How cancer treatments may
affect your appearance
This information is an extract from the booklet Feel more like
you. You may find the full booklet helpful. We can send you a
free copy – see page 4.
Contents
• Introduction
• Changes to your appearance
Introduction
Cancer may be the toughest fight you have to face but
remember you are not alone. You might start to see certain changes in your appearance
during and after treatment. But Boots Macmillan Beauty
Advisors are here to help.
Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are No7 Advisors, based in
some Boots stores, who have been trained by Boots UK and
Macmillan to provide support to people living with cancer.
You may find that some of the side effects of treatment are
having an impact on how you feel about yourself. If you want to manage or disguise any changes to your appearance, this leaflet has useful information to help you do this. This can
go some way to helping you feel good again.
As well as reading this information, you may also find it helpful to speak to a Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisor. They can give you face to face advice about caring for your skin, nails and hair.
Questions about cancer? Ask Macmillan 0808 808 00 00 www.macmillan.org.uk
Page 1 of 4
How cancer treatments may affect your appearance
Changes to your appearance
Changes to the condition and appearance of your skin, nails
and hair depend on the type of cancer treatment you’re having.
This information gives a brief overview of some common cancer
treatments and how they can affect your skin, nails and hair.
Chemotherapy
This treatment is the most common cause of hair, nail and
skin changes. Most people know that some chemotherapy
treatments can cause hair loss from the head, but fewer
people know that other areas of your body may be affected
too. This can include hair loss from eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, underarm hair and pubic hair.
Chemotherapy may affect your fingernails and toenails too. Your nails may become more brittle and develop lines or ridges.
During treatment your skin may become dry and more
sensitive. Steroids are often given with chemotherapy, which
may make your skin more prone to spots and reddening.
Hormonal therapy
This is used to treat cancers such as breast and prostate
cancer, and can affect your skin, nails and hair. These effects
are usually mild, but some people have more noticeable hair
loss. Hormonal therapies may also cause dry skin, rashes, or in some rare cases, spots.
Targeted therapy (also called biological therapy)
Targeted therapies use drugs that mimic substances that are
naturally present in the body to destroy cancer cells. Some
targeted therapies, such as cetuximab, erlotinib, gefitinib,
panitumumab and lapatinib can cause skin, hair and nail
changes. They can make your skin drier and more sensitive.
Skin rashes are also common.
These treatments may cause hair loss from the head, but
they can also make hair grow thicker or longer in other parts
of the body.
Your cancer nurse specialist or oncology team will give you
specific advice on how to manage these changes if you’re
prescribed a targeted therapy.
Page 2 of 4
Questions about cancer? Ask Macmillan 0808 808 00 00 www.macmillan.org.uk
How cancer treatments may affect your appearance
‘When I was having chemotherapy my entire
complexion became very dull. It becomes
easy to forget to focus on how you look on
the outside, or to even know where to start
to make yourself feel better. Reconnecting
with how you look on the outside is the first
step to longer-term recovery.’
Venus Otar, 41, from Nottingham
‘I want to be there for my
customers because I really care
about making them feel good
about themselves. And the
training I’ve had from Boots
and Macmillan means that
I have a better awareness
of what people with cancer
may be facing.’
Karen White, Boots Macmillan
Beauty Advisor, Northwich
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can cause changes to your skin and hair, but only
in the area(s) being treated. If you’re having radiotherapy, you’ll
be told how to look after the skin and hair in the area(s) being
treated. You should only use products in the affected area(s)
that are recommended by one of your radiotherapy team.
For detailed information about a particular treatment type, call the Macmillan Support Line on 0800 808 00 00.
You can also order Macmillan’s free information booklets from be.macmillan.org.uk
Questions about cancer? Ask Macmillan 0808 808 00 00 www.macmillan.org.uk
Page 3 of 4
How cancer treatments may affect your appearance
More information and support
More than one in three of us will get cancer. For most of us it will be the toughest fight we ever face. And the feelings of isolation and loneliness that so many people experience
make it even harder. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way.
To order a copy of Feel more like you, visit be.macmillan.
org.uk or call 0808 808 00 00.
We make every effort to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and up to
date but it should not be relied upon as a substitute for specialist professional advice
tailored to your situation. So far as is permitted by law, Macmillan does not accept
liability in relation to the use of any information contained in this publication, or thirdparty information or websites included or referred to in it. © Macmillan Cancer Support
2013. Registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the
Isle of Man (604). Registered office 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UQ
REVISED IN AUGUST 2013
Planned review in 2016
Page 4 of 4
Questions about cancer? Ask Macmillan 0808 808 00 00 www.macmillan.org.uk