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

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.  

Additional Reading/Sources    

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Home 

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Oncodermatology Study Group  

MASCC Study Group Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines  

ACCC Supportive Care Strategies for Dermatologic Toxicities Related to Cancer Therapies 

Oncology Issues – Supportive Oncodermatology: Addressing dermatologic adverse events associated with oncologic therapies 

Dermatologic Adverse Events of Systemic Anticancer Therapies: Cytotoxic Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and Immunotherapy 

Oncodermatology: Advancing the Science and Care of Cancer Patients and Survivors 

Supportive oncodermatology-a narrative review of its utility and the way forward =