Can Chemotherapy Cause Skin Discoloration
Chemotherapy can lead to changes in the skin and nails, according to the
- swelling
You can also experience skin discoloration, including both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation .
Skin discoloration can occur roughly 2 to 3 weeks after chemotherapy treatment begins. The spots typically go away a few months after the chemo is over as new skin cells replace the old ones.
Other treatments for lung cancer, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, can also cause severe skin rashes, dryness, and hyperpigmentation, according to a . In at least one case report yet to be peer-reviewed, an immunotherapy medication used to treat NSCLC, known as pembrolizumab , caused spots on the skin.
Here Is A List Of The Most Common Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
- Tiredness or fatigue
- A cough that does not go away
- Coughing up blood or even red or rust-colored phlegm
- Pain in your chest that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that dont go away or keep coming back
- New onset of wheezing
Colon Cancer Skin Rash
Skin Toxicity, also known as Chemo Rash, is a common side effect for colorectal cancer patients. Certain kinds of cancer treatments, particularly Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibitors, can cause a skin rash and other skin changes for colorectal cancer patients. Skin toxicity can manifest as a skin rash,.
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Symptoms If Cancer Has Spread To Your Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are part of a system of tubes and glands in the body that filters body fluid and fights infection.
The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is that they are usually bigger than normal. But lymph nodes also get bigger if you have an infection. So you can’t be sure of the cause of a lump until your doctor has examined you and done some tests.
Tell you doctor if you find any lumps or swollen areas, particularly in your neck or armpits.
Common Lung Cancer Symptoms
The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer . Overall, NSCLC accounts for 84 percent of lung cancer diagnoses, and SCLC for 13 percent. NSCLC and SCLC overlap quite a bit in their common symptoms, which can be experienced in almost all parts of the body.
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Expected Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer produces symptoms that most people would expect. These symptoms are tied to the basic functions of our lungs. These symptoms include:
- Coughing. Coughing that doesnt go away or gets worse.
- Shortness of breath. Feeling out of breath, tightness in the chest, feeling like you cant breathe, or feeling you cant get enough air.
- Coughing up blood, phlegm, or mucus. Coughing up blood-tinged or rust-colored phlegm or mucus.
- Chest pain. Pain that gets worse with laughing, coughing, or deep breathing.
- Wheezing. Wheezing is that high-pitched whistling sound that happens when exhaling.
How I Dealt With My Worst Lung Cancer Symptom And Side Effect
I didnt even know I had stage IV lung cancer until I went to my doctor in September 2016 for back pain. A CT scan revealed large tumors on my left adrenal gland and right lung. They were taking up so much space in my chest and abdominal cavity that they were literally getting on my nerves.
For me, the pain caused by those tumors and the itchy skin rash I developed as a side effect of immunotherapy were the hardest parts of having cancer. But I dont want cancer to define me.
Heres how I dealt with both of those issues.
Finding a pain reliever I could tolerate
Most people can go to a doctor and say, Hey, Im hurting. Please give me a drug. But Im very medication-sensitive, and almost all pain medicine makes me sick. So if I take even one pill, Ill be puking for hours. Its just the way I am. Ive been that way my entire life.
As you can imagine, that makes it pretty hard for doctors to come up with a medication cocktail I can tolerate. Dr. Bonnie Glisson, my doctor at MD Anderson, finally ended up going with an old-school anti-nausea medication called Compazine and a half-dose of a new pain medicine called dilaudid.
My back pain remained an issue until pembrolizumab, the immunotherapy drug I began taking, started to shrink my tumors. But once we got the pain under control, I could focus on other things. So then, we dealt with the rash.
Managing an itchy rash caused by immunotherapy
Managing other peoples expectations
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Symptoms Of Stage 4 Lung Cancer
If lung cancer has spread to other areas of the body, multiple symptoms may be present, including:
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes
- A sensation of pain in the bones
- Headaches
- Swollen lymph nodes around the neck or collarbone
- Nervous system problems such as balance issues, seizures, dizziness, muscle weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
These symptoms may be combined with the symptoms of earlier stage lung cancers, which can include persistent coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, voice hoarseness and coughing up blood. Symptoms may also vary according to where in the body the lung cancer has spread. For example, an individual with brain metastasis is more likely to experience headaches and neurological problems, while liver metastasis often results in jaundice.
Symptoms In Women And Men
Generally speaking, the signs and symptoms for lung cancer are similar for men and women and may vary depending on where in the body the cancer forms.
For example, squamous cell carcinoma forms on the lining of the lungs. Signs of this type of cancer include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling in the face and neck veins
In addition to the symptoms above, adenocarcinoma, which typically forms in the outer areas of the lung, may also cause back pain, especially in women.
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Smoking Is One Of The Main Causes Of Lung Cancer:
- Smoking causes 80% of the lung cancer deaths in women and 90% in men.
