Many people misunderstand how common skin, hair, and nail side effects are during cancer treatment, and avoid or delay care as a result.
This is the main takeaway from a new pilot study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
When researchers at the George Washington University (GW) and Georgetown University surveyed attendees at two health fairs in medically underserved areas of Southeast Washington, DC, they found that many people believe dermatologic side effects happen more often than they actually do during anti-cancer therapies. The majority of the survey respondents were female, 45-54 years old, and Black or African American. Twenty-one percent of respondents were previously treated for cancer.
One-third of participants said permanent hair loss might make them refuse treatment, and more than 33% said side effects like hair or nail changes could lead them to turn down treatment for cancer, the survey showed. Half of cancer survivors surveyed never saw a dermatologist while receiving care.
“These findings show how powerful fear and misunderstanding can be,” says senior author Adam Friedman, MD, Chair of Dermatology at GW, in a news release. “We need better education and support to help patients make informed choices.” The researchers recommend stronger partnerships between dermatologists, oncologists, and primary care doctors to ensure patients understand side effects and available treatments.
