Question 1

What is Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

This is a side effect of some cancer chemotherapy drugs that can cause redness, swelling, and blistering on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It tends to appear within the first 2 to 3 months of treatment.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy are: (1) Currently undergoing chemotherapy. (2) Toe pain. (3) Numbness in the fingers. (4) Change in nail color. (5) Dry and flaky skin. (6) Changed or unusual skin sensations. (7) Pain in the sole of your foot. (8) Pain or discomfort in arms or legs. (9) Rough and scaly skin. (10) Blisters on the skin

Question 3

How can Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy be treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment is mainly symptomatic with the help of oral painkillers and numbing creams, ointments. Sometimes, the dosage of chemotherapy may be adjusted if required.

Question 4

Appearance Changes During Chemotherapy: Is it normal to feel distressed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is completely normal to feel distressed by appearance changes during chemotherapy, as treatments commonly affect fast-growing cells in hair, skin, and nails and can deeply impact self-image and daily confidence.

There are several factors to consider, including which changes are expected, practical coping options, when to contact your doctor for urgent symptoms, and which effects are usually temporary; see below for details that could shape your next steps with your care team.

Question 5

Chemotherapy Nausea: Does it start on the same day or a few days later?

Accepted Answer

It can start the same day or a few days later: acute nausea often begins during treatment or within 1 to 6 hours, while delayed nausea commonly appears 1 to 5 days afterward, peaking around days 2 to 3; with modern prevention, many people have little or no nausea.

There are several factors to consider, including the drugs and doses you receive, your past nausea or motion sickness, and how you take prescribed anti-nausea medicines. See below for drug specific timing, how long symptoms typically last, practical tips, and when to call your care team urgently.

Question 6

Diarrhea During Chemotherapy: When home care is enough and when it's not

Accepted Answer

Diarrhea during chemotherapy can often be managed at home if symptoms are mild fewer than 4–5 loose stools a day, no fever, you can keep fluids down, and things improve with hydration, gentle foods, and approved anti-diarrheals.

Seek urgent care for six or more loose stools in 24 hours, diarrhea lasting more than 24–48 hours, fever, blood or black stool, severe belly pain, signs of dehydration like dizziness or very little urine, or inability to keep fluids down; fever with low white counts or immunotherapy-related diarrhea are emergencies. There are several factors to consider, and important details that could change your next steps are explained below.

Question 7

Extreme Fatigue During Chemotherapy: Side Effect or something else?

Accepted Answer

Extreme fatigue during chemotherapy is common and usually an expected side effect, but if it is sudden, severe, or limiting basic activities it can point to anemia, infection, electrolyte or thyroid issues, heart or lung problems, medication effects, or chemotherapy-related skin toxicity.

There are several factors to consider. See below for specific red flags like shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, confusion, and skin changes, plus how doctors evaluate fatigue and practical steps that can guide your next decisions.

Question 8

Is it okay to eat when you have nausea during chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is usually okay and often helpful to eat; small, frequent bites of bland or cool foods with steady fluids can settle your stomach, while greasy, spicy, strong-smelling, or acidic foods may worsen symptoms, and anti-nausea medicines should be taken as prescribed.

There are several factors to consider, including when to pause eating and call your oncology team if you have active vomiting or cannot keep fluids down; see below for specific food and drink suggestions, timing tips, hydration guidance, and other warning signs that may change your next steps.

Question 9

Is This Chemotherapy Side Effect Serious? A Quick Guide to When to Call

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider: many chemotherapy side effects are expected and manageable, but call your care team the same day for persistent vomiting, diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, painful mouth sores, unusual bruising, worsening numbness or tingling, new swelling, rash, or burning with urination.

Seek urgent care now for fever 100.4°F or higher, chills, shortness of breath or chest pain, sudden confusion or severe headache, uncontrolled bleeding, black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, fainting, or sudden one-sided weakness. Important nuances about blood counts and skin changes like hand foot syndrome can affect what you should do next, so see the complete guidance below.

Question 10

Loss of appetite during chemotherapy: Practical tips when you can't eat

Accepted Answer

Loss of appetite during chemotherapy is common; practical steps include small, frequent meals, calorie and protein dense foods, and sipping smoothies or nutrition drinks, with simple adjustments for taste changes, nausea, and mouth sores.

