Bottoms of feet sore

I had this and posted some about it in the July 2011 chemo group thread. (I started chemo July 1st, so my postings on this may have been around the end of July or beginning of August.) My feet felt blistered. If I went for a walk, they would turn red and developed spots that looked like blisters healing (without the fluid). They did burn a lot as well. I found that it did not hurt to the same degree with each treatment. I did 4 A/C dose dense treatments. I think that it was around the 2nd that was the worst. Then the other treatments, it didn't hurt as bad. I found that when it was the worst, lotion on my feet with socks did not help, but putting my feet up above my heart on a giant pillow when I slept did help, not sure why - but it took the edge off the burning.

Eventually, when I went to 4 Taxol dose dense treatments, my feet started peeling in big pieces of skin. The largest was when more than my entire heel came off in one piece. Gross, I know! But I found when that was happening, it helped to wear socks when walking around my house, instead of barefoot. I also tried the lotion on my feet with socks on when I slept and that did help. Now I am struggling with neuropathy in my hands and feet from the Taxol, and it feels completely different. It does not burn, just feels tingly, numb and sometimes painful.

JMULL: Mine started during A/C.

Hi

I'm having this problem with TAX. Crocs are the only shoes I can wear -  cheap but effective and nice and bouncy.

I moisturise twice per day with emollient cream and keep my socks on and I've heard that cream with added urea can be good. 

Laurie x 

martygra, I had TC, and one thing that helped a lot with the neuropathy it caused was the vitamin supplement B6.  I used Whole Foods own brand... 50 mg... and there was a noticeable difference when I started using it.    Deanna

martygra, I took it during chemo -- probably started after my 2nd or 3rd infusion, when I noticed the tingling, especially after I'd walked any distance.  

As far as whether or not to take any supplements, what makes sense to me is that we not take supplements within the first 48 hrs. of an infusion -- just so that they don't potentially interfer with the circulating chemo.  And I really think it's more Vitamin C and other antioxidants that could hypothetically protect cancer cells, although I don't think anyone really knows for sure.  But since most of us certainly don't eat a balanced diet while on chemo, taking some basic supplements to ensure adequate nutrition might be a good idea, if your onc agrees.  My docs were all on board with supplements throughout tx, but just cautioned about excessive Vitamin C or other antioxidants around infusion days.      Deanna

Ouch !! My feet are also sore they feel bruised !!! I get up like I'm 90 year old trying to find my balance , to find how won't hurt but after few minutes it eases , soon as I sit rest get back on them they ache , I finished Chemo in feb this year ...

I had A/C then taxol from April thru Sep and there were days I could barely walk. I recently found the info below on the American Cancer Society message board.  I have to say I think it has helped me and what woman can't use more calcium?

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine reported in a study published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, a molecular basis for the peripheral pain or numbness caused by Taxol. It appears to be caused when the drug binds to a protein (neuronal calcium sensor or NCS-1) and initiates improper "calcium" signaling.

When Taxol binds to NCS-1, it makes the cell more sensitive to normal signals and increases the magnitude and frequency of changes in calcium. Over time, increased calcium levels activate an enzyme called calpain (no pun intended) that degrades proteins, especially NCS-1.

Calcium signals are needed for nerves to be stimulated and to respond and the loss of NCS-1 makes it more difficult to generate any calcium signals. While the loss of NCS-1 stops the protein interaction that is causing the inappropriate calcium signals, it also decreases the ability to have normal responses (PNAS 104: 11103-11108 June 20, 2007).