AFTER CANCER: SKIN (PRECAUTIONS, SHINGLES, HAIR GROW)

March 12th, 2009 by admin

Do I Need to Take Any Special Precautions with My Skin?

There are steps all people should take to protect their skin, whether or not they have ever had cancer. They are especially important after radiation to sun-exposed areas of your body or if you notice that your skin is drier or more sensitive to sunlight. These steps include

•avoiding sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• avoiding tanning booths

•using sunscreen regularly (SPF at least 15)

• avoiding drying agents

• using moisturizers liberally

• avoiding harsh rubbing

• making sure a skin exam is done periodically as part of your routine medical examinations

•monitoring your skin for spots or moles that change (become itchy, develops an irregular border, bleed, change color)

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a skin eruption caused by reactivation of the dormant chicken pox virus, herpes zoster. Shingles usually begins as burning or pain in a strip of skin, which is followed by the eruption of groups of vesicles (blisters) or pustules (pimples) in the distribution of the nerve involved. Occasionally, but not commonly, the virus can spread widely in the body from the nerve.

Who Gets Shingles?

Anyone can get shingles, but it is uncommon in healthy people under fifty years old. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and suppression of the immune system are all thought to allow reactivation of the virus. It is not uncommon to have a bout of shingles in the first two years after treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. It is often seen in AIDS patients.

What Should I Do If I Think I Might Have Shingles?

Call your doctor immediately, and specify that you are concerned about shingles. Antiviral therapy is available that, if administered early, can

• shorten the course of skin eruption

• bring about earlier relief of symptoms

Your doctor may feel comfortable making the diagnosis over the telephone on the basis of your description. Many times your doctor will need to see the rash to confirm the diagnosis.

When Will My Hair Grow Back?

If you received chemotherapy that caused hair loss (alopecia), you can expect your hair to start growing back within weeks of your last treatment. Many people note hair growth even during their chemotherapy.

If you received radiation to your scalp, it may take weeks or months before you see some growth. How long it takes to grow and how well it grows will depend on the dose of radiation you received. High-dose radiation can cause permanent hair loss in the area of the scalp radiated.

What Will My Hair Look Like When it Grows Back?

The texture, color, and/or curl pattern of your hair may be different from what they were prior to cancer treatment. Many people are elated—when gray is gone, say, or hair is thicker, wavier, and softer. Unfortunately, some people are disappointed—when blond hair returns a mousy brown or naturally wavy hair returns frizzy and unmanageable.

The hair that first grows back may not remain the same over the subsequent months and years. For example, hair that first grows in soft may become coarser with time.

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