Skin Toxicity From EGFR-I Has Psychological and Social Effects for Patients With mCRC

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who develop skin toxicity also experience psychological and social effects, according to study results presented during a European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) session at ESMO Congress 2023.

Patients with mCRC often receive epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR-I) which are associated with risk for skin toxicity.

The aim of this exploratory qualitative study (THE-2022-0147) was to assess the perceptions of patients (N=15) with mCRC who had skin toxicity events from EGFR-I treatment using semistructured interviews.

Patients expressed impacts from dealing with the symptoms of the skin toxicity but also self-esteem issues due to the visibility of the skin toxicity. The patients said they worried about others and felt they needed to hide their skin or isolate themselves to avoid impact on others.

The patients reported that their health care professionals provided them with emotional support and helped them cope with their toxicity. Overall, the coping process fluctuated between struggling and tolerating with periods of ambivalence about their skin toxicity. 

Periods of struggle were influenced by the toxicity symptoms and anxiety. Whereas periods of tolerating were influenced by future plans, social roles, and support from others. In addition, patients were more likely to feel tolerant when they thought of the temporary nature of the side effect and viewed the toxicity as a sign EGFR-I treatment was working. The major limitation of this study was the small sample size.

Marilies De Kegel, RN, MSc, of AZ Delta in Belgium and presenter of the study concluded, “The side effect of skin toxicity has a physical impact but also influences psychological and social effects and the well-being of a metastatic CRC patient. Oncologists, dermatologists, and nurses should take skin toxicity and the impact of skin toxicity into account during the management of metastatic CRC patients.”

Reference

De Kegel M, Geboes K, De Meyer S, et al. Dynamics and processes in the perception of colorectal cancer patients facing skin toxicity due to an EGFR-inhibitor. Presented at ESMO Congress 2023. October 20-24, 2023. Madrid, Spain. Abstract CN60.