I love my beautiful feet! That may sound strange, but it's the truth. I am in love! With my beautiful feet! (Unless you are repulsed by the photo, you can click for a closer view!)
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| Healthy skin February 2013 |
Look at that healthy pink glow (does pink skin glow?)!
You see, not too long ago, August of last year, they looked like the second photo. I was on Lipo-Dox, a drug with the side-effect of palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), otherwise known as hand-foot syndrome. See these poor toes? I insisted on my daily one or two-mile walks in hot August weather. Since heat and friction aggravate the hand-foot syndrome, this wasn't exactly the smartest thing I've ever done.
The combo of hot summer days and long walks caused my toes to turn an angry red. Soon the skin between my toes blistered and sloughed off. Was that painful, you ask? Oh, My, Yes! I wrapped them daily in gauze until they healed but for the duration, while on Lipo-Dox, I had to be very careful with them.
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| August 2012 hand-foot syndrome |
Thankfully, once I quit that drug the skin healed easily.
After Doxil failed, I moved on to oral Hexalen which was marvelous because Hexalen does not have the skin side-effects! My toes, my feet, my hands, my armpits, all healed!
Today my toes look like the first photo! I am having lymphedema in the left leg, hence the wrap. I belong to an online forum of ovarian cancer patients and learned there (didn't learn it from my Oncologist!) that there is such a person as a LANA certified lymphedema therapist. I found one 35 miles from home! (Or click here re: LANA certification)
After five daily sessions with her I have the lymph in my left leg almost under control. She showed me how to do a lymph massage, how to wrap the leg at night, and has provided me with properly sized compression stockings.
Did I say I am in love with my feet! It is so good to have the skin back in good condition. I hope to be out walking again this summer and am already doing half a mile a day, working into it gradually!
The Bible talks about beautiful feet. Romans 10:15 says this: "....As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” I'm bringing good news in this post for cancer patients suffering from lymphedema about how to find a certified lymphedema therapist....but I also like to share the good news that God loves His people and watches over them day and night, through all circumstances, through life and beyond our earthly death - into eternal life with Him. Can't get any better news than that.
May your week be blessed!
6 comments:
It strikes me how very much in this world I take for granted. After seeing these pictures, I have to say that I am GLAD that you have been able to fall in love with your feet.
PS These feet are walking a good path!
Oh dear friend-your feet are indeed beautiful!!!
Your feet look much better! I had a mild case of that on one of my chemos, but thankfully it didn't get too bad!
I enjoy your posts, and am glad you are doing well, all things considered! God is good!
Beautiful feet! Imagine what our feet have done all throughout our lives. They work very hard. I am so happy yours are healing.
I am getting the blisters on my face and in my left armpit. My palms and soles are very red....but I know this is temporary.
Thank you for your inspiration and the link for the certified Lymph therapists. Peace and Blessings to you!
Beautiful feet, indeed. I'm so glad you feet are better and you have found relief for the lymphodema.
You are such an inspiration to me. Keep up the good work!
Aren't feet wonderful? Yours are indeed beautiful. I'm glad you're in love with them again. Chemo can be so brutal...
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