MANAGING MELANOMA & SKIN CANCER

Whatever the stage of your journey, it is important that you look after your physical health. That means eating a healthy diet, getting enough rest, and being as physically active as you can be. It is also important to care for your emotional health by spending time with family and friends and planning activities you enjoy. Friends and family can be a very important resource for people with cancer. Ask them for help if you need a ride to appointments or shopping. Invite them to visit so that you do not become isolated. Most people are happy to help. Some may not know how to respond to your diagnosis. So tell your friends when you need help or would like company.

You may experience symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. These disease-related symptoms can be managed. Several treatments are available.

Depression and Anxiety

Anxiety and depression are common among people with cancer. You may be anxious before you have a biopsy and when you are waiting for results. You may become depressed when you learn you have cancer. You may also feel anxious about recurrence when your treatment is completed. These feelings may be mild. They may also be severe and long-lasting.

Effective help is available. You may benefit from talking to a counsellor or from taking medication. A support group may help you cope with the changes in your life. Contact Melanoma Canada for information on supportive options or your treatment team at the hospital. Relaxation techniques and meditation are helpful for many people. If you are having problems with depression or anxiety, talk to your treatment team. Find Support

Fatigue

Fatigue is very common among people with cancer. Fatigue may be due to the disease or the treatment. Cancer-related fatigue is different from being tired. Fatigue can happen suddenly, and sleep does not improve it. Researchers have found exercise helps with this type of fatigue. Your treatment team can recommend an exercise program to help you. It is also a good idea to be aware of your energy levels and conserve your energy. Plan to do your most important tasks first. That way, if you run out of energy, you will have accomplished what is most important to you. Remember there are many leisure activities that don’t require a lot of energy. You may enjoy visiting with friends, reading, or watching movies. Plan activities you can do that make you feel good. If you are having problems with fatigue, talk to your treatment team.

Pain

Pain is the symptom people with cancer fear the most. It is important to know that the right pain medication, taken at the right dose, can be effective in treating pain associated with metastases. In some cases, surgery to remove tumours or radiation or systemic therapy to kill cancer cells may help treat pain.

Flu Shot

There may be an interaction between the influenza vaccine and medications to treat cancer.

• immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., some medications used for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or for transplant recipients)
• medications to treat cancer (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, vincristine)

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Please speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

COVID Vaccine

More research is needed to be able to give full guidance regarding Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its use in cancer patients. Immunocompromised patients or those taking immunosuppressive medications, which may include individuals with cancer, were not included in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine trial. According to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine  product label, immunocompromised individuals, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the vaccine. It is important to speak to your healthcare team to discuss further medical advice receiving this vaccine.

Find Support

The Melanoma Canada has a number of free services for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Find Support