Dry skin?

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RogerRN43
RogerRN43 Member Posts: 185
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My whole body is shedding like a snake, dry small flakes, like dandruff is coming off everywhere.
With my new stomach tube, I am afraid of getting it infected again, so I only shower 2x/week. I use a transparent waterproof bandage to cover it when I do. The other days I'll sponge bath.
I don't think I'm dehydrated, my urine is clear and not concentrated.

Is it the winter heating? Lack of real nutrition and relying on these supplements? Chemo? A combo of it all?

Any one else experiencing or experienced this with chemorad?

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  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
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    Well, yeah.....
    I look like bizzaro Superman, but then I am struggling along on erbitux. Between shedding skin like a snake, and the baldness of carbo, I'm a sight for sore eyes. I'd post a picture, but the internet is forever:)
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #3
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    Tube
    I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOOD ADVICE IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN TREATMENT.

    I've had my tube for over a year and I too wrapped it up, didn't get it wet and wiped the area with peroxide or alcohol everyday. I always had a rednedd in the area that would not go away. For the past nine months I have not wrapped it and wash around the entry area every day when I shower. The red rash has gone away and I have had zero infections. It also makes it easier (a wash cloth)to wipe away the gunk that magically appears every day and it has almost eliminated the oder I had before.

    Just a brain-dump as I read through CSN.

    I too had the flakey skin and mine itched.
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #4
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    Dry Skin
    Yup, I have it also and I live in humid SW Florida.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
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    Hi Roger


    When I was going through treatment my wife got me some aloe Vera skin cream to keep my skin moist because of the dryness.

    Hope this might help you as well
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    Combination
    I can't offer any advice about the PEG...but I'm sure it's a little of all...

    Best,
    John
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #7
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Combination
    I can't offer any advice about the PEG...but I'm sure it's a little of all...

    Best,
    John

    Dry Skin
    30 months post treatment and my skin is still dry as a bone, I mean everywhere, flakes off, cream it and nothing helps, doc said it's probably a forever thing. Denis
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
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    Greend said:

    Tube
    I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOOD ADVICE IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN TREATMENT.

    I've had my tube for over a year and I too wrapped it up, didn't get it wet and wiped the area with peroxide or alcohol everyday. I always had a rednedd in the area that would not go away. For the past nine months I have not wrapped it and wash around the entry area every day when I shower. The red rash has gone away and I have had zero infections. It also makes it easier (a wash cloth)to wipe away the gunk that magically appears every day and it has almost eliminated the oder I had before.

    Just a brain-dump as I read through CSN.

    I too had the flakey skin and mine itched.

    Wrapping up peg tube???
    I never wrapped mine up. I just showered and washed the area in the shower. ????? No one ever told me not to do that. I had mine for 18 months and never had a problem, and I do not have the greatest immune system.

    I was even told I could go swimming.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #9
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    Greend said:

    Tube
    I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOOD ADVICE IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN TREATMENT.

    I've had my tube for over a year and I too wrapped it up, didn't get it wet and wiped the area with peroxide or alcohol everyday. I always had a rednedd in the area that would not go away. For the past nine months I have not wrapped it and wash around the entry area every day when I shower. The red rash has gone away and I have had zero infections. It also makes it easier (a wash cloth)to wipe away the gunk that magically appears every day and it has almost eliminated the oder I had before.

    Just a brain-dump as I read through CSN.

    I too had the flakey skin and mine itched.

    .
    .
  • RogerRN43
    RogerRN43 Member Posts: 185
    #10
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    sweetblood22 said:

    Wrapping up peg tube???
    I never wrapped mine up. I just showered and washed the area in the shower. ????? No one ever told me not to do that. I had mine for 18 months and never had a problem, and I do not have the greatest immune system.

    I was even told I could go swimming.

    Too cautious now
    I originally had a foley catheter (used for bladders) as my stomach tube, it migrated in and out easily but I tried to keep it taped and secured in one place. What I liked about it was it was really flexible and soft and I would forget it was there. I too use to leave it open, no gauze, I was told I could do that, showered with it open, kept it clean. However, I believe due to the in/out migration and the chemo making me more susceptible, something grew on the outside and allowed it to travel in.

    The infection resulted in the worst stabbing pain I have had in my whole life. This was compounded by the fact I just had Cisplatin, and I thought it was chemo side effects so I let it ride for a couple days before it got worse and I could not bare it any longer and went to the ER.

    They gave me morphine, IV antibiotics, and put in a new stomach tube, a conventional one that is sutured. It does not migrate in/out.
    The original dressing they put on it was a small gauze covered with a protective waterproof see thru dressing.

    I now change this twice a week and put fucidin cream as ordered, same type of dressing.

    I could probably leave it open like many do but I'm just too cautious now after the pain I went through.
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #11
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    I found my Met.
    I found the lump on my neck because I am still dry. Need to apply cream daily. That is how I found the mets. Glad I find my cancer early if I have to have the stuff. I told my doctors that I am finished with this cancer stuff now. You don't have to buy expensive creams, some in the drugstore work well, everyones skin is different. I also have very sensitvie skin, always have, need to make sure that there are no perfumes or scents in the lotions.

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