Skin breakdown during chemo

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Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby Caat55 » Sat Jun 30, 2018 12:50 pm

So a question about side effects of oxi/ xeloda. I had a serious reaction to radiation, xeloda. Skin on checks, inner thighs red, broken done and painful. All healed before surgery, a little flare up after surgery but healed again prior to infusion. Now it is bad again, raw, painful. I am using anti fungus powder, shea butter, cod cream.
Anyone else experience this? I noticed skin tears, bug bites take longer to heal.
Do I call surgeon, ongologist or dermatologist?
S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby CRguy » Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:14 am

A Derm referral could be a good step BUTT ... run it past the Onc first, as THEY are supposed to be on top of their treatments

forget the surgeon ... IMO ... once they stitch us up ... they are on to the next slice and dice :shock:
and I mean no disrespect, just that what they do is not side effects and patient management aftercare once you are healed.

JMO

Best wishes
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby Caat55 » Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:57 am

Thanks CR. I won't see onc. Till after infusion but I will ask, try calling before.
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby rp1954 » Sun Jul 01, 2018 6:48 am

Caat55 wrote:...side effects of oxi/ xeloda. I had a serious reaction to radiation, xeloda. Skin on checks, inner thighs red, broken done and painful. All healed before surgery, a little flare up after surgery but healed again prior to infusion. Now it is bad again, raw, painful. I am using anti fungus powder, shea butter, cod cream.

Fungal problems often go with excess sugar/starch consumption, along with several nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. We have treated all chemo (oral pro5FU drug only) related problems with vitamins and nutrients only. Sometimes removing problem "nutrition" like excess sugar/starch and all folic acid (vs natural folates). IV vitamin C + human K2 bolsters 5FU for us, and helps skin (and bone) issues. Ditto mega D3. Folfiri patients have prospered with IV vitamin C + K3 in some clinics; there seems to be less experience with Folfox.

We sidestepped oxi- with other adjuncts, mild off-label pharmaceuticals and natural.

Anyone else experience this? I noticed skin tears, bug bites take longer to heal.
Do I call surgeon, ongologist or dermatologist?

Perhaps check your sugar levels, and review nutrient options with less conventional MDs and oncology-biochemistry oriented NDs. There can be great gaps between conventionality and hard core nutraceutical approaches.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby Caat55 » Sun Jul 01, 2018 5:44 pm

I have cut folic acid, bake own bread, muffins, etc. Sweets aren't tasting good but I do eat a lot of fruit. My sugars look okay when I get lab work but that's for healthy folks not people getting chemo. I will look into the natural paths doctor, vitamins and nutrients.
I appreciate the info.
S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby rp1954 » Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:01 am

Just make sure that the flour is not store bought, enriched flour which is enriched with folic acid. I think the health food stores may have unenriched flour with disclaimers but please check carefully.

We use liver products, like liver and liverwurst for the natural folate source and other nutrients. I cannot vouch personally for green drink''s folate performance specific to chemo etc although I know many swear by it for a while. Plant based natural folates are mostly precursors to the human form of folate, L5MTHF.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Skin breakdown during chemo

Postby Caat55 » Mon Jul 02, 2018 11:07 am

rp1954 wrote:Just make sure that the flour is not store bought, enriched flour which is enriched with folic acid. I think the health food stores may have unenriched flour with disclaimers but please check carefully.

We use liver products, like liver and liverwurst for the natural folate source and other nutrients. I cannot vouch personally for green drink''s folate performance specific to chemo etc although I know many swear by it for a while. Plant based natural folates are mostly precursors to the human form of folate, L5MTHF.


Bob's Red Mill organic is just wheat. Also had to buy organic cornmeal. Doesn't always show in nutrients but find it buried in ingredients of many foods.
S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20


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