Xeloda (oral) Questions

Xeloda is an oral form of 5-FU. My wife was on infusional 5-FU for six weeks.

Here's a tip that we saw too late. I wish we knew it on Day 1.

If you have thick, hardened skin on the soles of your feet, get rid of it now. If you are unlucky to develop a really bad case of hand-foot syndrome (like my wife did), that thick hardened skin is nothing but trouble. It bubbles up, it cracks, it peels... it's a mess.

My wife was actually quite upset that no one at the hospital warned her beforehand that she has to take good care of her soles before going on 5-FU.

Good luck!!

Eli...your wife had reason to be upset and I am sorry to hear that she suffered from peeling and cracking extremities. Patients need to be made aware of possible side effects caused by medications.  Cindy's nurse did what we expect from our health care professionals in that she was informed beforehand in order for her to take necessary precautions to lessen the side effects of the therapy.
The importance of advocating for those we care for has taken on a different meaning in today’s time.  An active participation in understanding medical treatments and the disease is expected of us - not something we are trained to do rather it is something are expected to grow with and you, Eli, are the proof for just that.
All my best wishes,
Marion

Marion, just to clarify... nurses talked to us about 5-FU side effects. They gave us an info sheet with all the symptoms and instructions what to do in each case. They even gave us a few samples of the foot cream that hospital recommends.

What they did NOT tell us is to get rid of the thick, hardened foot skin. That's what my wife was upset about.

Anyway, it's all water under the bridge now.

Although I am not on this chemo I do have sensitive skin.  This cream was recommended to me, called " Udder balm "  Yes it is used by farmers on the udders of cows, to keep those udders moist and able to be milked during the cold winter months.  And the farmers use it also, think of all the nicks and cracks on their hands during the winter months.  As they used it on the cows, they noticed how much better their own hands felt.

It says not to be used on humans, but it works great.  But we have bigger problems to fight than using cow cream on our feet.  My wife goes barefoot all the time and the bottom of her feet were hard, think and felt like medium sandpaper.  Within 2 days of using, we were amazed at the difference.  Just last night she was using some, which made me think of it. 

I get mine locally at a TSC store.  That's Tractor Supply for you city folks.

Grover

Gee, I wonder what it would do for face wrinkles? Could it be "udderly" fantastic????

Hey Grover, I was at Rural King today and meant to buy some.  My first job out of high school was at Indiana Farm Bureau Co-op, in later years became Countrymark Co-op.  My dream job, I worked there 24.5 years before Land O' Lakes took over and moved it North.  But, anyway, we all used to buy the udder balm and use it on our hands and feet.  There was another product too, called bag balm.  But I seemed to remember that it was a more greasy product.
Sorry for the history lesson!

Ought oh!  Is Grover in trouble?

Cindy

Hi all,

I am just starting to have some of the hand/foot syndrome. I try to remind myself all day long to put lotion on my hands. It can be hard for me because I am a nurse and I wash my hands alot! Its not so bad yet and hopefully it doesn't get worse. I know I will be able to handle all that comes my way. Thanks all.

Shari