatin I have some tingling in my feet still. Looking forward to that leaving me too. :)

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:21 pm
by WriterGirl1969
Hi Beckster.
Yes, the "hand/foot syndrome" is a very common side-effect of Xeloda, even on monotherapy (on combo drugs it would still be the Xeloda that caused this particular side-effect). I was on Xeloda mono also, and my feet got what we called "moldy" looking (lots of dark spots all over). When it got really bad, the bottom of my feet felt very (what I called) "blistery" too. Stingy and like I was walking on blisters all the time. I used UREA Cream (practitioner strength). I bought it in the oncology pharmacy. Put in on 3 times a day. It's made for diabetics as I understand it, but is also found to be excellent for hand/foot. It's thick like the others, but not as difficult to absorb or quite so greasy. Also has a fairly pleasant smell. Nothing overpowering. I don't know if the hand/foot syndrome is what causes the peeling, or the constant slathering of cream, but it's pretty common as others have chimed in on.

Lowering the dosage is probably the most common way to deal with it. Believe it or not, upping your water intake really helps a lot too. Seems too easy, right? But it really does work. Xeloda leaves the body via the urine, so drinking more flushes more out before it can settle in those small capillaries that are in the palms and foot bottoms. Another option might be to ask your oncologist if they would be willing to try you on a 1 week on / 1 week off regimen. Some recent studies have shown that you hit max effectiveness of Xeloda at 8 days, and after that just increase side effects without getting any more benefit (you can find one of the articles on this at http://www.nature.com/articles/npjbcancer20166 - although they focused on gastrointestinal side-effects). However, as this regimen is not the standard of care yet, some oncologists won't do it. Mine wouldn't. I will be honest and tell you that I decided to go to this regimen on my own after doing research on it.

I've been off chemo since early October, and my feet feel pretty much back to normal, although I still have some spots of skin on my feet that are recovering. I figure this is still my body working out toxins and damaged skin cells. Of course I have also now been diagnosed as pre-diabetic (thanks, chemo) - so that probably plays in also.

Hope this info helps. :)
I did a lot of Xeloda research before and during my treatment. Feel free to ask away. :)

Hugs and Prayers,
Tracy

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:43 pm
by Beckster
[quote="WriterGirl1969"]Hi Beckster.
Another option might be to ask your oncologist if they would be willing to try you on a 1 week on / 1 week off regimen.



Tracy,

Thanks for the info... my MD Anderson oncologist suggested 1 week on and 1 week off, but I wanted to be finished by the beginning of the summer. Instead, he put me on a 12 day regiment instead of 14 days. He said that it is still effective and more effective than taking one pill less per day. Hopefully, it will work.

Becky

Re: Soles of Feet peeling on Xeloda

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:48 pm
by WriterGirl1969
The important thing is making informed decisions. Glad to see that it was presented to you as an option. :)
Hopefully things will get better as you go. Do think about trying the water increase. It really does help with the feet.