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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
1:18 which drugs cause hand foot syndrome
1:49 Is it same as hand, foot, and mouth disease
2:20 Who is more likely to get hand foot syndrome
3:16 Treatment



• Hand-food syndrome, also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, is a condition that can occur as a side effect due to certain chemotherapy drugs. 
• The condition results in swelling, redness, and blistering on the palms and soles of the feet. 
• A handful of chemotherapy drugs cause this condition, but it is important to know of them before your treatment to make sure hand-foot syndrome can be treated as early as possible. 
• The condition appears within 2 to 3 months of the start of treatment. 
• It usually starts as redness on the hands and feet and is a lot more common on the palms than it is at the soles. 
• The redness often looks similar to a sunburn, making the hands and feet turn entirely red, unlike a patchy rash. 
• Pain and a burning sensation may follow the redness. However, in serious cases, the skin might feel light and tender, with dry skin that easily cracks and can be peeled off. 
• The condition may be unavoidable if you need those drugs for your treatment, but, thankfully, it can be treated quite easily. 
• Let’s look at that and more about hand-foot syndrome:
Which Drugs Cause Hand-Foot Syndrome?
• Several chemotherapy drugs can be responsible for hand-foot syndrome, including:
• capecitabine (Xeloda®)
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
• doxorubicin (Adriamycin®)
• docetaxel (Taxotere®)
• liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®)
• cytarabine (Cytosar®)
Is It the Same as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?
• Although you may find them similar due to where the symptoms appear, hand-food syndrome and hand, foot, and mouth disease are two entirely different conditions. 
• The latter usually occurs in children and appears as a rash on the hands, feet, and mouth and is a result of being exposed to a virus.
• However, the hand-foot syndrome is a complication caused by chemotherapy and exhibits symptoms more consistent with a sunburn. 
Who is More Likely to Get Hand-Foot Syndrome?
• Hand-foot syndrome is most common in people taking regular doses of capecitabine. 
• Getting 5-FU pumped into you over time is also likely to develop the hand-foot syndrome. 
• These drugs are used to treat a variety of cancers, with gastrointestinal cancer treatment being the most common cause of the hand-foot syndrome. 
• Besides gastrointestinal cancer, the list of cancers that increase the risk of hand-foot syndrome during chemotherapy includes:
• Stomach cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Anal cancer
• Liver cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Bile duct cancer
• Sarcoma
• Lymphoma
• Ovarian cancer
• Breast cancer
Treatment 
• Treatment of hand-foot syndrome involves controlling syndrome. 
• Topical steroid creams might be prescribed to combat inflammation and swelling. 
• Treatment may also be put on hold for a while, or the dosage of chemotherapy drugs decreased to help in recovery. 
• For prevention, doctors usually recommend moisturizing the skin regularly. 
• Moisturizing is a part of the treatment as well. It helps remove dryness and keep symptoms under control.