How to Relieve Itching During Cancer Treatment

Itching interferes with quality of life and it can increase the risk of skin infection from scratching. Itching in cancer patients stems from a variety of causes. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and biological therapy can cause changes to the skin that cause itching. Infections or the healing process of wounds can cause itching. The cancerous tumor can also release inflammatory substances into the body that cause itching.

Things You'll Need

• Lotion
• Steroid cream
• Cornstarch
• Vinegar
• Cotton clothing
• Washcloth

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Instructions

• 1

  Take lukewarm baths lasting no more than 30 minutes. Hot or long baths counteract the relieving effects of hydration by drawing moisture away from the skin.

• 2

  Trap moisture in the skin with a thin layer of lotion after bathing. Ask the doctor about using topical steroid creams, as they reduce skin thickness.

• 3

  Use cornstarch with caution. Cornstarch can relieve the itching caused by radiation therapy, but it promotes fungal growth on moist skin.

• 4

  Reduce the detergent residue in your clothing. Use detergents free of perfumes and dyes. Add ½ cup of vinegar to your rinse water to remove residues.

• 5

  Seek out loose cotton clothing and bed linens. Wool and some synthetic fabrics exacerbate itching.

• 6

  Ask the doctor about medicines to reduce itching. Aspirin combined with the drug cimetidine provides relief for some tumor-associated itching. Sedatives and tranquilizers can quiet the nerve dysfunction that causes itching.

• 7

  Apply a cool, damp washcloth to the affected areas to interrupt the itching and scratching cycle. Gentle pressure or massage can also distract patients long enough to relieve the urge to scratch that leads to more itching.