The New Role for Estheticians in Oncology

Cancer treatment today usually comes from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, surgeons, nurses and other medical professionals who can expertly diagnose and treat the growth of abnormal cells associated with cancer. This cancer care, however, can take a tremendous toll on the patient’s body.

Cancer is much more than just a mass of abnormal cells – it causes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges that often begin before diagnosis and continue well into recovery. Today’s cancer care team now often includes an oncology esthetician who, while oncologists target cancer cells, helps provide “whole body” care to the patient.

Oncology is the study and treatment of cancer. An oncologist, then, is a person who focuses entirely on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. A medical oncologist administers chemotherapy to treat cancer, a surgical oncologist removes cancer during an operation, and a radiation oncologist treats cancer with radiation therapy.

Because treating cancer is such a tremendously difficult task, these health care professionals concentrate all their efforts on halting the growth of abnormal cells.

Chemotherapy uses medications and drugs to kill abnormal cancer cells and prevent the growth of new ones. Chemotherapy can also cause skin problems that an oncologist would not normally focus on, including:

• Redness
• Rashes
• Itching
• Peeling
• Dryness
• Acne
• Increased sensitivity to the sun

Intravenous administration of certain anticancer drugs can darken skin along the vein; this is especially true in people who have very dark skin. Darkened areas usually fade within a few months after treatment ends. Cancer treatment may also cause nails to become yellow, darkened, brittle or cracked. Nails may develop vertical lines or bands.

In addition to skin problems, the cancer itself may cause illness, pain and disability; the side effects chemotherapy, surgery and radiation may also cause nausea, pain and sickness. Patients worry about their own mortality, and are often overwhelmed with concern about their families.

The challenges can seem insurmountable and they can take a toll on the mind, body and spirit. Some of the effects, if not addressed, may persist for the rest of the person’s life.

Esthetic oncology makes it easier for a cancer patient to overcome many of the challenges associated with cancer and its treatment. Estheticians are sensitive to the psychological health of the clients in their care. Oncology estheticians help provide mental and emotional relief for those dealing with cancer by easing symptoms, soothing skin reactions, and improving the client’s overall sense of well-being.

These trained esthetics professionals provide modified spa treatments help clients cope with their diagnosis, deal with cancer treatment and lessen certain side effects. Spa services and massage techniques administered by oncology estheticians help combat anxiety, pain, fatigue, insomnia and even nausea.

Oncology estheticians, in addition to providing skin care therapies, may also provide services like:

• Wig and hair fittings for the hair loss associated with chemotherapy.
• Makeup to cover darkened skin near chemotherapy veins, camouflage other blemishes, and lash and brow reconstruction.
• Areola tattooing for breast cancer patients after mastectomy.
• Prosthetic/bra fitting services.

The best cancer treatment today embraces a multi-disciplinary care approach. The multidisciplinary team includes doctors, surgeons, radiation specialists and nurses that focus entirely on diagnosing and treating cancer. Today’s multi-disciplinary teams also include oncology estheticians to complement the care provided by an oncologist.

An oncology esthetician, on the other hand, knows how to spot signs of skin cancer, address side effects associated with cancer treatment, and provide care long after the cancer is gone. In other words, an oncologist provides short-term care only when cancer is present, while an oncology esthetician provides care before, during and after cancer treatment.

Oncology estheticians operate within the highest standards of care to promote safe, responsible, ethical and appropriate application of oncology esthetic services to patients with cancer. These estheticians have special oncology esthetics training and skills that allow them to treat the skin of cancer patients safely and effectively as oncologists work to reduce abnormal cancer cells.

This training helps these estheticians provide services that address the various skin conditions, side effects and psychological trauma resulting from cancer treatment.