Sparkle Through Chemo

27/10/2025

If you had told me that my cancer diagnosis would one day lead to making even the smallest ripple in integrative oncology care, I would have laughed in disbelief.

This photo captures far more than an award moment it holds the vulnerability, the scars, and the life-changing experiences that shaped every step of this journey.

Receiving recognition for my research in holistic oncology was never about achievement alone. It’s about what it represents the merging of science, compassion, and humanity in how we care for people living with cancer.

Through my work in oncology skin health and as a death doula, I’ve learned that true healing reaches beyond medicine. It lives in presence, empathy, and the courage to sit with both life and loss.

This moment reminds me that every day counts. Every story matters. And from even the hardest experiences, something profoundly meaningful can grow. 💚

25/10/2025

I’m deeply honoured to have received this award from The Complementary Medical Association (CMA) at the Global Excellence Summit 2025, recognising my research in Holistic Oncology Care. 💚

My work focuses on oncology dermatological toxicities a complex group of cutaneous adverse effects that arise from systemic cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy. These skin toxicities may present as erythema, xerosis (severe dryness), papulopustular eruptions, pruritus, hand–foot syndrome, and pigmentary changes, among others.

These reactions are not merely cosmetic; they can have a profound impact on a patient’s treatment adherence, psychological wellbeing, and overall quality of life. My research examines the pathophysiology of these toxicities, exploring how cytotoxic agents, EGFR inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors disrupt epidermal integrity, barrier function, and inflammatory pathways.

Through this work, I have been able to develop and implement evidence-based, integrative dermatological care protocols combining medical skincare, barrier repair, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and complementary therapies to support patients in managing these often distressing side effects both safely and effectively. 🌿

This recognition is deeply personal. My own diagnosis with ovarian cancer has shaped every aspect of my life and my practice. It taught me strength, compassion, and the true importance of holistic, person-centred care.

This award is dedicated to all my wonderful teal sisters 💙 whose courage, grace, and resilience continue to inspire me every single day.

23/06/2025

Sparkle Through Chemo is relaunching — with a renewed clinical focus on integrative skin health for people living with and beyond cancer. ✨

Grounded in the principle that skin care is cancer care, we’re expanding to meet the complex needs of oncology patients with evidence-based, holistic support.

💗 New website and CPD-accredited professional training courses launching July
💗 New Marylebone clinic opening August — a private, therapeutic space for targeted care
💗 Advanced skin and scar therapies for managing:
• Chemotherapy, radiotherapy & immunotherapy skin toxicities
• Radiation fibrosis
• Post-surgical scarring & delayed healing
• Nail damage and barrier dysfunction
💗 New memberships now available — including sound healing, bespoke skin and nail health treatments, and therapeutic support
💗 Monthly workshops at

We support individuals at every stage — from diagnosis through recovery — and provide training for professionals seeking to deliver safe, expert oncology skin care.

🌿 Clinical. Compassionate. Personal. Because your skin deserves specialist care during cancer treatment — and beyond.

11/02/2025

Why It’s Important to Know the Chemotherapy Drugs for Managing Skin Toxicities

Understanding which chemotherapy drug a patient is receiving is crucial for effectively managing skin toxicities because each drug affects the skin differently. Tailoring skincare and treatments based on the specific chemotherapy regimen can prevent complications, improve comfort, and support skin recovery. Here’s why this knowledge is essential:

1. Different Chemotherapy Drugs Cause Different Skin Reactions

Each chemotherapy class has unique mechanisms of action, leading to specific skin side effects:
✅ Antimetabolites (e.g., Capecitabine, 5-FU): Cause Hand-Foot Syndrome (HFS), requiring intensive hydration and cooling therapies.
✅ Taxanes (e.g., Paclitaxel, Docetaxel): Lead to brittle nails and skin cracking, needing nail protection and barrier repair.
✅ Targeted Therapies (e.g., EGFR inhibitors like Erlotinib, Gefitinib): Cause acne-like rashes, which require anti-inflammatory skincare but NO traditional acne treatments (as they worsen the condition).

Without knowing the drug, incorrect treatment choices could aggravate symptoms.

2. Helps Personalise Prevention & Treatment Strategies

By knowing the chemotherapy drug, we can create a customised skincare plan.
A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work—personalised care based on the drug type leads to better outcomes.

3. Prevents Severe Skin Complications

Some skin toxicities can worsen if not managed properly. Knowing the drug allows for early intervention, reducing discomfort and long-term damage.

4. Supports Oncology-Safe Skincare & Aesthetic Treatments

Certain cosmetic treatments are unsafe for specific chemotherapy drugs:
❌ Chemical peels & exfoliants are too aggressive for patients on Taxanes (due to extreme dryness).
❌ Retinoids & harsh acne treatments can worsen EGFR-related rashes.
❌ Deep tissue massages should be avoided in patients with low platelet counts (common with Alkylating Agents like Cyclophosphamide).

5. Educates & Empowers Patients

When patients understand how their specific chemotherapy affects their skin, they can:
✔ Take preventative measures (e.g., starting hydration therapy before HFS symptoms appear).
✔ Make informed skincare choices (e.g., choosing fragrance-free, oncology-safe products).
✔ Feel more in control of their treatment journey and manage side effects proactively.

