ABSTRACT
Cancer treatment-related skin toxicities are a frequent and distressing side effect of antineoplastic therapies, especially chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Skin toxicities associated with these therapies can include rashes, hand-foot skin reaction, hand-foot syndrome, and hair loss. These symptoms cause not only physical pain and discomfort but also psychological distress, and they can become a stigma of the patient's cancer diagnosis. Skin toxicities can cause treatment delays and even discontinuation, which affects clinical outcome. The prevention of toxicities and effective, early management can reduce the risk for distress and treatment delays.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Neoplasms , Skin Diseases , Alopecia , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Humans , Neoplasms/drug therapy , SkinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Management of cancer treatment-related skin toxicities can minimize treatment disruptions and improve patient well-being. OBJECTIVES: This guideline aims to support patients and clinicians in decisions regarding management of cancer treatment-related skin toxicities. METHODS: A panel developed a guideline for management of cancer treatment-related skin toxicities using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) for certainty of evidence and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine criteria for trustworthy guidelines. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool assessed risk of bias. A quantitative or narrative synthesis of the evidence was completed. RESULTS: The panel issued seven conditional recommendations for epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor rash, hand-foot skin reaction, hand-foot syndrome, and chemotherapy-induced alopecia. The panel suggested strategies for prevention and treatment for all toxicities except hand-foot syndrome, which only has a prevention recommendation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Cancer treatment-related skin toxicities can significantly affect quality of life. Incorporation of these interventions into clinical care can improve patient outcomes. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS: //onf.ons.org/supplementary-material-ons-guidelines-cancer-treatment-related-skin-toxicity.
