Red Hands

My third chemo (Taxotere) turned my nails blue.

My fifth chemo (Doxil), the one I am on now, is turning my hands red!

My hands and feet have been chapped, almost since I started this new treatment.  The fourth chemo (Xeloda) also made my skin dry, especially my hands and feet;  I often suffered from cracks in my skin, in my fingers and heals, which took a long time to heal.  When I stopped taking the Xeloda, all my wounds healed within days (maybe weeks.... I do not remember exactly how long it took).

Now my skin is chapped, very red, and, in places, peeling. When we were in the Kinneret, my foot brushed up against a stone,and I ended up with a 2 cm wound on my heal.

I am trying to remember to apply lotion several times a day.  This sounds easy, but since I am not in the habit of putting on lotion, it is difficult for me to remember to apply lotion even once a day!

I do not need to use any special type of lotion, just regular moisterizer, of which I have plenty!

When I apply moisterizer regularly, the difference is dramatic.  My skins get smoother, and some of the redness goes away.

Lately, I have not been dilligent about using lotion as often as I should.  I have been busy, and have not had time to sit down, rub in the skin cream, and wait until my skin absorbed all the lotion.

Last night, I paid the piper.  My hands felt like they were on fire. 

In the middle of the night, I had to apply hand cream several times.

This morning, I applied lotion four times.  My hands look almost normal.

I should have been born a princess, with maidservants to annoint my hands and feet every few hours!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA