Brown spots

colon2
colon2 Member Posts: 183
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone else noticed any new brown spots on their face or arms since starting chemo. I know they are called age spots And I am getting older, but since starting folfox in Feb, I have gotten 3 on my face just below and to the right of my right eye. I have also heard of them being called liver spots and that is what really scares me. I am afraid of any liver problem, at this stage of the game. As far as I know there is no problems there. At least there wasn't when they did CT scan and surgery in Jan. Just did treatment #6 today. I had the chest pain again for a litle while, but I have discovered it is a side effect of the oxy and if I don't breath cold air and keep a scarf around ny neck, it goes away. I read today that it affects less than 5% of the patients taking oxy. So lucky me. No, really I am pretty lucky because i haven't had any nausea, and only a little bit of tingling in fingers and toes. So I can deal with the scarf, but it is gonna be a long hot summer here in Atlanta, Ga., with my neck scarf, nothing cold to drink and can't stay in front of the fan.
Bless Y'all, Carletta

Comments

  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #2
    Spots
    Yep, I've got them too. At the ripe old age of 45. My husband thinks they're freckles so....sshhhh.... LOL He really does comment on how many more freckles I have. Gotta love him for that.

    Good luck with the Oxy this summer. That is just plain not fun! You have to find something that is so much FUN as to overcome that problem.

    Kimby
  • colon2
    colon2 Member Posts: 183
    #3
    kimby said:

    Spots
    Yep, I've got them too. At the ripe old age of 45. My husband thinks they're freckles so....sshhhh.... LOL He really does comment on how many more freckles I have. Gotta love him for that.

    Good luck with the Oxy this summer. That is just plain not fun! You have to find something that is so much FUN as to overcome that problem.

    Kimby

    Maybe
    I can count browns spots or something for fun.LOL If I get enough of them, and they get close enough together, people will tell me how good I look with my great tan. Oh well, thanks fot the answer. As long as it has nothing to do with the liver, I'm ok with it. Guess I will have to buy some porcelana fade cream, or what ever Michael Jackson uses.
    Carletta
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #4
    colon2 said:

    Maybe
    I can count browns spots or something for fun.LOL If I get enough of them, and they get close enough together, people will tell me how good I look with my great tan. Oh well, thanks fot the answer. As long as it has nothing to do with the liver, I'm ok with it. Guess I will have to buy some porcelana fade cream, or what ever Michael Jackson uses.
    Carletta

    Shoot....
    I have a few on my hands that I can play connect the dots with, but now I'm not sure if they were there before or after I started chemo, I hadn't noticed before lol....
  • colon2
    colon2 Member Posts: 183
    #5
    Shayenne said:

    Shoot....
    I have a few on my hands that I can play connect the dots with, but now I'm not sure if they were there before or after I started chemo, I hadn't noticed before lol....

    hands
    I don't have spots on my hands, but they are turning darker, especially around the knuckles. They look a little dirty, I am constantly scubbing them and if I turn them over the lines where the joints are, are a purple color. AINT CHEMO FUN?
    Also, A quick question for you ladies that color your hair. Have you colored it since starting chemo? I haven't and I need to. I asked the Onc nurse and she said she wasn't sure, but it probably would be ok. Thanks, Carletta
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #6
    colon2 said:

    hands
    I don't have spots on my hands, but they are turning darker, especially around the knuckles. They look a little dirty, I am constantly scubbing them and if I turn them over the lines where the joints are, are a purple color. AINT CHEMO FUN?
    Also, A quick question for you ladies that color your hair. Have you colored it since starting chemo? I haven't and I need to. I asked the Onc nurse and she said she wasn't sure, but it probably would be ok. Thanks, Carletta

    Nope.....
    My onc told me to not color my hair during treatments, it should be done before or after, the chemicals aren't good for it. I need to touch up a few grays, but she told me not to worry about it till the chemo was done. Make sure you ask your onc about it. Chemo fun??? haha..well, I do try and make it fun, I have a warped sense of humor and do try and joke about it, seems to help the people around me to be less tense around me when they see I'm not so gloomy ;)
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #7
    Shayenne said:

    Nope.....
    My onc told me to not color my hair during treatments, it should be done before or after, the chemicals aren't good for it. I need to touch up a few grays, but she told me not to worry about it till the chemo was done. Make sure you ask your onc about it. Chemo fun??? haha..well, I do try and make it fun, I have a warped sense of humor and do try and joke about it, seems to help the people around me to be less tense around me when they see I'm not so gloomy ;)

    hair coloring
    Shayenne/Donna,

    I've colored my hair numerous times during chemo. I was quite hesitant the first time, but since I still had hair left to color, my vanity won out- I couldn't stand the dark outgrowth that was rapidly becoming grayer and grayer (I think the chemo hastened the gray- I never had this much gray before starting chemo less than two yrs ago).
    Anyhow, someone ran a thread on this subject a while back. Although I never tried it myself, several people recommended Aveda products for coloring your hair. I believe they are supposed to be much less harsh on the hair than the traditional hair treatments.

    Ironically, I actually have a cut and color weave appt tomorrow (oops- it's technically later today since I'm posting this after midnight). I've got funny little hairs about an inch and a half long growing out all over my head from when my hair thinned while on the irinotecan. I pulled a few out since they stuck up so funny, but decided that was a pretty bad idea, so I guess I just have to try to smooth them down. At least I have hair to worry about, is what I keep telling myself! I find that so many people I've come across seem amazed that I haven't lost all my hair during chemo- they don't realize that not all chemos cause hair loss.

    Well, I'd say go for the hair coloring if it makes you feel better about yourself. Maybe look into the Aveda products, if you're concerned.

    Take care!
    Lisa
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #8
    5% is good
    Say, 10 years ago only something like 5% of "us" lived past 5 years so that may be a very good omen for you Carletta.
    I've gotten the brown spots too, I think it's the chemo and the sun combo.
    Could be worse, they could be a hideous bright green color or something.
    -p
  • colon2
    colon2 Member Posts: 183
    #9
    PhillieG said:

    5% is good
    Say, 10 years ago only something like 5% of "us" lived past 5 years so that may be a very good omen for you Carletta.
    I've gotten the brown spots too, I think it's the chemo and the sun combo.
    Could be worse, they could be a hideous bright green color or something.
    -p

    You are right
    It can always be worse. I guess I can live with a few(or a lot)of brown spots. As long as I get to live. That's the main thing. I guess I need to get a strong sun screen and start using it. Maybe it will help.
    Carletta
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #10
    colon2 said:

    hands
    I don't have spots on my hands, but they are turning darker, especially around the knuckles. They look a little dirty, I am constantly scubbing them and if I turn them over the lines where the joints are, are a purple color. AINT CHEMO FUN?
    Also, A quick question for you ladies that color your hair. Have you colored it since starting chemo? I haven't and I need to. I asked the Onc nurse and she said she wasn't sure, but it probably would be ok. Thanks, Carletta

    hair color
    Yep, I colored my hair and had highlights added. Not during chemo week, but it went OK.I go to an Aveda Salon, as their products, while not chemical free, are 90& natural ingredients. My onc nurses said go for it, but be aware the color may not take. It took everywhere except my eyebrows!

    BTW, it's moot now as I am rapidly losing my hair this time around (who said you don't lose your hair on 5FU???? This is way beyond 'thinning') My daughter has knit me several cool caps, and a friend sent me luscious hand-dyed silk scarves, so I am ready.

    Vicki
  • daydreamer110761
    daydreamer110761 Member Posts: 487 Member
    #11
    Shayenne said:

    Nope.....
    My onc told me to not color my hair during treatments, it should be done before or after, the chemicals aren't good for it. I need to touch up a few grays, but she told me not to worry about it till the chemo was done. Make sure you ask your onc about it. Chemo fun??? haha..well, I do try and make it fun, I have a warped sense of humor and do try and joke about it, seems to help the people around me to be less tense around me when they see I'm not so gloomy ;)

    Oh Donna....
    I've had my hair done twice....I hate my gray hairs - wouldn't be bad if it were spread out, but mine grows at the temples and I look like Morticia....

    Spoiling myself at Jutte Salon, they give a scalp message, then it gets highlighted, then you get to LAY DOWN to have your hair washed and another scalp message (my girl has been doing my hair for 2 years and knows i live this part so she takes a little longer) and then a cut and style. It's a bit pricey - but gosh - what a feeling! almost better than, oh, well, maybe not...lol!

    As for the spots - I have them on my hands and the bottom of my feet - looks like I haven't washed my hands in weeks.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #12
    yep
    It's a bit hard to distinguish the effects of ageing from the effects of chemo! I'm on xeloda now and my oncologist told me I might might get brown spots. Which I have. I can tell the difference between those and the "sun spots" (as I like to refer to them! I don't like the term liver spots or age spots). Eh, what can you do. Sunscreen, concealer. And I believe in candlight! Luckily everyone I know is getting older too so who the h*ll can see those spots. And they should be looking into my eyes anyway!

    Tara
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #13
    Oh yes.
    I call it the stealthy leopard look.:-)

    Kirsten
  • alphasun
    alphasun Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2018 #14
    Drinks during Folfox

    Hi,

    There's very little that I can taste whi9le on Folfox, , but I've found beer great (not necessarily very cold)  -- I drink a non-alcoholic one (Erdinger, Becks) or a mild ale. I get the full taste and it's it's incredibly satisfying -- plus it helps to wash down food.

    Good luck

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777
    #15
    I have them on three

    I have them on three fingertips, most of my nuckles, the nuckles of my toes, and probably the bottoms of the toes (I don't inspect them that much) and in few other places.

  • Coachjim
    Coachjim Member Posts: 19 Member
    #16
    9 year old thread

    Most of the people who answered died years ago.  

    Wish people wouldn't bring up old threads.

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    edited March 2018 #17
    colon2 said:

    hands
    I don't have spots on my hands, but they are turning darker, especially around the knuckles. They look a little dirty, I am constantly scubbing them and if I turn them over the lines where the joints are, are a purple color. AINT CHEMO FUN?
    Also, A quick question for you ladies that color your hair. Have you colored it since starting chemo? I haven't and I need to. I asked the Onc nurse and she said she wasn't sure, but it probably would be ok. Thanks, Carletta

    My oncologist said it is okay

    sorry, can't delete, I didn't notice the dates

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