Aesthetics treatment with injectable fillers in patients with cancer: Safety and quality of life during active antineoplastic therapy.

Abstract

e23245 Background: Patients treated with antineoplastic treatment,commonly experience physical changes,secondary to the disease,weight loss,stress,and cancer therapy side-effects.Injectable fillers,offer effective and safe soft-tissue manipulations improving patients’ positive body image.While FDA-approved fillers are used in various medical settings,data on the safety and implications on quality of life(QOL)in oncology patients during active cancer therapy are limited.The study aimed to assess oncology patients' safety,QOL and both physician and patients’ perceived skin changes when fillers are used during active cancer therapies. Methods: The study was conducted at the Women's Cancer Center and Dermatology Department between 2021-2023.Female oncology patients treated with antineoplastic therapies completed a validated QOL questionnaire,dermatologist and patient self-evaluation,prior and following aesthetic intervention.Patients were randomly assigned to receive aesthetic treatments. Results: 127 female patients diagnosed with cancer,and treated at a single cancer center were included in the study.Patient mean age was 57 years.Patient diagnoses included breast,ovarian,uterine,cervical,and other cancers(58%, 22%,7%,5%,8%,respectively).31 (24%) patients were randomized to receive filler treatment.106(83%)patients were not treated with fillers,patients were either not randomized to filler treatments,or attributing their abstention to their cancer diagnosis,potential risks shared by other patients,or their treating oncologist.Patients receiving fillers were treated with chemotherapy,chemotherapy and biological agents,biological agents,hormonal therapies,immunotherapy,biological and hormonal therapy(39%,23%,10%,19%,6%,3%,respectively).3 independent dermatologists assessed improved aesthetic parameters following filler treatment,patients appeared less ill,sad,distracted.6-8 weeks post filler injections,there was a markedly improved QOL score,and noticeable positive skin changes by dermatologists and patients evaluation.Patients appeared less tired,angry,worried(45%,38%,35%,respectively).Most patients were satisfied following injections(81%) and planned future aesthetic treatments.More than half of the patients(55%)had no adverse events.Thirteen patients experienced minor dermal side effects (grade 1,42%).While 1 patient developed delayed inflammatory reaction 6-months post injection(grade 2,3%). Conclusions: Aesthetic treatment with filler injections while on anti-cancer treatment,with minimal side effects,statistically improved patient QOL and dermatological measures,enhanced dermatologist and patient sense of positive body image,demonstrating that injectable fillers can be safely recommended to patients receiving anti-neoplastic therapies.