chemo side effects

[mstlyn]

My son just finished his second round of chemo today .. 2 more to go.

Today when we left the chemo clinic my son said "I think the chemo is changing my skin"

so of course I asked him what he meant, and he said it seems to be turning yellow.

I am not sure if it looks that way to me or not. Sometimes I think I see it and other times Im not sure.

I am concerned about the possibility of liver damage from the chemo, or cancer in the liver, and of course it has to be the weekend so I can't just call the doctor and take him to be checked.

If his skin is turning yellow is this an emergency or can it wait until monday, OR if not monday is it something that can be checked into tomorrow? Not sure how urgent this could be.

[dadmo]

Chemo will indeed have an effect on your skin. Skin is in the catagory of fast growing tissue and the chemo does attack it. That's why most doctor will tell chemo patients to be extra careful in the sun. Most people get a very pale color I havent really heard yellow described but is your son eating a lot of food with carotene in it? At this point I would worry about his liver, as part of you son's normal bloodwork they should be checking liver function so if anything was going on there the doctor should know.
For peace of mind mention it on monday.

[TCLEFT]

Keep an eye on rashes as well. Low white counts from Chemo may open the door for some skin irritations as well.

[mstlyn]

Ok thank you, I will ask about this on monday, and will also be mindful of skin rashes.

TCLEFT, we share the same birthday .. date and year.

[mercyriver]

I just wanted to add that what would make him yellow, if it were due to his liver, would be the bilirubin, just like in a baby. But if your son is like my husband, who finished round 2 of EP today, they should have done a metabolic panel before he started round 2 and that included measuring his bilirubin. And they should have let you know if anything was not normal.

Hope this makes you feel better.

My husband's skin doesn't seem to be changing colors, but his personality is changing colors. I know it is just the chemo, but he lectured our 8 year old daughter this evening and was threatening to sit her in time out for forgetting something. Not only was it an over reaction to forgetting something, but we haven't sat her in timeout since she was maybe 4.

Clearly he is being effected by chemo.

Hope your son is doing well!

Becki

[dt22207]

I'd just add that I'm finishing up round two of BEP and have seen a lot of skin changes. Parts are paler, parts are redder, parts are dry, etc.

The doctor has always been happy to discuss the problems, though in each case he has told me they aren't problematic. Best of luck to you and your son.

[mstlyn]

I just wanted to add that what would make him yellow, if it were due to his liver, would be the bilirubin, just like in a baby. But if your son is like my husband, who finished round 2 of EP today, they should have done a metabolic panel before he started round 2 and that included measuring his bilirubin. And they should have let you know if anything was not normal.

Hope this makes you feel better.

My husband's skin doesn't seem to be changing colors, but his personality is changing colors. I know it is just the chemo, but he lectured our 8 year old daughter this evening and was threatening to sit her in time out for forgetting something. Not only was it an over reaction to forgetting something, but we haven't sat her in timeout since she was maybe 4.

Clearly he is being effected by chemo.

Hope your son is doing well!

Becki

Yes my son just finished round 2 of EP as well.

I know the chemo nurses check his blood at the beginning of the course, but I did not know they were looking at the bilirubin. I thought they were mostly looking at his cell count.

Now that I know they are looking at the bilirubin, that does make me feel better indeed, so thanks for bringing this to my attention.

After I posted the question in here last night I went to my son and looked him over really well for changes in skin color and swelling in his ankles. I think he looks ok.

Maybe he is starting to grow a bit pale and since he already is a little dark/olive complected, the combination is causing him to see a hint of yellow.

The whites of his eyes are normal too.

I'm sorry that you and your daughter have to deal with the moods that the cancer and the treatment are causing your husband to go through. Hopefully even though he is going through a scary, tough ordeal, he will be able to see what he is doing and be more careful not to take it out on his daughter.

My son gets mildly moody, but he only gets snippy with me and I don't mind since I know he has to have some kind of outlet. He can snap himself out of it very quickly when his 16 yr. old sister comes to him. He is very sweet to her.

Thanks for the info.

Tammy

[mstlyn]

I'd just add that I'm finishing up round two of BEP and have seen a lot of skin changes. Parts are paler, parts are redder, parts are dry, etc.

The doctor has always been happy to discuss the problems, though in each case he has told me they aren't problematic. Best of luck to you and your son.

Well I guess you guys are just going to be very colorful for awhile! =)

Hopefully you have something to take care of the dryness.

Best of luck to you too, and thank you.

Tammy