Can Rose Geranium Oil Ease Chemo-Induced Nasal Pain? (Free CME)
Can Rose Geranium Oil Ease Chemo-Induced Nasal Pain?
Authors: Fran Lowry; Charles P. Vega, MD
CME / ABIM MOC / CE Released: 12/7/2018
Valid for credit through: 12/7/2019
Cancer treatment is associated with a wide variety of adverse events, and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRis) have been associated with a number of different skin reactions in particular. Ruiz and colleagues evaluated the epidemiology of nasal vestibulitis associated with EGFRis and shared their results in the August 2015 issue of Supportive Care in Cancer.[1]
Researchers evaluated the medical records of 115 patients with cancer referred to dermatologists for nasal vestibulitis: 13% of these patients experienced multiple episodes of nasal vestibulitis. The most common underlying malignancy among all patients in the series was lung cancer, and 68% of patients had been treated with an EGFRi; 94% of nasal cultures were positive for bacteria, the most common of which was Staphylococcus aureus.
Rose geranium in sesame oil may help to improve nasal vestibulitis because of cancer therapy, but research into this treatment is lacking. The current study by Cathcart-Rake and colleagues addresses this issue.
- Click here to be taken to Medscape for full article and CME exam