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Chemo Scalp Acne
I could use some insight or commiseration. I’m 47, and 2 cycles into an estimated 6, with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel, for Stage 2A, high grade serous epithelial cell ovarian cancer, having had a large tumour removed, as well as a full hysterectomy, in late Feb 2022. I buzz cut my hair in mid-April, then shaved it mid-May when it started falling out. And now, it is fully broken out, so incredibly itchy and sore, and some bumps look like cystic acne. Is this just ‘normal’ or is there something they can do to give me some relief? The worst part is that it looks so bad - the last shred of vanity is being stripped away. Please let me know if something worked for you! Comments
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I’m so sorry that you’re suffering through this along with everything else you’ve undergone. Our skin can get dry and sensitive during treatment and might develop contact dermatitis to all sorts of things like detergent or soaps that we had no reaction to before. There are prescription creams that can help to resolve this kind of over-sensitivity but there are many possible causes, including hormonal changes and stress. Contact your oncology team so they can diagnose and either treat or refer you to a dermatologist.In the meantime, no matter what the diagnosis is, use products that are fragrance and colour free (usually advertised as ‘gentle’ or ‘for sensitive skin’). Pat, don’t rub,your scalp dry, and try to keep it uncovered as often as you can.Best wishes to you. Let us know how it goes. And hugs, big hugs full of understanding1
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Thanks @HoldingOn. I’ve emailed my oncologist asking for a referral to the BC Cancer dermatologist now…
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@StikineSister I"m so glad you've reached out to your oncology team for an appropriate referral. An oncology dermatologist is definitely what you need. Don't try to treat it with home remedies.
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Gosh its bad enough all that cancer and treatment do to us and to have that added to the mix must be so maddening. I"m sure there's a miracle prescription waiting for you. Good luck and keep us posted. I would be interested to know what treatment they do use.
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So, BC Cancer referred me back to my GP, who has prescribed Cephalexin 500mg orally 4 x / day for 10 days and a topical prescription lotion that I can’t remember the name of and can’t pick up til tomorrow. In the meantime, I have Aveeno baby shampoo and Cetaphil sensitive skin lotion, as recommended by the nurses hotline. So, fingers crossed for some relief soon!0
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@StikineSister
I'm so glad they felt the appropriate resource to recommend treatment was your GP. I hope it all works for you. I'll add to the crossed fingers that you get some quick relief. Keep us posted.0 -
Hope this treatment resolves the problem for you quickly, Stikine Sister. Does your doctor think this is an infection or a side effect of the chemo or something else?0
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hello, @StikineSister - my wife is 9 treatments into carbo and taxel as well. She’s also receiving keytruda every 3rd treatment. She also has a scalp reaction like yours and it is absolutely driving her bonkers and she is scared of permanent hair loss. Can you share any successful medications or insight that may help her? We have tried oral and topo medications, herbal treatments and oils. Nothing is relieving the pain and discomfort. Any help would be appreciated. we’ve seen two dermatologists and getting ready to see 3rd. Her oncologist has never seen anything like it
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@Doots76 In the end, the GP prescribed Cephalexin 500mg orally 4 x / day for 10 days to knock back the infection and a topical prescription lotion that they use on cystic acne, that came in a dauber, like a bingo dauber. It took a couple of weeks but eventually healed. The rest of my treatment was uneventful. My hair started growing back about 3 months after my last chemo and I have a nice pixie now! First photo is after chemo ended. Second is recent, when I had pictures taken to celebrate. It’s a different texture, much more grey and quite a bit darker, but its hair, and I’m alive!!!
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I am so thankful for your response and most importantly to hear of your recovery and healing. We are going to use this information today when we discuss with the oncologist today and tomorrow with dermatologist. I have been searching the internet like crazy and this has been the only true comparison (especially the drugs being the same too).
My wife was on doxycycline orally 2 x a day and was using a topo cream clyndimycin 2 x a day. It’s been over three weeks and no change.
You have given hope to my wife. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻Many thanks and well wishes to good health.
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I’m traveling right now. As soon as I get home, I’ll look to see if I can find the topical solution - it might still be around.
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Also, I never shaved my head again after that, even when I got little annoying fluff. Only used the clippers to keep it from looking patchy.
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Thank you, that would be great. My wife and I appreciate any help and information we can get. Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
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Thank you @StikineSister for sharing what helped you with what looked like a very painful rash on your scalp. I am crossing my fingers that it will help @Doots76 when she attends her appts this week. It sounds like they are at the end of the rope for searching/trying treatments to get her some relief. If @Doots76 can let us know how you make out at your appt and if/when it starts working, it may help someone else in the group too. My thoughts will be with you as you attend your appts and after. 🤗
@StikineSister You look amazing in both pics and happy. So nice to see. Where are you at in your journey now?
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@StikineSister @Strongwoman - just wanted to update you that my wife’s scalp. She has had a full recovery and her hair is coming back in. Going on long term steroids was the key to healing this folliculitis. We asked the doctor about the cephelexine but could not go on that due to being allergic to penicillin.
Overall she is doing well. Chemo ended in July, surgery commenced late August and radiation is almost done at the end of this month
Thanks for your time and support! 🙏🏻
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Wow! Such awesome news, on all fronts. Glad to hear she’s on healing path.
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@Doots76 That is good to hear! Glad she is on a healing path. Sounds like treatment is moving along as well.
Thank you for the update!
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it was nice to meet you both during such a difficult time. No doctor we talked to had ever seen anything like this before (to the magnitude). When I came across the picture of @StikineSister scalp it was like the exact symptoms…. Then I saw your post treatment pics, and shared with my wife, she had hope for recovery from this terrible infection. It was the worst side effect….. but, just a bump in the road.
Thank you again!
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