Skin problems in palliative medicine

Perception of reality is based on visual inputs, and part of living experience is a reflection of what meets the eye. The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body. It can be a passive participant in states of disease or be directly involved by disease or by its treatment. The skin may manifest the disease or subtly hint at its existence. For the physician, the skin may be a diagnostic aid, though often enigmatic.

For the patient, the skin is part of what their sense of illness derives from. Cancer progression is often more of an abstract notion. In contrast, skin manifestations are easily perceived, measured, and followed. They focus attention and cause distress that often outsize their real risk, being a constant reminder of the harboured disease. The most alarming aspect of skin involvement in cancer is the threat of disfigurement. When a distressing skin symptom is addressed and treated successfully, the patient may derive relief and hope that reflect on their motivation and active partnership in their therapy.