I have an incurable cancer. I have been coping with this quite well until recently but now I am getting a lot of itching of my skin and I'm finding this really hard to live with. What can I do?

Itching of the skin is quite a common problem for people with cancer, especially in the more advanced stages of the illness. There are a number of causes for this sort of itching and these include:

• dry, irritable skin
• skin infections
• drugs, particularly morphine and codeine
• some types of jaundice can cause itching
• the underlying cancer itself may be the cause, especially in lymphomas (non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma), carcinoid tumours and stomach cancer

There are a number of things you can try to help ease skin irritation and itching and these include:

• avoid hot baths, perfumed soap and deodorants using tepid baths and unperfumed soaps
• add soothing oils to your bath water
• after bathing or washing dry your skin by patting with a soft towel and not by rubbing
• try not to scratch your skin, keep your fingernails short and, if you must, then gently rub the troublesome area but don't scratch
• avoid irritant clothing (wool can often be particularly troublesome when the skin is sensitive)
• avoid using 'wet wipes' which are soaked in alcohol
• avoid getting over hot, especially in bed at night.

Do talk to your doctors and nurses if itching is a problem because there are a number of ways in which they may be able to help. For instance:

• they can make sure there is no skin infection present, and give appropriate treatment if there is
• they can check that your itching isn't due to any of the drugs that you are taking, or if it is they can change your medication
• they can advise on soothing lotions or creams that may help relieve the irritation (thinks like calamine lotion, menthol cream, crotamiton (Eurax) cream or mild steroid creams). - they can prescribe drugs like steroids, antihistamines or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets - although usually using the other measures already mentioned will often ease the problem and drugs will not be needed.