Cinco Vidas

Dry, flaky skin is an uncomfortable side effect of many cancer treatments. Radiation creates it at the treatment site, while chemotherapy can get you itching everywhere. You apply moisturizer and apply moisturizer, but are there any other natural remedies?

Dry skin seems to occur on the surface, but actually the problem goes deeper than that, down to the oil-producing glands in the lower layers. A healthy diet filled with vitamins and minerals that support healthy gland function can help your skin battle the problem. Fortunately, the foods that are good for your skin are good for the rest of your body, too, so while you’re eating for moisturization, you’ll reap the benefit of increased immunity and strength. (more…)

We all experience dry skin from time to time, especially in the harsh winter months. Chemotherapy, however, is a professional thief, and skin moisture is it’s favorite prize. Drugs like 5-FU can cause extreme dry skin, and those who have it can suffer so much that they’re unable to sleep, sometimes experiencing intense itching and scratching that can lead to infection.

“It was as though a giant sponge swooped down and absorbed all the moisture from my skin,” says Pat, a breast-cancer survivor.

What are the signs? Dry skin appears rough and flaky, and can become cracked and peeled. (more…)

During chemo, my father had extremely dry hands and feet, and brittle nails that almost fell off. His doctor failed to warn him about these effects.

Chemotherapy can create a myriad of side effects. One of the purposes of this blog is to tell you about them, and help you to alleviate them, naturally. Recently, many patients told us: “The doctor didn’t tell me about this [or that] side effect.” Did he think you already knew? Or maybe he didn’t want to scare you? Perhaps he just didn’t know how the treatment would affect you, since everyone is different.

Most survivors agree—it’s better to be informed. With that in mind, here are a few of the side effects your doctor may have neglected to tell you about. You may or may not experience them—everyone is different, and all treatments are different—but just in case.

Eyelash and Eyebrow Thinning: You probably already know about hair loss, and you may have already gotten your wig. What you may not have thought about are your eyelashes and eyebrows. Chemo targets all hair cells, so to be prepared, get yourself an eyebrow kit (read our post), and consider investing in some synthetic brows or lashes. (more…)