Has anyone else had this problem? I finished my last chemo 2.5 weeks ago and my skin seems like it's still getting more and more thin and more and more fragile.
I was on carbo/taxol, and am 99% sure I got avastin too.
Last week I was wearing a long skirt, went to jack it up a little bit so I wouldn't trip over it coming up my stairs, and accidently pinched my leg-hurt like he!! and I got a bruise, but I barely touched it.
My dog jumped on me, barely touched me, and I got a bleeding scratch on my leg.
Today, I looked down at my arm and it was bleeding, it took my five minutes to figure out what had happened and when I had cut it, I didn't even notice until I saw it.
I have no pain tolerance, every bump and poke hurts. I've always had a very good pain tolerance-even for my two tattoos-if that tells you something...
If I use a shower pouf/scrubbie thing, even really gently, it feels like it's burning and hurts.
I was working on a jewelry fabrication project today and did a VERY minimal amount of hammering and have a blister on my hand-I've never gotten a blister from that before and I've hammered for hours on end!!
Is anyone else having these problems?
Did you have these problems and recover?
How long did it take for your skin to heal and get stronger after chemo?
I HATE feeling like a darn porcelain doll and like I can't do anything.
Having said all of that, I'm leaving to go camping for a week tomorrow afternoon. So please respond, but don't be offended or put out if I don't respond for a bit. Don't worry, it's lazy camping in a campsite with showers and bathrooms nearby and I'm not going to go out on the lake and get sunburned or anything... learned that lesson already.
You ladies are wonderful, thank you for any help you can offer :)
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VERY fragile skin-bruising and tearing easily
- By Brown_Eyes
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 8:11 pm · 8 replies
- In Side effects of treatment
- Shared with the public
- Edited June 16, 2009 at 9:31 pm
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- By momanderson920
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 7:32 am
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Chemo causes the platelets to decrease in the same way it affects the white and red blood cells. Platelets affect clotting which is why you bruise so easily. My skin and nails a year after chemo are still not like they used to be. My fingernails are ridged and this is from chemo. I am fair skinned and my skin has more age spots (I am 55) than it did before and looks different. I did not have the burning although I did feel hot and sweaty all the time, especially my head, during chemo and I think that is from the taxol. That went away after chemo. What are your blood counts reading at your post chemo check each month? I would ask your doctor about your platelets. You may have to be more careful than usual about injuries, bumps, etc. I began to be extra careful while I was on chemo because of this. As for the bruising, it took a month or so after chemo ended for the bruising phenomena to go away but it did.
- By Brown_Eyes
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 11:15 am
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Thanks MomAnderson, I really appreciate all of your help. Especially the platelet info. It's really helpful to have at least a general idea of how long all this will take! I only had problems with my white counts during chemo, but I'm going to ask about the platelets when I go in next! I hope you're doing well :) BE
- By tg4love
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 12:52 pm
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Well....you mentioned Avastin as a possible chemo drug. Avastin causes bleeding as well. I've been on it and have nose bleed all the time. You really should ask. But, saying that, I agree with momanderson about the platelets. Before going to the good old outdoors, you really should check this out. I'm not a doctor, but you really must take care of yourself. Please be careful camping. That's all, good luck
- By mawmaw4
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 4:16 pm
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My skin too was very thin while on chemo, carboplatin/taxol. I didn't have any platelet problems but I bruised very very easy and would bleed easily too. It does get better, now 5 months past last treatment, much more color to my skin and I don't bruise/bleed as easily. Eveerything does get better!
- By Shearaw
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 5:13 pm
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I also had extremely easy bruising while on carbo/taxol/and avastin, and also very slow healing. That was 3 years ago. It does get better with length of time away from the combination.
- By Dot
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 9:27 pm
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Hi. Of course, I don't know what else you might be taking, but I can tell you that aspirin will cause that kind of bruising, and prednisone can cause the thin skin. I've been taking both for 10 years because of a kidney-pancreas transplant.
- By lovemnms
- Posted June 18, 2009 at 2:45 pm
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I still bruise easily(last chemo 12/08) and my skin still isn't like it was. It's thin and dry. I also have more spots/freckles/dark areas than ever before. I was on Carbo/Taxotere.
- By Brown_Eyes
- Posted June 24, 2009 at 2:30 pm
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Thanks for all of your informative replies :) I had a very relaxing week camping and didn't have any problems, it was very nice. Back to reality though with a CT and Avastin/placebo and Dr meeting on Monday
:(
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