CANCER BUZZ: Supportive Oncodermatology: Managing Skin, Hair, and Nail Toxicities in Cancer Care

Supportive Oncodermatology: Managing Skin, Hair, and Nail Toxicities in Cancer Care

Jan 21, 2025

Synopsis: Adverse reactions involving the skin, nails, and hair are common among patients undergoing treatment for cancer and are often underreported and overlooked. These reactions directly impact patient quality of life and may be the reason for interruptions in lifesaving antineoplastic treatment. To address these toxicities, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is leading an initiative that aims to educate providers and other cancer care team members about the optimal management of dermatologic side effects.

In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Julie Ryan Wolf, PhD, MPH and C.J.G. (Corina) van den Hurk, PhD, the chair and vice chair of the Oncodermatology Study Group at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) about common oncodermatological toxicities including radiation dermatitis, hair loss, and nail changes unique to EGFR-inhibitors. Also discussed are strategies to increase provider collaboration to intervene at an early stage to improve quality of life for patients receiving cancer treatment.

“If we have symptom monitoring on a regular basis throughout the course of treatment, we’ll be able to intervene sooner… helping improve [patient] quality of life” – Julie Ryan Wolf, PhD, MPH

“In effect, almost each patient has a dermatologic side effect at the end of the treatment, or has experienced that during the treatment, and they are all very interfering.” – CJG (Corina) van den Hurk, PhD

Julie Ryan Wolf, PhD, MPH

Chair, Oncodermatology Study Group

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)

Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Department of Radiation Oncology

University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, NY

CJG (Corina) van den Hurk, PhD

Vice Chair, Oncodermatology Study Group

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)

Senior Researcher, Santeon Hospitals

Netherlands

Thank you to Johnson & Johnson for their support of this program.