Henna Application in the Prevention of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients

AIM: This study investigates the prophylactic effect of henna on the occurrence of hand-foot syndrome (HFS) in patients receiving capecitabine for breast and colorectal cancer. METHOD: This experimental study was carried out between May 2014 and May 2015. In this self-control experimental study, 52 patients with breast and colorectal cancer were included on the first day of capecitabine treatment and had a minimum follow-up of 3 cycles. One hand/foot of each patient constituted the study hand/foot, whereas the others constituted the control. Henna was administered to the study hand/foot on the first day of treatment and application renewed weekly. Development of grade 1–3 toxicity was set as the termination criterion for study. RESULTS: Painful skin changes such as rawness, intumescence and bulla formation, blocking the daily activities or self-care were observed in 26.9% of the patients in the 3rd or 4th cycles of treatment. Development time and severity of skin changes over time did not differ significantly between the study and the control hand/foot. CONCLUSION: Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to conclude on the prophylactic effect of henna in the management of the HFS.