Efficacy of a global supportive skin care programme with hydrotherapy after non-metastatic breast cancer treatment: A randomised, controlled study.

This study investigated the efficacy of post-treatment hydrotherapy as supportive care for management of persistent/long-lasting dermatologic adverse events (dAEs) induced in breast cancer survivors by adjuvant therapy, and its impact on quality of life (QoL). Patients in complete remission after standardised (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy combination treatment for infiltrating HR+/HER2-breast carcinoma were enrolled in this randomised, multicentre controlled study 1-5 weeks after completing radiotherapy. The control group (CG, n = 33) received best supportive care and the treatment group (HG, n = 35) received 3-weeks of specific hydrotherapy. The primary criterion was change in QoL (QLQ-BR23) after hydrotherapy. Clinical grading of dAEs, cancer-related QoL (QLQ-C30), dermatologic QoL (DLQI) and general psychological well-being (PGWBI) were assessed. Significant dAEs were found at inclusion in both groups (n = 261). Most items showed significantly greater improvement in the HG versus CG group: QLQ-BR23 (breast [p = .0001] and arm symptoms [p = .0015], systemic therapy side effects [p = .0044], body image [p = .0139]), some dAE grading, DLQI (p = .0002) and PGWBI (p = .0028). Xerosis (88% of patients at inclusion) completely healed in all HG patients. Specific hydrotherapy is an effective supportive care for highly prevalent and long-lasting dAEs occurring after early breast cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, and leads to improved QoL and dermatologic toxicities.

[Interest of a sterilised anti-burning gel in radiation dermatitis: results of a comparative study]. / Intérêt d'un gel stérile anti-brûlure dans les radiodermites : résultats d'une étude comparative.

Trial objectives were to assess effectiveness and tolerance of sterilized Avène thermal spring water anti burning gel (ATSW gel) in prevention of radiation dermatitis in adults irradiated (6 weeks) for breast (n=61) or head and neck (n=8) cancer. Patients included in this open labelled, 2 parallel groups, multicentric study, were randomly assigned to apply five times daily for ten weeks either the Avène spring water gel (n=35) or trolamine cream (n=34). The median of emergence of the first objective radiation dermatitis signs was 31 days in the ATSW gel group and 29 days in the control group (p=0,924). The median incidence for pruritus in patients of the ETA gel group was 46 days versus 27 days (p=0,028) and 44 days versus 24 days for pain (p=0,426). Global efficacy was <> in 46,7 % of patients of the ETA gel group versus 17,2 % (p=0,029) and tolerance was <> in 65,5 % of the ETA gel group versus 40,7 % (p=0,107). No radionecrosis was observed. In conclusion, the efficacy of the Avène spring water gel was similar to the control product in prophylaxis of radiation dermatitis. Tolerance was better and the pruritus was significantly more delayed in patients who applied the Avène spring water gel than in controls.