Pruritus

Hi again thegothmother and sorry to hear this……

Some people do unfortunately find that they develop ‘new’ issues that are not specifically to do with Lymphoma……, but certainly to do with how the various Lymphoma treatments can have an effect on the body and as the skin is one of the most reactive organs of our body - skin issues can unfortunately develop.

I was diagnosed with my low-grade skin NHL back in 1999 and over the many years I often sat in the dermatology waiting room talking to others and there were a good number who had developed skin issues post Lymphoma treatment……. My journey was opposite as my treatments were designed to clear up my skin NHL.

Lets look for you to get your Derm appointment soon and navigate to a clear answer ((hugs))

Hi Highlander. I've never heard of skin lymphoma so you've got me worried. Surely there would be some indication in blood tests though, wouldn't there? 

The itch is driving me crazy. It's spread on to my scalp now which is a difficult place to put moisturising cream. 

I'm on a 12-16 week waiting list for dermatology but I might ring the cancer helpline after hearing what you have said.

Jude

First, I would not worry yourself about skin Lymphomas….. my one is 8 in a million rare, it does not grow quickly and can take years to develop on small patches of skins… and these patches are like raised scabs……. it took me about 10 years to get to 70% body coverage.

In all my 25 years with my skin Lymphoma and in late 2013 with my more aggressive Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma that was also in my Bone Marrow……. I have never had a blood test that says ‘Lymphoma’…… and my bloods were only ‘off’ once I went in to treatment and now even 9.5+ years post treatment…… but as I had 2 Allo (donor) Stem Cell Transplants ‘off’ blood tests is rather normal.

Yes Dermatology is a very busy department so you need your Heamatology Team to push your appointment to be much sooner…..((Hugs))

Thanks Mike. I'll ring them on Monday.

Morning Mike. Just a quick question. What do you use/take for the itching? I'm trying all sorts of creams but nothing seems to help. The last two nights I've had to get up at 4am to plaster myself in cream as the itch was driving me mad. Jude

I was on steroid creams for years so this would be a GP/Consultant call.

The last time I required any skin care was back in 2015….. as my 2 Allo (donor) Stem Cell Transplants cleared up all my Lymphoma issues including my skin……

But back then along with the steroid creams I was also using Hydromol Skin Cream and Dermol 200 Shower Emollient

When my skin was very itchy I would often have a tepid shower and slowly turn the temperature down and stay in a cold shower as long as I could then use a soft towel to Pat myself down and let my skin breath before putting on clothes……. ware cotton, no tight clothes like jeans……… your skins needs a lot of hydration so you need to aim to be drinking 2 litres of water a day!!!!

Don't fancy taking a shower at 4am. Lol. I've got steroid cream from the doc along with antihistamine tablets and Cetraban. Just been prescribed Oilatum but haven't picked it up yet. I had an out-of-date tube of Savlon in the drawer and that seemed to ease it for a couple of hours. Jude

Believe me when I say that I had many a cold shower at silly o’clock as it worked for me ;)

Very sorry to hear this. Since undergoing a 5/10 match stem cell transplant, I developed Graft versus Host Disease, a side effect of many donor transplants. One symptom of the transplant is extensive pruritis on my upper body. It required several years to control it, as it was strictly immune system related. Your immune system has been assaulted by the chemotherapy and other drugs you received. It seems that your immune system is driving this. It may have become de-regulated during its recovery from the various drugs which you received. If possible, you might ask your consultant to consider having a transplant doctor or dermatologist examine your case.

Before we settled on an immune suppressant drug to control the pruritis, I came up with my own system, which I shall only mention but not recommend. From dermatitis on my hands in my teens, I knew that washing in very hot water would cause the nerves to flare and the itching to greatly increase in intensity. At time4s, so hot that it was painful but not scalding. Yet, after a bit, the nerves were fatigued from the excess response and the itching subsided. Sadly, medication can stop pain, but not itching. I have found that only pain could interrupt the itching signal, even through both itch and pain utilise the same neurological pathway. Very curious, that.  

As the post-transplant pruritis was driving me insane, I tried hot showers - as hot as I could stand - to the point of burning. Not hot enough to scald me but sufficiently hot to cause the itch to flare. In combination with a pulsing shower massage, the itching would momentarily become so intense that it nearly took my breath away. It was as if my entire body was being scratched at once. Yet again, after this short period of intense heat-driven itching, it began to subside. I then rinsed with water as cold as I could tolerate and I was able to have several hours of relief.

I also purchased a torso-sized gel pack which I froze and then applied to my skin. Whilst my condition was chronic over the course of years, yours may be temporary. I should imagine that some blood tests might be performed so as to watch for inflammatory markers or other signs of immune system response. As well, it is entirely possible that you have developed a skin sensitivity to soap or shampoo, or even a new food or medication allergy. Our immune systems are almost infinitely complicated.  You might try an over the counter antihistamine to see if that helps. 

Should you decide to try hot water, please limit it to a small area! 

I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through. Compared with that I shouldn't complain. 

I'm glad that people are suggesting the itch might be related to my cancer or treatment though. When it first started - back in December - I mentioned it to both my haematologist and the nurses and they both said it was too late after the chemo to be connected. Obviously not.

My GP has prescribed antihistamine tablets which are stronger than the over-the-counter type.

I'm going to ring the helpline today and ask to speak with my consultant.