Nicotine Patches in Reducing Hand-Foot Syndrome in Patients Who Are Receiving Capecitabine For Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of breast cancer
• * Metastatic disease
• Scheduled to begin treatment with capecitabine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Cancer Center, San Francisco General Hospital, or Cornell Medical Center
• No concurrent hand-foot syndrome (HFS) due to other medications
• * Prior HFS due to other medications allowed provided that the symptoms have been completely resolved for ≥ 4 weeks prior to study entry
• Hormone receptor status not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Menopausal status not specified
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study therapy
• Able to participate in study procedures and quality-of-life evaluations and willing to comply with study requirements
• Non-English speaking patients are allowed provided they demonstrate adequate understanding of the study rationale and procedures and can give voluntary consent with the aid of a translator
• No clinically significant cardiac or peripheral vascular disease or symptom, including any of the following:
• * History of myocardial infarction
• * Congestive heart failure
• * Cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation)
• * Cardiac or vascular bypass
• * Uncontrolled hypertension
• * Unstable angina
• * Undiagnosed arrhythmias or claudication
• No Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, or active psychiatric disease
• Not currently smoking
• * Patients who are former smokers must have stopped smoking ≥ 6 months prior to study entry
• No known hypersensitivity to nicotine patches
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• At least 6 months since prior and no other concurrent nicotine patches
• Prior chemotherapy allowed, except capecitabine for treatment of metastatic disease
• Concurrent other symptomatic treatment for hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (e.g., usual skin care, topical moisturizers, ice packs, pain medications) allowed
• No concurrent pyridoxine