Sore hands and feet

Several days ago my fingertips began to hurt – really the fingernail beds. I noticed that the palm of the left hand had begun to turn red, sore and itchy, and the underside of the fingers looked pinkish-gray and shiny. The right hand was (and is) affected in a similar way but not as severe. I can grip with the palm of my hand but picking things up, opening jars, etc. is difficult and painful with the fingertips. Have you ever noticed how many things you do every day mostly with your fingertips? Typing is still okay, thankfully.

Friday morning I awoke with a sore left foot and discovered a large patch of skin had peeled off the sole of that heel. Checking the right foot, I saw that a small area had begun to peel from that heel also. I slathered lots of dry skin cream on both feet, at which time I learned that the toenail beds of both feet are a little sore too, like the fingers but not nearly as bad.

I’d read all the side effects of the various chemotherapy medications early on, and changes in finger and toenails was listed, but this is the first time I’ve experienced any of these. How long will they last? I have no idea.

Plus, now I have three small bright red blobs on my right arm below the elbow and one on the back of my hand. They don’t itch or hurt, they are just there. They look somewhat like mosquito bites. These I haven’t seen on any side effect lists but that’s probably what they are.

Well, the sore mouth / trouble swallowing I had most of last week has nearly disappeared so I’m very glad of that, but all these delayed side effects from the first of four planned Taxotere session are very annoying, to say the last. Tomorrow I go for another CBC so I think I’ll ask to see the nurse this time and let her take a look.

In the meantime, I’m still praying and appreciate your prayers too, for relief from side effects while the medicine is doing its thing!