Know when to call your care team, such as if you cannot eat or drink for 24 to 48 hours, show signs of dehydration, have persistent vomiting, rapid weight loss, fever, or painful sores, since medicines, supplements, and dietitian support can help. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete guidance that could affect your next steps.

Question 11

Severe Pain During Chemotherapy: Do you need to stop treatment?

Accepted Answer

Severe pain during chemotherapy usually does not require stopping treatment, but it should never be ignored; the cause and severity guide whether to adjust the dose, switch drugs, pause briefly, or add pain control. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more.

Contact your oncology team now, and seek urgent care if pain comes with fever or chills, chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion or new weakness, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea, or blistering skin, since these can be emergencies. Early evaluation can prevent long term damage and help you continue therapy more safely.

Question 12

Should You Rest or Stay Active when you feel exhausted during chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

The healthiest approach is a balance of planned rest and gentle activity, guided by your body and care team, resting when symptoms are severe and moving lightly when you feel up to it.

There are several factors to consider, including energy pacing, red flags that require medical attention, and the roles of sleep, nutrition, emotional support, and skin symptoms, so see below for important details that can shape your next steps.

Question 13

Vomiting During Chemotherapy: When to call your doctor

Accepted Answer

Call your oncology team promptly if vomiting occurs more than 3 to 4 times in 24 hours, does not improve with prescribed anti-nausea medicine, you cannot keep liquids down for 24 hours, or you have signs of dehydration, severe abdominal pain, or blood in the vomit.

Seek emergency care for vomiting with fever 100.4°F or higher, confusion or severe weakness, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe headache, signs of bowel blockage, or sudden swelling or rash; mild vomiting that improves with meds and fluids may be managed at home, but there are several factors to consider and important details that could change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.

Question 14

When Is a Chemo Port (CV Port) Recommended?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more, but in general a chemo port is recommended for long term or frequent chemotherapy, when drugs are harsh on veins, IV access is difficult, blood draws are frequent, or combination infusions are planned.

It may not be needed for short, mild, or oral regimens if veins are easy, but potential risks like infection or clots and your preferences matter, so discuss with your oncology team and review the details below to guide your next steps.

Question 15

Which chemotherapy side effects you should never ignore?

Accepted Answer

Dangerous chemotherapy side effects to never ignore include fever 100.4 F/38 C or higher, chills, shortness of breath or chest pain, rapid heartbeat, sudden severe fatigue, confusion, severe headache, vision changes or seizures, vomiting over 24 hours or inability to keep fluids down, diarrhea 4 to 6 times a day, dehydration signs, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe mouth or throat sores, painful red or blistering skin on hands or feet, one-sided arm or leg swelling, and new or worsening pain.

There are several factors to consider; see below for the key thresholds, when “common” symptoms become dangerous, and the exact next steps to take and who to call.

Question 16

Why does a chemotherapy regimen change?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more.

Regimens often change when the cancer is not responding, side effects become unsafe including toxic skin or hand foot reactions, lab or health changes raise risk, new or better therapies become available, or testing reclassifies the disease. These adjustments are common and aim to improve safety, effectiveness, and quality of life, not necessarily because things are worse; see below for what to ask your care team, symptoms to track and when to seek urgent care, and tools like a skin symptom checker that could guide your next steps.

Question 17

Why does chemotherapy cause vein pain?

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapy can cause vein pain because the drugs irritate and inflame the delicate lining of veins, which is common and usually manageable; repeated infusions can harden and sensitize veins, some medicines can trigger vein spasm or nearby nerve irritation, and rare leakage outside the vein can injure surrounding tissue.

There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including which symptoms should prompt urgent medical attention and the ways your care team can adjust treatment to reduce pain and protect your veins.

Question 18

Working and Doing Housework During Chemotherapy: How to decide?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to keep working or doing housework during chemotherapy; the right choice depends on your side effects, the demands of your tasks, your support system, and how your energy changes across treatment cycles.

See below for practical adjustments, pacing strategies, warning signs that mean you should call your doctor, and workplace or home accommodations, as these details can significantly influence your next steps.

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Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy Quiz

Check your symptoms and find possible causes with AI for free

What is Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy?

Typical Symptoms of Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy

Diagnostic Questions for Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy

Treatment of Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy

Tell your friends about us.

Think you might haveToxic Erythema of Chemotherapy?

How Ubie Can Help You

People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

Symptoms Related to Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy

Diseases Related to Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy

FAQs

Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide

Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders

References

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Toxic Erythema of Chemotherapy?