Chronic Itching Research Paper

What You Need to Know About Itching
Itching can be one of the cruelest forms of torture known to man. In many ways, it is one of the most annoying side effects of cancer and many of the medications that are used to treat it. There are two forms of itching the average cancer patient may experience, itching that comes on suddenly is referred to as "acute", and itching that occurs over a longer period of time is referred to as "chronic". The itching might occur by itself or along with various other symptoms. It may also be associated with a number of different types of cancer, including:

• AIDs • Leukemia
• Hodgkin's disease • Lymphoma
• Kaposi's sarcoma • Renal failure
• Liver metastases • And some antibiotics

Acute Itching
When this type of itching
occurs during chemotherapy infusions, it may be an early sign that the person is hypersensitive to the infusion. There are a number of chemotherapy medications that have been linked to an increased risk of allergic reaction, including:
• Cytarabine • Paclitaxel
• Docetaxel • Procarbazine
• L-asparaginase • Teniposide

Managing Acute Itching
As you might expect one of the most important things to remember about acute itching is that it is important to notify the medical professional who is managing your intravenous chemotherapy as soon as you notice the itching. Once you have let the person know what is going on they will be able to give you a number of different medications typically used in the treatment of allergic reactions. The most commonly used medications are epinephrine, diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), and hydrocortisone.
Your treatment nurse or doctor may elect to temporarily stop your chemotherapy infusion so that these medications can be given to you. In the event this should happen, treatment can be resumed only after the medication has had a chance to work and the itching and any other symptoms have gone away.
Chronic Itching
Like acute itching, many forms of chronic itching can be the result of a reaction to a range of anti-cancer medications. Bear in mind that not all chronic itching may be directly linked to the treatments being use. Among the most common treatments known to cause chronic itching are:
• Proleukin® (Interleukin-2), • Interferon (Intron®& Roferon®)
• Radiation therapy • Neupogen®(G-CSF)
• Leukine®(GM-CSF) • Acute and graft vs host disease (GVHD)

Managing Chronic Itching
Just like acute itching, it is important that you notify your nurse or doctor the moment you notice a rash or start to itch.
By notifying them of these chronic side effects as early as possible in your treatment, it will make it much easier for them to take care of them and reduce the impact chronic itching is going to have on your quality of life.
Once notified, your team of healthcare specialists will go over the onset, severity, duration, and pattern of the itching. It important you give a very detailed location or locations to help them take the right steps towards treating this allergic reaction. If you are currently taking any other kinds of medications, be sure to let your medical team know as they may be part of the cause of your itching.
Good Hygiene Is Vital to Reducing Itching
There is nothing more important in helping to reduce the amount of itching you have to deal with than good personal hygiene. This means far more than simply taking a shower on a regular basis, it also means you need to:
• Take showers instead of baths
• If your skin has not broken open, you can use bath
oils
• If you have open sores or raw spots you can use moisturizing or soothing bath products like Aveeno Oatmeal bath
• Water temperature should be tepid and use mild soaps such as Basis or Neutrogena
• Keep your skin moisturized by regularly applying lotion, consider using Aveeno, Aquaphor, Lubriderm, or Nivea
• Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking plenty of water during the day, you should be drinking about 2 liters per day
• If the itching is unbearable you can apply a cool compress for approximately 20 minutes to the area for relief
• Wash your bed weekly and run them through the rinse cycle twice as this helps to ensure the removal of all soap residue
• Use laundry detergents that are hypoallergenic such as Dreft of Ivory Snow
Medications that Your Doctor May Prescribe
If you have tried all of the above methods of treating your itching, you should talk to your doctor as there are a number of medications he may be able to prescribe as a treatment for your itching. These include the following:
Antihistamines: These include medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), Cyproheptadine, and hydroxyzine. They work by blocking the histamine receptors that are causing you to itch.
Corticosteroids: Typically, these are applied to the area where the itching is occurring only after your doctor has tried other methods to control it.
When Should You Notify Your Doctor?
Beyond the fact you should have already notified your doctor or medical team that you are experiencing either acute or chronic itching in association with your cancer treatment, you should also contact emergency medical help if you begin to experience any of these symptoms immediately:
• Difficulty breathing, including shortness of breath, wheezing
• A closing up of your throat
• Any swelling of your face
• Hives as these may be an indication of an allergic reaction
If you experience any to the following symptoms, you need to contact your doctor or medical team within 24 hours of their onset:
• Hives
• Itching
• Skin rash
If your doctor or medical team prescribe medication for any of these symptoms, it is important that you follow the directions that come with it until the itching is gone. In the event the medication does not stop the itching in a reasonable amount of time, you need to let your medical provider know so that the can work to find a treatment that will work for you.
If you notice any changes in the way you feel, the condition of your skin, or anything that might indicate you are having an allergic reaction, you need to contact your medical professional as soon as possible. Be sure to let any medical professional who is treating you know about your condition and the medical treatments that are being used to ensure they understand what can and cannot be used to help stop the itching.