Project aims to ease cancer patients’ skin toxicity

Cancer is an unrelenting disease, with the National Cancer Institute reporting that 140,000-180,000 new cases are detected every year.
Cancer treatments can produce a lot of mental and physical side effects, including skin irritations, which can affect more than 80% of patients.
Other side effects are often related to the area being treated, such as hair loss or mouth problems when radiation treatment is carried out.
Side effects can differ from one patient to the other, and they may depend on the type of medicine used or treatment carried out.
Sirintip Kudtiyakarn, president of the Thai Cancer Society (TCS), said cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and targeted therapy.
During her successful fight against stage 4 lymphoma that involved a radiation treatment, Ms Sirintip said she felt like an iron was being placed on her skin during the treatment, while this led to dark marks and burns that could not be treated immediately.
Side effects from such treatments on the skin can include bumps, peeling skin and rashes.
Severe rashes can cause a painful, intense itchy sensation. If a patient scratches the itch continuously, this can lead to bleeding and the area affected can then become infected.
In the past, when a patient experienced such unpleasant effects on their skin following treatment, both the patient and the doctor might not have paid much attention to it, as they would tend to focus on the cancer treatment as the priority, Ms Sirintip noted.
“Some patients choose to suffer the pain from the side effects on their skin. However, I would say that when side effects occur, patients should consult a doctor as soon as possible,” said Ms Sirintip.
Martin Foret, marketing director of La Roche-Posay at L’Oreal (Thailand), said the brand has been supporting cancer patients at a worldwide level for more than a decade.
In Thailand, La Roche-Posay, in collaboration with the Thai Cancer Society, launched the Cancer Support by La Roche-Posay project, which aims to provide information and support regarding skin-related side effects caused by cancer treatment to patients and the caregiver community under the “Healing Power of Touch” principle.
This is La Roche-Posay’s first project aimed at supporting cancer patients and the caregiver community in Thailand in the belief that proper skincare can improve each patient’s quality of life during all forms of cancer treatment and improve the chance of successful healing outcomes, he noted.
“We aim to raise awareness of the skin-related side effects of cancer treatment — the itching, burning, scars and acute dryness that can occur — while educating healthcare professionals, patients and loved ones about relief methods for the skin before, during and after cancer treatment,” said Mr Foret.
Mr Foret said the company has donated 1 million baht to the TCS to promote activities to raise awareness about cancer on a large scale and provide free dermatologists consultations on skin problems related to cancer treatment, both on site and online.
Moreover, the company will donate by the end of 2024 5,000 bottles of Lipikar Baume AP+M, a nourishing balm that can ease dry and itchy skin, to cancer patients through the TCS and hospitals nationwide.
“We are proud to have this partnership with the TCS as it could have a significant impact on society,” said Mr Foret.
Ms Sirintip said part of the 1 million baht received from La Roche-Posay would be used to promote educational resources and self-awareness among patients in terms of how to look after the health of their skin during cancer treatment.
Known as the “Cancer Academy Project”, it is scheduled to be implemented within the first half of 2025. This would be carried out in various locations across the country in collaboration with doctors and cancer patient networks.
Furthermore, the TCS is considering setting up a compensation system which would allow cancer patients who experience skin-related side effects to claim their dermatology consultation fee.
Mr Foret said La Roche-Posay has set up a website at www.cancer-support.com/th, which takes the form of an online resource that provides knowledge, advice and training to cancer patients and caregivers on how to take care of themselves properly.
A free 15-minute online training session for patients and caregivers is available in multiple languages, including English, French, Korean and, more recently, Thai.
The website has produced a comprehensive patient support guide that helps people take care of themselves while fighting cancer, which covers four components of supportive care: mental health; hair, skin and nails; mouth, stomach and nutrition; and pain and fatigue.
When it comes to mental health, patients can discover how to deal with the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis.
The skin, hair and nails section helps patients learn how to take care of their skin, hair and nails while undergoing treatment, with tips provided on gentle cleansing, moisturising, and UV protection.
In the mouth, stomach and nutrition section, patients learn how to tackle eating difficulties and improve their appetite by accessing useful tips on nutrition.
In the pain and fatigue section, patients can discover useful ways to improve their level of comfort on a daily basis while undergoing cancer treatment.
For every training session completed, La Roche-Posay will donate €1 to the Union for International Cancer Control to support its cancer patient programmes, Mr Foret said.
“We aim to increase coverage of cancer patients and caregivers. We do hope this training will be able to make a difference and be useful for everyone in Thailand,” said Mr Foret.
Ms Sirintip hopes the collaboration will be able to change the mindset of Thais to see a doctor immediately when side effects from cancer treatment emerge, with the aim of improving cancer patients’ quality of life.
“Over three-quarters of cancer patients grapple with severe skin side effects resulting from treatment. The severity of these side effects can even compel patients to halt or delay their therapy. Therefore, proper skin care could prevent potential skin complications and also help to maintain the cancer treatment plan continuously,” she said.
“As every problem has a solution, side effects from cancer treatment, whether physical or mental, can be relieved. And that’s why La Roche-Posay’s Cancer Support campaign is so important,” said Ms Sirintip, a cancer survivor.