Hi! I took Xeloda last year and had the same problem. I am not sure if
Xeloda and capecitabine are the same thing or not, but the side effects
sure are the same. I ended up increasing my dose of Vitamin B6 and took
more of it (I can't remember how much) twice a day. I used all kinds of
fancy moisturizers and aloe on my hands and feet (I found a layer of
aloe, then moisturizer to be really nice). I ended up liking the really
thick greasy moisturizers the best. I had something from the drug store
in a tin box. In the house I wore moisturizer and white cotton gloves
and socks - even at night. I had rubber gloves for cooking. Out of the
house, I wore leather gloves. I bought larger than usual slip on shoes,
because putting on shoes hurt and my feet felt swollen. I really really
protected my hands and feet at all times. I used scissors to open
packages, envelopes, etc. Any tool I could use, I did. When my feet felt
hot and swollen, I found that putting them on a cold pack made them feel
so much better. I also bought Dr. Scholls type gel inserts for shoes and
kept them in the freezer to put in my shoes or slippers when I needed
to.

Good luck to your wife. I found these symptoms to be so frustrating
because they were incapacitating while the rest of my body felt fine. I
was on Xeloda for 7 months and found that I eventually got into a
routine with the above system. Sorry I don't have anything more helpful.

Chris

Richard wrote << My wife has recently started on a drug called capecitabine, an
oral
chemotherapy drug, for a recurrence of her breast cancer. This drug can
cause hand-foot syndrome (redness & swelling of the skin on palms of the
hands and soles of the feet)...To keep taking the chemotherapy and so ensure
the best chance of recovery,
my wife needs to be able to avoid this side effect. It seems to be a
condition that is not very common.  Some of the doctor's we have spoken to
have never heard of it and even the oncology registrar at our clinic was
unsure about how to treat it. >>

I have read  about many who have had this side effect from  capecitabine
(Xeloda).   Check out the following website-for another support group.  Check
all the following areas--recurrence area, chemo area, and also the main area
(first one in larger  letters).  
Another suggestion might be to get a second opinion through a major cancer
center in your area or another one.  If cost is a factor re. travel--there is
at least one airline that helps defray costs for such and if I remember
correctly covers airfare for patient and care taker.

Richard wrote << If anybody has any information, I'd be very grateful to hear
from you.

Another thought--in addition to aloe vera gel (100% pure--can be found at some
hospital pharmacies, Walmart, Longs drugs) it mignt be helpful to slather on
bag balm.  I believe that is mostly vaseline with other stuff in it (not sure
what that other stuff is).  It may have been what Chris was talking about in
next post.  I found it helpful for minimizing blisters.  One can buy that at a
feed store for large animals.  It sounds weird--but it is helpful for people,
too.  Several years ago I was trying to find some for our dog (for her mastitis
infection) and our local feed store was initially reluctant to sell it to me
until I explained what it was for.  Apparently Oprah Winfrey had popularized
its use for lessening wrinkles and improving skin--and the feed stores didn't
have enough in stock for its original intended purpose (cows udders, I
believe).
Anyway, I was told to use that on my feet--thick--and on top of that to put on
a sock that had a good amount of both cornstarch and powder WITHOUT TALC in it
to prevent blisters.  The way you put that in is take about a teaspoon or so
and put it in the sock and  roll it around until it is evenly spread.  I don't
know if it would work--but it sure keeps ones' feet nice for walking 20 miles,
if done 'right.  The bag balm is a little messy but I used alot of paper towels
while doing it.
I suppose the same thing could be done for ones' hands and then put gloves over
them.