Itchy skin - a warning sign of cancer

Itchy skin can be an early sign of certain cancers involving blood cells, skin, liver, and gallbladder.

Itching is often caused by direct irritants on the skin such as pollen, dry skin, changes in weather, or indirectly by eating certain foods. Other diseases such as liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer can also be the cause. In this case, itching is often directly related to dermatitis, accumulation of bile acids under the skin, or chemicals released by tumors.

Leukemia

Cancers involving blood cells can all cause itching, but the most common are Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a rare cancer that begins in T cells, a type of white blood cell that can attack the skin, causing rash-like redness, scaly patches, or pus. Itching can last for years before the cancer flares up.

Skin cancer

Skin cancer is a common cancer that causes itching. Typically, the disease is caused by skin cells growing out of control, with some changes on the skin including itching, pain, warts, ulcers...

Cancer of the liver, bile duct, pancreas and gallbladder

Cancers that involve the bile ducts can cause blockages and buildup of bile salts on the skin, causing itching. Itching in pancreatic cancer is more common when the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas. Other symptoms may include jaundice, abdominal pain, fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites), and abdominal pain.

Vulvar and anal cancer

Itching in the vulva, vagina or anal area has many different causes but can sometimes be due to a malignant tumor in these areas.

Breast cancer

This symptom is not common in people with breast cancer, but it can still occur. Sometimes, the signs start with itching and a small rash that can be mistaken for an insect bite before becoming more serious.

Metastatic cancer

Cancer that starts elsewhere in the body and spreads to the skin is called metastatic cancer to the skin. Common cancers that spread to the skin include breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Cancer that starts elsewhere and spreads to the liver can also cause itching.

In addition to the above diseases, some treatments can cause itchy skin, such as chemotherapy or drugs used to kill cancer cells. Some drugs can cause allergic reactions or inflammation of the liver, leading to itching. Treatments that stimulate the patient's immune system to fight cancer can cause this condition, especially after treatment, when the skin begins to heal.

Patients should see a specialist if they suspect skin itching is due to cancer or if the itching lasts more than two days, urine is dark like tea, the skin is yellow, scratching to the point of bleeding. Bright red itching, worse when applying medicine, blisters, scales, pus, very unpleasant discharge smell, facial swelling... are also warning signs of danger.

Bao Bao (According to Healthline, Very Well Health )

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