Skin Sensitivity?

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Hello all.

I've just finished initial 6 weeks of chemo (carboplatin/paclitaxol) and starting chemo/radiotherapy next week. So far, side effects have been minimal but yesterday the skin on my face suddenly became sensitive to everything (itchy red patches) and I'm breaking out in spots.... as if life wasn't hard enough! I've not changed any products but keen to find skin care options which soothe this rather than exacerbate so grateful for any advice. Thank you. 

  • Hi FJS

    Not sure if this is allowed (sorry moderator if it isn't) but the following link is a website of a company which sells skin care products developed by a lady who has been through cancer diagnosis/treatment:

    puremess.co.uk/.../about

    I was diagnosed with stage 2A squamous cell cervical cancer (node negative) in 2017 following symptoms: persistent, watery, yellow vaginal discharge then post-menopuasal bleeding.  My treatment was a radical hysterectomy followed by chemo-radiotherapy.  My long term side effects include lymphoedema and urinary retention which I manage with intermittent self catheterisation.
  • Hi  

    We aren’t normally allowed to put external links on the forum, but I’m hoping the team will allow this one as it’s naturally derived and developed by a cancer sufferer. I can ask the question of the team if you’d like? If someone else comes along and flags the post (I won’t) it would disappear from the site while being checked out so that may happen as anyone can look at this group. 

    Sarah xx


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  • Thank you - appreciated. x

  • It looks a really nice range, doesn’t it?

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Hello. I just started treatment yesterday - carboplatin / paclitaxol. Can I ask you how quickly you lost your hair? And did you try the cold cap at all? I hope chemo and radiotherapy goes smoothly for you next week.

  • Hi  and welcome to our group. 
     
    I’ll tag  so that she’ll hopefully see your post in case she’s missed it. I don’t think I’ve seen you post in the group before, so maybe you’d like to make another new post to introduce yourself and tell us about your diagnosis and treatment so far? You are very welcome to be with us, and your experience can help other ladies if you’d like to share with us.

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Hi Dora,

    Hope you find your first treatment to be OK. I did 6 weeks of carboplatin/paclitaxol and used a cold cap throughout - finished this stage 4 weeks ago. I have kept most if my hair (on my head) although it has thinned massively... complete baldy from the eyebrows down and no sign of any growth as yet!

    Losing my hair worried me massively, so really hope it goes ok for you, but think its different for everyone.

    Whatever happens, its only temporary.

  • Thank you for your response. I used the cold cap for my first treatment and will continue to do so. I am ready that I will lose my hair but if I can put it off for as long as possible then I may aswell.

    How are you finding your treatment at the moment? How many weeks of radiotherapy are you on? 

    I hope that treatment is being kind to you xxx

  • Its definitely worth trying the cold cap and I'm glad I did. Its worked better for me than most of the professionals predicted and without it total hair loss was pretty much guaranteed.

    Treatment for me has been 6 weeks of weekly chemo and then straight on to 25 radiotherapy over 5 weeks with weekly cisplatin. Its been going ok so far...  your team will be brilliant at managing side effects so take any meds exactly as recommended. I have 2 weeks left to go and then its Brachytherapy x4 sessions over 2 weeks as an inpatient and then that's me done.

    Its been hard at times, but never impossible. My advice would be kind to yourself and let people help you. Rest when you need to and do stuff when you can. Always ask for help if you need it. There will be ups and downs but try and do one day at a time. You can do this. x

  • Thank you for your response. I was told not to bother with the cold cap too but I figured I have nothing to lose and I would rather try it so I know I’ve at least given it a go. If I can save some of my hair then why not.

    I’m so pleased treatment has been kind to you, that’s so reassuring to hear. What stage were you when diagnosed? I am stage 3c1. I have my second chemo this Thursday but so far I have been feeling okay, I had fatigue yesterday but haven’t had any nausea etc which is a relief xx