Skin toxicity in chemotherapy and oncological diseases

Abstract

Cancer treatment is a long and complex process, including various types of drug therapy (chemo—, hormone-, immunotherapy, targeted) in combination with radiation and surgical intervention, since in many cases it is the combined approach that allows achieving the desired effect [1].

In addition to rapidly growing and multiplying cancer target cells, antitumor drugs also affect some healthy cells of our body, also characterized by the ability to rapidly divide.

Skin toxicity is the result of the toxic effects of drugs on rapidly dividing cells. These include not only tumor cells, but also many others: cells of our hair follicles, blood, including skin and its appendages [2].

Skin toxicity is not an allergic reaction, but a side effect of ongoing therapy, which are often an indicator of the body's immune response.