US Cutaneous Oncodermatology Management (USCOM): A Practical Algorithm

September 2021 | Volume 20 | Issue 9 | Supplement Individual Articles | 3ss | Copyright © September 2021


Published online September 1, 2021

Mario E. Lacouture MD,a Jennifer Choi MD,b Alice Ho MD,c Jonathan Leventhal MD,d Beth N. McLellan MD,e Anneke Andriessen PhD,f Maxwell B. Sauder MD,g Edith Mitchell MDh

aOncodermatology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
bOncodermatology Program, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
cRadiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
dOncodermatology, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale, New Haven, CT
eMontefiore's Division of Dermatology and Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care; Dermatology, Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY fRadboud UMC, Nijmegen and Andriessen Consultants, Malden, The Netherlands
gOncodermatology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Pigmented Lesion Clinic, Toronto Dermatology Disparities; Gastrointestinal Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
hCenter to Eliminate Cancer Disparities, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia, PA




minimize cAEs and improving the skin condition such as edema, erythema, dryness, desquamation, pigmentation disorders, and cracks.48

Education on Prevention Measures
Statement 6: Early education and skincare use may have benefits for quality of life and prevention of severe skin sequelae for cancer patients and survivors.

The USCOM panel agrees that early education of patients on their cancer treatment-related cAEs and prevention measures using skincare is an important step in building a therapeutic relationship with the patient enabling their active participation in the cancer treatment plan.8,12,20 Before starting the cancer treatment, a detailed discussion between the patient, treating physician and nurse, or other multidisciplinary oncology team members should address the treatment protocol, potential side effects, hospital visits, diagnostic tests, and management of cAEs, and preventative measures (Box 1: Information and education).12 The discussion should be supported by written or digital material to allow the patient to clarify and process the information (Box 2: Resources).12 This session's outcome should be: 1) The patient expresses an understanding of the treatment and potential cAEs and how to access the relevant information. 2) The patient understands how and when to contact an oncology team member. 3) The patient has been educated on prevention measures and skincare suitable for their individual needs.