Skin Breakout

Ooh I've got some moogoo, I'll try that! I tell you what, i don't look pretty, if you saw my body you'd run, least my face isn't affected, don't have to hide, just wear long sleeves.
Has anyone had their chemo suspended due to bad reaction? As much as i don't want to have chemo, I'd rather get it than not considering that it is working. 

I couldn't wear jewelry or have hot showers as I'd break out in a horrid itchy hives rash on taxol. I was careful to have tepid showers and lots and lots of sorbolene. ..or my preference was moogoo...fabulous stuff. 

During chemo I lost most of my skin too. I thought beauty my skin will come back perfect with no wrinkles but nup, wasnt to be. One year on every sun spot has erupted making me a scabby mess and a new age spot or two as well. The other day I complained to the GP who got his freeze spray out and every bit I complained about he sprayed for a total of 17! Seven were on my face alone so I looked pretty poxy for a week or two but they have healed now and my skin feels nice and smooth again. Bit by bit you will come good. Rome wasnt built in a day. <3

I broke out in a rash a few days after my first chemo. This was after breaking out in hives during the first chemo infusion! Oh the joys! I was advised to take loratadine (claratine) daily for the duration of my chemo. Best wishes
Kate

Great isn't it? Before BC you have this idea about chemo making you bald and pale and thin and sick. Then you find out it sometimes makes you puffy and sweaty and itchy and cranky and fat. And sick. And sore.

I, too, had a week or too of looking like a mangy cat. Things settled down but I've now got one particular skin cancer which has truly taken offense and needs to come off. All my age spots and sun damaged skin got really, really splotchy and sore, which was odd, I had TC chemo this time, 10 years ago I had AC and my skin was like porcelain--all the scaly bits disappeared. Go figure.

@jenv You are exactly right, I'm 20 months post chemo now, I had 4.5 months of sheer hell. Finally I'm getting my life back but it's been nearly 2years and just had my final surgery on monday, my revision for previous mastectomy/diep flap recon done in Feb. 

What I noticed with all my subsequent visits to the Oncologist is, no matter what side effects I had or needed to discuss, it was as you say. After I had FEC I did Taxol and I had skin rashes and zero could be done about it. It did all go away once treatment finished. Unfortunately, you are right, they focus on treatment only, that's what they do, they don't want to hear the debilitating side effects or diminished quality of life because of it. It's been a big eye opener! 

Hang in there, you'll get to the end and you will get past all of it! I'm glad to be at the end of it all after 6yrs and a recurrence. Choices I'd make differently but couldnt be happier moving on now. xx Melinda

Hey @jenv, I come from a family of mad insane knitters (I knit occasionally, normally the same aran jumper that I forget where I'm up to so every winter pull it out and start again  :s) but could you perhaps try slathering your hands in cream and wearing cotton gloves to help to reduce any friction against your skin? If your skin is cracking and peeling this may stop it catching on the needles too. I can understand how frustrating it must be. Wishing you all the best. Xx Cath

Vent away! It's the side effects that make us feel like we're in a world of pain as they catch you unaware and it's who the what the!
Take care 

Yes antihistamine and either panadol or nurofen

Have they mentioned antihistamine for the itching? That's what my Onc says