Common chemotherapy drugs affecting feet

• Anthracycline antibiotics
• Cytarabine
• Docetaxel
• Capectabine (or 5-fluoroucil)
• Doxorubicin

Below are the tips that the My Girls' Team has found to be helpful in managing HFS to continue the activities you enjoy.

Tip #1 - Protect Your Hands and Feet

• Wear kitchen gloves or thin latex gloves (you can buy a box @ Sally Beauty stores) to help with opening jars and household chores such as washing dishes, cooking and cleaning.  A towel helps to open jars and handle heavy pots that are hot while cooking.
  
• And when you can't stand the look of your nails anymore and have a special event to attend, stick on some fake nails and head out. IMPORTANT: Be sure to gently remove fake nails, cleanse and moisturize prior to your next skin check with your Oncologist.

Tip # 2 - Use Gentle Cleansers

• Avoid harsh soaps and cleansers while bathing and cleaning.
• Avoid mineral oil, turpentine and other solvents while painting or to cleanse hands after hobbies as they sting and irritate after use for quite some time!

Tip #3 - Epsom Salt Soak

• Soak your tootsies and hands in a cool/cold water Epsom salt bath each evening for 10 minutes. Epsom salts are a natural anti-septic and will remove bacteria not visible to the naked eye. T
• The skin will be cleaner than clean, loose and soft for you to apply healing moisture-rich barrier creams to absorb into the skin and help protect and heal the peeling, blistering or cracking.

Tip #4 - Cold Hands & Feet, Happy Heart & Mind

• If you live in a cooler climate, embrace your cold morning floors by walking on them without slippers.
• If you live in a warmer climate and enjoy AC, linger a little longer on a tile or stone floor.
• As Florence Nightingale advised for good health, sleep with the window open and enjoy cooler sheets at the end of the bed where you can roll your feet about in icy glee and cool your hands under a unused pillow.
  
  

Tip #5 - Apply Barrier Creams with Urea Daily

• In the morning and evening, apply a Urea-rich thick moisturizing barrier cream such as MARI-GOLD Barrier cream for hands and feet to help heal and protect red, irritated hands and feet.  Thanks to My Girls' skincare, feet remain uncracked and capable of walking and daily low-impact activities.

Week 4 - Start of Xelodo.

Week 16 - My Girls Barrier Cream applied twice daily.

Tip #6 - Hydrate

• Drink water throughout the day to quench thirst and keep skin plumped and moisturized.

Tip #7 - Exercise

• At the start of each chemo cycle, you may not be able to manage high-impact activities that invlove repettive pounding on your feet such as; running, walking or dancing.  Do not dismay!  There are many other activities you can enjoy to keep despair away.  For example, you can try something new such as swimming, yoga, cycling, etc. And..when your symptoms subside during your off-cycle, you can always try a light jog, if your feet are up to it, or a short walk to get you oustide and chase the blues away.

Tip #8 - Buy Soft and Thick Socks

• Buy soft and thick socks and change daily after applying skincare creams formulated with Urea..

Tip #9 - Wear Hokas and OOfos Shoes!

• Wear comfortable shoes such as Hokas and OOFos brands that are supportive and Ooooh sooooo comfy - they come in a variety of styles; sneakers, walking shoes, hiking boots, and flip flops.
• Consider shoes that may be slipped on or velcroed to lessen pain tying laces.

Tip #10 - Lastly, but most importantly; Consult Your Oncologist for Immediate Help