- Men that smoke are 23 times more likely to get lung cancer.
- Female smokers are 13 times more prone to develop lung cancer.
But non-smokers get lung cancer too risk factors include radon gas and worked-related exposure to carcinogens. Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a 20-30% greater risk for developing lung cancer.
Lung cancer is most common in people over 65. However, younger adults can and do develop lung cancer, but less than 2% of patients are below 35.
Can Itching Be A Sign Of Cancer
Itchy skin can be a symptom of cancer or even the first sign of cancer, though other causes of itching are certainly much more common. Cancers commonly associated with itching include some leukemias and lymphomas, gallbladder cancer, and liver cancer. However, a number of other cancers may be implicated as well.
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Circular Skin Rash Cancer
Mycosis fungoides is a type of lymphomathe most common form of blood cancer. When someone has mycosis fungoides, malignant cells in the blood travel to the skin. The most common mycosis fungoides symptoms causes lesions that appear as a scaly, itchy rash. That rash can ultimately transform into tumors and malignant cells can spread to other organs in the body.
Itching Due To Cancer Treatments
There are many cancer treatments that can lead to itching. The most common include some targeted therapies and some immunotherapy drugs, especially interferon and interleukin-2. Many medications can also cause allergic reactions or inflammation of the liver, which in turn, can lead to itching.
Radiation therapy commonly causes itching, especially later on in treatment when the skin begins to heal.
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What Is The Treatment For Sarcoidosis
Fortunately, many patients with sarcoidosis require no treatment. Symptoms, after all, are usually not disabling and do tend to disappear spontaneously.
When therapy is recommended, the main goal is to keep the lungs and other affected body organs working and to relieve symptoms. The disease is considered inactive once the symptoms fade.
- Corticosteroid drugs remain the primary treatment for inflammation and granuloma formation.
- Prednisone is probably the corticosteroid most often prescribed today, but prednisolone is also used.
The doctors decision depends on the organ system involved and how far the inflammation has progressed. If the disease appears to be severe, especially in the lungs, eyes, heart, nervous system, spleen, or kidneys, the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids. There is no treatment at present to reverse the lung scarring that might be present in advanced sarcoidosis.
Paraneoplastic Syndromes And Lung Cancer
Sometimes, SCLC can cause paraneoplastic syndromes. While not always the case, these syndromes are often early signs of SCLC.
SCLC may cause one of these three paraneoplastic syndromes: Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone , Cushing Syndrome or Lambert-Eaton Syndrome. Symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes include muscle cramps, muscle weakness, elevation of calcium in the blood and clubbing, which refers to a change in the shape of the finger tips.
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Skin Rash And Good Performance Status Predict Improved Survival With Gefitinib For Patients With Advanced Non
Abstract
7097
Background: Gefitinib is active as a single agent for the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients who have failed prior chemotherapy. For optimal utilization of gefitinib, effective methods to identify sub-sets of patients likely to benefit from treatment are necessary. We analyzed patients treated with gefitinib on an Expanded Access Program at our institutions to detect possible predictive factors for patient selection to future studies. Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with gefitinib upon progression from chemotherapy. Patients with ECOG PS of 2, adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function were eligible. Results: Baseline patient characteristics were: Median age: 68 years males 56% Adenocarcinoma 49%, squamous 21%, bronchioloalveolar-6%, other 24%. Objective partial responses were noted in 4 and disease stabilization in 28 patients. The median survival was 6.1 months and median time to progression was 3 months . The predictive factors analyzed were gender, skin rash, diarrhea and PS. Patients who developed a skin rash had a MS of 11 months compared to 4.5 months for patients without a rash . Patients with PS 0/1 and 2 had a MS of 5.8 months and 2.9 months respectively . Other factors did not impact survival. Occurence of skin rash and baseline PS of 0/1were associated with significantly improved survival for advanced NSCLC patients who failed prior chemotherapy, upon treatment with gefitinib.
What Are The Types Of Lung Cancer
Most lung cancers start in the lining of the bronchi . Lung cancer also can form in glands below the lining of the bronchi, frequently in the outer areas of the lungs. These lung cancers are one of two major types, small cell or non-small cell lung cancer, each of which grows and spreads different ways:
Non-small cell lung cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common, and usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer, named for the type of cells from which the cancer develops:
Small cell lung cancer
Small cell lung cancer is less common than non-small cell lung cancer accounting for about 15 percent of all lung cancers. This type of lung cancer grows rapidly, is likely to be advanced by the time of diagnosis and spreads to other parts of the body quickly.
Rare cancers of the chest
Mesothelioma
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Metastatic Lung Cancer Symptoms
Metastatic lung cancer symptoms depend on the part of the body to which the cancer has spread, as well as the size and location. Sometimes, metastatic disease may not cause any symptoms, though about 30 percent to 40 percent of people with lung cancer will have symptoms of metastasis.
