Living Through Breast Cancer by Carolyn Kaelin

Author:Carolyn Kaelin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Published: 2005-04-09T04:00:00+00:00

Itching and Rashes

Certain chemotherapy drugs may trigger itchiness and sometimes rashes. While scratching an itch is surely an elemental pleasure, the blissful pain only temporarily flips the “off” switch on nerves that conduct itch impulses. When the pain recedes, the itch rebounds, starting the cycle again. Too much scratching can easily breach the skin, setting the stage for an infection, especially if your immune system is below par due to treatment. Try these tips instead to root out the underlying cause or help quash it:

• Rashes and itching can be a sign of a drug allergy or merely an unpleasant side effect of certain treatments, so tell your care team if you experience either. “I broke out in hives,” recalled Greta, during treatment with Adriamycin and Cytoxan. “Red, blotchy things. I looked like I had poison ivy.” Antihistamines often subdue itchiness. If they fail to do so, antidepressants, sedatives, or tranquilizers might offer relief, according to the National Cancer Institute. Corticosteroid creams are sometimes prescribed to help clear up a local rash. Because cancer treatments often suppress immune function, it may take longer than usual for your skin to heal properly.

• Try a cool, damp washcloth on itchy areas. A colloidal oatmeal bath can ease overall itchiness.

• During treatment, skin may become ultrasensitive to irritants in soaps, moisturizers, clothing, and wigs, among other items. An irritant in my wig, for example, sparked a rash and open sores that took weeks to heal. Shield your skin physically from irritants when necessary, as I did by wearing a cotton wig liner after the sores healed. Weed out potential irritants by using mild, fragrance-free soaps and shampoos. Forgo dyes and fragrances in laundry detergents, too. When washing clothes, use less detergent than usual and rinse twice. If the water is still sudsy, run an extra rinse cycle and make a note to cut down detergent further. Skip fabric softeners, which can contain irritants.

• A dusting of cornstarch helps soak up perspiration and cuts down irritating friction that can lead to heat rash. Sometimes, though, cornstarch feeds yeast infections, especially when applied to skin folds, so go lightly.

• Breathable fabrics like cotton are best for clothes and sheets because they lessen the buildup of perspiration and heat, which can trigger itching.

• Just as scratching interrupts nerve impulses that broadcast itchiness, distractions of other sorts may work. Meditation, deep breathing, or visualization can help redirect your focus; so, too, might an engrossing book or TV show, a conversation, or a change in activities.

• Vaginal itching and discharge or discomfort is often a sign of overgrowth of certain natural vaginal flora, such as yeast. Tell your care team about this.

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