Adverse Effects of Cancer Drugs- Can A Dermatologist Help

Adverse Effects of Cancer Drugs- Can A Dermatologist Help

Mentioning dermatologists and cancer in the same sentence during a conversation instantly brings up notions of skin cancer. But in my years of experience working as an oncologist with cancer patients with different kinds of cancer, in various stages, I’ve had a rare opportunity to witness first hand how a visit to dermatologist could be a smart move for all cancer patients, especially those currently undergoing some sort of cancer therapy, whatever kind that may be. Chemo and other kinds of cancer therapy can be very strenuous on the body and overall sense of wellbeing to any cancer patient, and to make things worst,  that effect is not localised, sadly, and can affect the entire body. Often, our skin is the first to show signs of distress. Unfortunately, it’s also the last body part or organ many of us will pay attention to. Once the changes become apparent, we could consider this to be our body’s cry for help. In this article, I’ve decided to talk about it a bit.

Cutaneous Toxicities    

Cutaneous toxicities from chemotherapy can be serious enough to stop cancer treatment. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States by the end of 2012. Chemotherapy is a common, widely-used treatment for cancer, and there are many types of chemotherapeutic agents and delivery systems available. In addition to gastrointestinal and hematopoietic toxicity, cutaneous adverse events (AEs) are also commonly seen in patients being treated with chemotherapy. These cutaneous AEs can vary significantly in terms of the gravity of the AE (ie, mild, moderate, severe, life-threatening, fatal) and in regard to the impact on the patient’s quality of life.

Don’t Hesitate - Visit Your Dermatologist

In my years of medical practice, I’ve noticed many patients waiting until they are three-quarters of the way through their treatment, they've already lost all their hair and their skin is in bad condition, before they decide to talk to a dermatologist. It is important that we address this, for this is an area of great need,and dermatologists can really improve quality of life for so many patients, if they are contacted timely. Every chemo center has courses and classes, from nutrition to medications. Derm should be part this. There is a lot of emerging evidence showing that dermatologists can prevent these toxicities by starting treatments early on.

Related Studies

Of the 22 studies that looked at interventions for chemo-induced hair loss, 95% supported the use of either cold caps or a scalp-cooling system, although the effectiveness of these two methods was related to the chemotherapy regimen.

Scalp cooling was generally considered safe in all relevant studies, but there was one report of scalp skin metastasis.

Of the 12 studies on interventions for skin and nail changes, 67% supported the use of frozen gloves and frozen socks. Most of the studies considered these methods to be safe, but discomfort with the gloves and socks was a frequent complaint, and one patient developed frostbite.

Supportive Oncodermatology

Supportive oncodermatology is currently considered a fledgling field, but it needs to become part of the core curriculum for dermatologists.

There are only seven centers in the United States, besides George Washington, that have this specialized focus. People are beginning to recognize its importance, but change is always slow; it takes time for everyone to get on board.

We know that a percentage of women say they do not want to get treatment for breast cancer because of hair loss. But dermatologists can manage these symptoms and enable completion of therapy.

 Can All Chemo Drugs Cause Skin Issues?

Just as the spectrum of chemotherapy-associated cutaneous toxicities are broad, so are the chemotherapeutic agents available. Cytotoxic therapies represent the oldest class of these drugs; the newest agents are targeted therapies, which include, primarily, small-molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies. As the number of chemotherapeutic agents increase, so does the range of skin-related toxicities. As with many classes of drugs, there are many different types of chemotherapy and many distinct medications within those broader classes.

 

Take Care Of Your Skin

If you are a cancer survivor, or still a patient undergoing some sort of therapy, and you still don’t have a dermatologist caring for your skin, now is the time to find one. It’s a good idea to bring your medical records to your first appointment, so your dermatologist knows the specifics of your treatment. And keep the other members of your care team informed of any treatments your dermatologist recommends.

Being safe in the sun is the most important general piece of advice I can give. Most anticancer medications and radiation therapy increase your sensitivity to the sun, and studies have shown that skin cancer rates are greater in survivors. In most cases, good skin care and early intervention are all that is needed to achieve the best possible skin health.

This is why I have  personally selected a line of product for Chemo Companions, products that are suitable for cancer patients.