The great forgotten of cancer care

Despite advances in medicine, and the fact that more and more effective treatments are available, cancer patients continue to face great challenges, both physical and emotional, when facing the battle of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are abrasive treatments that cause changes and affect all cells in the body.

For this reason, people who undergo the necessary procedures to overcome this disease are also affected by the consequences generated by the side effects that they provide, and in this way, it becomes a more arduous fight.

That is why, although the effects are transitory, and tend to disappear over time, it is important to pay special attention to areas of the body that are often forgotten, such as the hands and feet.

At María D'Uol we know that it is difficult to face this disease, but we are aware that timely information can give peace of mind to everyone who is going through this process.

Therefore, to help you cope with the changes that usually occur, today we want to remind you that another important part of cancer treatment is precisely skin care, essential to be well both inside and out, and thus avoid other possible complications.

Appearance of redness, lesions and irritations

Cancer treatments and their adverse effects affect the body in general, so it is very common for patients to have headache, muscle or stomach pain, a lot of fatigue, neuropathy and, very frequently, variations in the skin during the process of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, the hands and feet deserve very special attention and care throughout this period.

These areas tend to have redness or lesions that can cause pain and be very annoying in everyday life.

In the same way, the effects produced by radiotherapy treatments usually cause skin wounds that range from redness, to irritation with the appearance of ulcers, swelling and redness, as well as a sensation of tingling or numbness, high sensitivity, the appearance of blisters or ulcers, corns and calluses.

En María D’Uol queremos compartir contigo algunos consejos que te pueden ayudar para prevenir y aliviar estos síntomas:

• After every shower, the skin is very sensitive. Therefore, try to gently dry your hands and feet after showering or bathing.
• Refresh your hands and feet with ice packs, cool tap water, or a damp towel for 15-20 minutes. But remember that you should not apply the ice directly to the skin.
• Avoid contact with harsh chemicals, such as those found in laundry soaps or household cleaning products.
• Do not rub your hands and or your feet with lotions, to avoid that the movement generates some friction.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting shoes that allow air to move freely over your skin. In the same way, try not to walk barefoot and, to avoid uncomfortable shoes, wear soft slippers and thick socks to reduce friction on your feet.
• Use soaps and products that do not damage the skin's protective barrier.
• Avoid taking long walks.

Dry, cracked, and itchy hands and feet

In addition, there are drugs that cause other side effects that cause severe pain in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, tightness in the skin of the feet, a sensation of tingling or numbness.

Also, when undergoing chemotherapy treatment, cracks and dryness often appear as the skin becomes more fragile, session after session. Therefore, we share other recommendations to counteract these symptoms:

• Try to limit contact with hot water.
• Avoid exposing yourself to heat sources such as saunas and the sun's rays.
• Dispense with activities that require strength or touch of the hands such as jogging, doing aerobics and playing racket sports.
• Gently apply skin care creams to keep hands moist.
• Drink lots of water so that your skin is always healthy and hydrated.
• Try not to scratch your skin, as these areas are more sensitive and can cause injury.
• Try not to use perfumes or lotions that contain alcohol. This way you will avoid some effects that can cause irritations and increase dryness.
• Keep your nails short and avoid getting manicures.

Once the treatment is finished

Finally, it must be borne in mind that skin that has undergone many changes tends to remain more fragile and more sensitive to trauma and infection for months or years after treatment is completed.
Therefore, it is best to continue with this care for some time once the entire process has been completed.

In this way, maintaining good hydration every day, protecting your skin with products and creams that provide softness, using sunscreen and always treating your hands and feet with delicacy, will be the best actions to carry out while the skin renews itself.

Remember that these effects are temporary, and soon all your skin will look more radiant than ever thanks to some of the products that we can offer you at María D'Uol.

We know that coping with illness is a long process, and it is often difficult to stay positive. The physical and emotional side effects of cancer patients can make it another challenging battle.

However, many specialists claim that taking care of your body appearance, despite cancer, helps improve mood. Therefore, being comfortable with your own image is very beneficial to increase the emotional state and, therefore, change the way you cope with the disease.