Skin Care for People Living with Cancer

Mike and Joyce talk with Dr. Mario Lacouture, a board-certified dermatologist with special interest in dermatologic conditions that result from cancer treatments. His clinical career has been focused on the recognition and management of side effects affecting the skin, hair, and nails of cancer patients and survivors. These effects can occur as a consequence of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or therapeutic transplants.

To ensure that dermatologic side effects do not affect quality of life and the consistent administration of anticancer therapies, he founded the SERIES Clinic (SERIES is an acronym for Skin and Eye Reactions to Inhibitors of EGFR and kinases).  The Clinic is an interdisciplinary effort comprising patient care, education, and research. It provides pre-treatment counseling and preventive efforts in order to minimize the development of side effects, as well as rapid attention to those patients who develop them. Close communication with treating oncologists ensures that interventions against side effects do not affect the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The ultimate goal is to ensure the best dermatology-related quality of life and benefit from anticancer treatments.

In addition to his medical textbook on the subject, Dr. Lacouture has recently released a book for patients and caregivers, “The Skin Care Guide for People Living with Cancer,” which is available at online bookstores.