have had chemo/immunotheraphy treatment for breast cancer. Towards the end I also developed shingles. Since then my skin feels constantly clammy but when I feel it, its not. Any ideas?
Hello Trishjune
Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line. Welcome back to the online community.
I hope that you are feeling better after your bout of shingles, it’s a painful condition to have and can take some time to recover from. I guess the recent treatment you have had for your breast cancer has got you feeling pretty run down - shingles can develop when our immune system is lowered.
You describe your skin as seeming clammy, but not being clammy to touch. Usually once the blisters have cleared up after a bout of shingles, the skin wouldn’t be feeling unusual.
I have looked at the side-effect list for acyclovir (the anti-shingles medication that I expect you had to take) and clammy skin is not on the list.
Generally chemotherapy doesn’t leave you with that sensation either (unless you have an infection caused by the chemo, of course).
I had a look at the side-effect list for some commonly used immunotherapy drugs such as Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab. Both mention skin changes such as rashes and itchy skin, flu-like symptoms (fevers & chills), and flushing - which I guess might make you feel clammy, but again, clammy skin is not specifically mentioned. The skin reactions tend to be when someone is receiving the drug.
Just a thought, have you commenced anti-hormone treatment? Tablets such as Tamoxifen can cause hot flushes and sweats, for example.
Perhaps it would be helpful to keep a bit of a symptom diary and if you have any worsening or changing symptoms, it would be important that your treatment team is made aware.
I see that you are a member of the breast cancer forum; I am sure you are getting good support from the community there.
I hope you find this information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if there is anything else we can support you with.
Best wishes,
Helen, Cancer Information Nurse.
Our reference: AR
