What are the symptoms?
What stage of hand-foot syndrome are you in?
If you are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, you may be suffering from chapped skin and blisters on your hands and/or feet. The overview below describes the different stages of hand-foot syndrome (HFS). The symptoms/complaints associated with hand-foot syndrome can vary a great deal from one person to another.
Do you have any signs for stage 1 hand-foot syndrome? Moisturise your skin with a greasy cream, avoid stress and discuss your symptoms with your doctor or specialist oncology nurse.
Different stages of hand-foot syndrome
Stage 1 (mild) – Symptoms
The skin on the soles of the feet and/or the palms of the hands may be red, slightly swollen and and blisters and/or calluses may begin (or start) to form. There may be no pain at this stage.
What can you do?
- Use a greasy cream
- Avoid stress
- Change shoes regularly
Hands
![Fase 1 hand hand-voetsyndroom_fase 1](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Fase-1-hand.png)
Feet
![Fase 1 voet hand-voetsyndroom-fase 1](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Fase-1-voet.png)
Stage 2 (medium) – Symptoms
There is an increase in the symptoms.
- redness
- chapped skin
- blisters
- bleeding
- mild swelling
- calluses that are painful
These symptoms may not bother you too much during the day.
What can you do?
- Use a greasy cream
- Avoid stress
- Change shoes regularly
- Cover your skin with a greasy cream and wrap your hands and/or feet with cling film
- Very red skin (erythema) can be treated with an antiseptic bath or hemorrhoid cream
Hands
![Fase 2 hand hand-voetsyndroom_fase2](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Fase-2-hand.png)
Feet
![Fase 2 voet hand-voetsyndroom_fase2](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Fase-2-voet.png)
Stage 3 (serious) – Symptoms
If you think you are experiencing symptoms of stage 3, please contact your doctor or specialist nurse immediately.
Ate stage 3 your symptoms may include:
- redness
- chapped skin
- blisters
- calluses
- bleeding
- swelling
- dryness
- severe pain
- severe pain that limits you enormously in your daily activities, for instance when walking or holding objects
What can you do?
- Use a greasy cream
- Avoid stress
- Change shoes regularly
- Cover your skin with a greasy cream and wrap your hands and/or feet with cling film
- Very red skin (erythema) can be treated with an antiseptic bath or hemorrhoid cream
- In case of pain: consult your doctor
Hands
![fase 3 hand handvoet-syndroom- fase3](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fase-3-hand.png)
Feet
![fase 3 voet hand-voetsyndroom fase 3](https://www.handvoetsyndroom.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fase-3-voet.png)