- If the cancer has spread to the bones, it may cause bone pain, often in the vertebrae or ribs. Other symptoms include fractures, constipation or decreased alertness due to high calcium levels.
- If the liver is affected, symptoms may include nausea, extreme fatigue, increased abdominal girth, swelling of the feet and hands due to fluid collection, and yellowing or itchy skin.
- If either the brain or spinal cord is affected, symptoms may include headache, blurred or double vision, difficulty with speech or seizures.
Lung cancer treatment: The care you need is one call away
Your multidisciplinary team will work with you to develop a personalized plan to treat your lung cancer in a way that fits your individual needs and goals.
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare multisystem disorder that primarily affects the lungs, skin, and peripheral nervous system. The main features are asthma, eosinophil infiltration in the lungs and blood, and small-vessel vasculitis with granulomas on biopsy.
A variety of skin lesions are seen in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis:
- Palpable purpura, most often seen on the lower extremities
- Subcutaneous nodules, often on limbs or the scalp
Papules and nodules may become necrotic, starting with a central black dimple.
Vasculitis in eosinophilic granulomatosis
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Striking Rash In A Patient With Lung Cancer On A Checkpoint Inhibitor
Georges E Tanios, MD,ab David G Morrison, MD, PhD,a and Reinhold Munker, MDab
aSection of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University, and bUniversity Medical Center, both in New Orleans, Louisiana
Accepted for publication February 14, 2018Correspondence Reinhold Munker, MD orGeorges E Tanios Disclosures The authors report no disclosures/conflicts of interest.Citation JCSO 2018 16:e159-e162
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Further Health Problems Lung Cancer Can Cause If Spread To Other Organs
- Bone pain, especially in the back or hips.
- Nervous system changes such as headache, dizziness, balance problems, seizures, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg. This could be from cancer spread to the brain or spinal cord.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes . This could be from cancer spread to the liver
- Lumps near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes, particularly those in the neck or above the collarbone.
If you have any of these warning signs of lung cancer, please dont panic. Unfortunately we all worry and stress. So its very common for a reader to overthink and convince themselves they have cancer after reading the symptoms. However, most times this is not the case.
But we here at UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center want you to be certain you are healthy. Please see your doctor if you experience these symptoms and warning signs of lung cancer.
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Types Of Lung Cancer In Women And Men
The types of lung cancer differ among women and men as well:
- Women tend to develop NSCLC more than men.
- Women are more likely to be diagnosed with adenocarcinoma than men .
- Female nonsmokers are more likely than male nonsmokers to be diagnosed with the subtype bronchioalveolar carcinoma.
- Women who have lung cancer are more likely to live longer than men.
- Women who undergo surgery for some lung cancers, including NSCLC, also live longer than men. Women have a better response to chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer than men do.
- Men are more likely to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma than women.
Extreme Thirst And Frequent Urination
Thirst is common with the sudden onset of warmer weather, but sudden extreme thirst is a symptom that you should always discuss with your doctor. Some lung cancer tumors create a protein that acts very similar to the parathyroid hormone produced by the parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland and kidneys normally regulate calcium levels in the body.
Cancer tumors can disrupt the process of regulating calcium, and lead to too much calcium in the bloodstream. Having a higher than usual level of calcium in the blood is called hypercalcemia, and about 10% to 20% of people with cancer develop hypercalcemia. High calcium levels are associated with being thirst and frequent urination.
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Prognosis For Lung Cancer
Prognosis refers to the expected outcome of a disease. While it is not possible for a doctor to predict the exact course of the disease, they can give you an idea about the general outlook for people with the same type and stage of cancer.
Your doctor will consider your test results, the type of lung cancer you have, the rate and extent of tumour growth, and other factors including your age, overall health and whether you are a smoker.
The earlier the cancer is found the better the treatment outcomes will be.
What Types Of Surgery Are Used To Treat Lung Cancer
How much lung tissue will be removed and what type of surgical approach will be used depends on where the tumor is located in the lung, its size, patients body type/weight and any previous chest surgeries. When resection is needed, minimally invasive approaches are considered. Trained thoracic surgeons may perform video-assisted thoracic surgery and VATS lobectomy routinely as well as robotic surgery. Surgical resection of lung cancer is generally performed as:
- Limited resection: An operation to remove only a small portion of the lung is called a segmental or wedge resection.
- Lobectomy: Removal of a defined section of the lung, , is a lobectomy. This is the most common surgery performed for lung cancer.
- Pneumonectomy: The removal of an entire lung is called a pneumonectomy.
Recovery after thoracic surgery depends on the extent of the surgery, whether or not it is performed minimally invasively, as well as the age and overall fitness of the patient. Many patients return home within three to four days after surgery. Patients who undergo minimally invasive surgery can generally return to work three weeks after surgery.
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