Study: Many May Avoid Cancer Treatment Due to Skin Side Effects

Key Takeaways

• Misconceptions about dermatologic side effects of anti-cancer therapies (ACTs), particularly alopecia, are common among underserved patients.

• Up to one-third of surveyed individuals reported they'd decline treatment due to perceived dermatologic side effect (DSE) risks.

• Greater education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and proactive DSE management may improve adherence and outcomes, according to study authors. 

A new pilot survey revealed that dermatologic side effects (DSEs) from anti-cancer therapies (ACTs) are widely misunderstood and could influence treatment decisions among patients in underserved communities.

Researchers from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences conducted an IRB-approved survey at two health fairs in Southeast Washington, DC, aiming to assess perceptions and knowledge of DSEs among attendees. Most participants were Black or African American (71.5%) and female (88.3%), with a subset (21%) previously treated for cancer.

According to the findings, more than half of all respondents believed that ACTs caused hair loss (HL) more than half the time, a misconception prevalent among cancer-naïve individuals. Despite literature showing that alopecia occurs in approximately 14.7% of patients receiving targeted therapies and 52.1% with classic chemotherapy, respondents consistently overestimated the prevalence. The authors reported that the misinformation was shown to correlate with a high rate of hypothetical treatment refusal. More than a third of those sueveyed cited permanent HL as a reason they would potentially forgo ACTs, compared to just 8% in prior studies of actual patient decisions.

The study also identified a need for patient-facing resources and interdisciplinary collaboration, the authors noted, recommending strategies such as educational talks by dermatologists at oncology events, oncodermatology appointment blocks, and proactive discussion of treatment options.

"These findings show how powerful fear and misunderstanding can be,” said senior author Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, Chair of Dermatology at George Washington University, in a press release about the study. “We need better education and support to help patients make informed choices.”

Source: Menta N, et al. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2025. doi:10.36849/JDD.91110e