The Myeloma Beacon
Independent, up-to-date news and information for the multiple myeloma community.
 Home page Deutsche Artikel Artículos Españoles

Forums

Discussion about multiple myeloma treatments, stem cell transplants, clinical trials, alternative medicines, supplements, and their benefits and side effects.
Post a reply

Very dry hands - dexamethasone related?

by SusanMary on Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:43 am

I have been on dexamethasone for just about 12 months, last year in combination with Velcade and now, since December, with pomalidomide [Pomalyst, Imnovid]. All last year I noticed that I had what looked and felt like "paper cuts" on my finger tips, and just this week the skin on my hands has started to flake and feel very rough, particularly my finger tips and between my fingers.

I have googled this and it would appear that dexamethasone can cause this problem, but I just know my doctor will claim not to have heard of this before (I can't help it if people don't report their side effects!).

Does anyone else have this problem? No amount of moisturizer helps. :?

SusanMary
Name: Susan Brown
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 1996
Age at diagnosis: 47
Top

Re: Very dry hands - dexamethasone related?

by mikeb on Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:55 am

I have had the same exact problem. I've had those "cuts" occur for years, even before my multiple myeloma diagnosis. However this winter was he worst for them yet. I'd considered writing in and asking if anyone else had the problem, so I was glad to see your post, though sorry you have to deal with it too.

I had induction and consolidation therapy including dex during 2013, and an SCT. But I've been off dex since Sept. I know that dry skin can be a problem shortly after an SCT, but don't know how long afterward that would continue. The especially cold weather we had this past winter may have been a contributor also. Hard to tell what causes what.

I don't have a solution that works well. I'll just put polysporin on them and cover them with bandaids when they pop up. The warmer weather now seems to be helping a lot.

mikeb
Name: mikeb
Who do you know with myeloma?: self
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
Age at diagnosis: 55
Top

Re: Very dry hands - dexamethasone related?

by Multibilly on Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:24 am

See: http://cancergrace.org/cancer-treatments/files/2011/09/dr-lacouture-on-skin-hair-nail-side-effects-of-treatment-transcript.pdf

Skip to the paragraph that starts with "For dry skin that is very common with these drugs..."

Might help?

Multibilly
Name: Multibilly
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Top

Re: Very dry hands - dexamethasone related?

by SusanMary on Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:43 pm

Thank you Mikeb and Multibilly for replying to my post.

Very interesting link Multibilly. It always helps to know that I am not alone in experiencing these weird and wonderful side effects! I will be reporting this to my haematologist and my trial coordinator, as I think it is important that all information is made available to them and, if it was not for the patients, how on earth would the drug companies know how their drug was performing?

If anyone else is experiencing this side effect I would be most interested to hear about it. :?

SusanMary
Name: Susan Brown
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 1996
Age at diagnosis: 47
Top
Post a reply

Return to Treatments & Side Effects

cron