RAPID ACCESS SKIN TOXICITY (ONCOLOGY) CLINIC >>>>
The purpose of this clinic is to provide rapid access within 1-2 weeks for oncology patients with skin issues complicating their cancer treatments and to provide a known fast access pathway for referring oncologists.
Skin toxicity (cutaneous side effects) are a common complication of oncology treatments for all types of cancer.
Treatments such as immunotherapy, targeted therapies, chemotherapy, hormonal therapies and radiotherapy can all have cutaneous toxicity reactions.
The severity of skin toxicity complications can range from mild to severe, sometimes requiring dose reduction or discontinuation of cancer treatment.
Sometimes, cutaneous toxicity can be a marker of a good prognosis/treatment response.
Most of these complications can be managed by the treating oncologist, however for those which are more severe or impacting treatment continuation, we offer experienced dermatologist management, to optimise skin health during oncology treatment.
Our aim is to:
1. Improve quality of life during cancer treatment with optimised skin care.
2. Provide skin directed treatments, prior where appropriate, to systemic treatment with oral prednisolone/intravenous methylprednisolone for cutaneous toxicity.
3. Assist in avoiding cancer treatment dose reduction and discontinuation where possible, with skin directed treatments for cutaneous toxicity.
4. Assist with diagnosis where uncertainty may exist if the skin condition is related to treatment or another unrelated dermatological condition.
Some of the skin toxicities which can be managed include pruritus, vitiligo and morbilliform, lichenoid, psoriasiform and immunobullous eruptions from immunotherapy; eruptive keratoacanthomas, acantholytic and acneiform eruptions from targeted therapies; and hyperpigmentation, nail changes and toxic erythema of chemotherapy/hand-foot syndrome from chemotherapy. All patients are seen by A/Prof Tony Caccetta or Dr Helena Collgros.
Please note this is not a rapid access clinic for general dermatology conditions, only for skin toxicity related to oncology treatments for cancer.