Knowing the chemotherapy drug is essential for effectively managing skin toxicities. It allows for:
✅ Targeted, drug-specific skin management
✅ Early intervention to prevent severe complications
✅ Safe selection of skincare & aesthetic treatments
✅ Improved patient education and self-care

By integrating oncology knowledge with skincare expertise, we can provide the highest level of personalised care for cancer patients.

22/01/2025

2025 new goals, new adventures and launching a brand new oncology skincare range.
Over the years I have been asked if I wanted to develop skincare products and with over 10 years experience In oncology skin health the timing feels right!
I am formulating 3 evidenced based products and my aim is to promote skin health and support emotional wellbeing.

Tamanu balm - Tamanu boasts a number of impressive benefits including its ability to protect the skin, reduce inflammation, lower pain levels, speed healing, fight fungal infections, boost the immune system.

Research has found that tamanu oil promotes faster wound healing in cells than vitamin C treatment.
Tamanu oil has also been shown to increase collagen production, which may help with wound or scar healing.

Magnesium Balm-
magnesium foot balms come into play. to be massaged into the feet for better absorption of the mineral. They are an easy and effective way to get your daily dose of magnesium.
So, what are the benefits of magnesium foot balms?
Helps with relaxation - Magnesium is known for its calming effects on the body. By using a magnesium foot balm, you can help relax your muscles and ease tension in your feet. Reduces pain and inflammation - Magnesium has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce pain and swelling in the feet. This is especially helpful for those who suffer from conditions like plantar fasciitis or arthritis Improves sleep - Adequate magnesium levels have been linked to better sleep quality, and using a magnesium foot balm before bed can help you relax and get a good night's rest Enhances skin health - Magnesium can also help improve the health of your skin. It has been shown to be effective in treating skin conditions.

Calendula Balm-
Skin Conditions: It is particularly effective in relieving symptoms of damaged skin barrier dermatitis, and cradle cap. Calendula hydrates dry, itchy, or irritated skin by promoting collagen production, an essential protein for skin health.
Minimises Scarring
Calendula’s regenerative properties are particularly effective in reducing scarring from wounds or skin conditions.
* Promotes Healthy Healing: By increasing blood flow to injured areas, calendula speeds up the healing process and reduces the risk of infection. It also soothes the skin, preventing further irritation and inflammation, which can worsen scarring. Calendula is especially helpful for treating scars from surgery and Radiotherapy.

08/08/2023

After the success of The London clinic’s wellbeing oncology pop up event in June, I will be joining Penny Hamilton co- founder of westlab which was one of pop up events supporting companies for a Instagram live on the 22nd of August.

If you are a healthcare professional who would like to learn more about management of dermatological skin toxicity’s and the benefits of oncology skincare therapies available at The london clinic please join us live or on catch up .

04/08/2023

This patient is on a clinical trial for ovarian cancer. She was referred to me last week with chemotherapy induced nail toxicity.

All nails are detached and is highly likely to lose all of them.

The aim now is to minimise infection risk and reduce inflammation to improve quality of life.

2-3 drops of oregano oil into 500mls of warm not hot or cold water with 1 cup of magnesium salts for 5 mins x 3 a week.

I often get asked why I don’t use tea tree oil.

Here is why -

Numerous researches have been conducted to evaluate the potential antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities in the population with lower immunity

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6152729/

30/07/2023

The MASCED PRO on-line Training Programme has been developed by national melanoma and skin cancer charity, Skcin, to provide medical and healthcare practitioners with an accessible, cost effective tool with which to develop their knowledge of the early signs and symptoms of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers - giving them the confidence to refer or signpost patients to appropriate colleagues and/or services following the identification of suspicious lesions.

This is the 4th year I have completed this training and I highly recommend it to all healthcare professionals and therapists who work closely with patients.

30/10/2017

Ovarian cancer action sharing my story 💕

"I felt totally numb. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I had just turned 25 and it didn’t seem real". Fiona's story > http://www.ovarian.org.uk/news-and-blog/your-stories/fiona-murphy/

16/10/2017

How to get your nails Your nails like your skin and hair are fast replicating cells and because of this they can be affected by chemotherapy. Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause more problems than others, people who are having any of the taxol chemotherapy have an 88% chance of experiencing nail issues. Here are some top tips to help you through.
🔵Start using defiant beauty nail oils over your cuticles and nails x 3 a day.

🔵keep nails short and only file your nails with a glass nail file, the glass file seals the nails which help to prevent weakening and breaking of the nails.

🔵use a dark nail polish, I have done a lot of research on this and chemo can make your nails very sensitive to uv rays and dark polish helps to prevent this which without can lead to nail loss. I recommend Jennifer young's nails polishes and Leighton Denny polishes as they have removed the toxins from them.

🔵use acetone free nail polish remover it's less drying and damaging on the nails, I recommend changing your polish every 5 days to check how your nails are. If you have any pain, swelling or very lose nails don't paint them and see your Doctor.

🔵colour changes are very common and often nothing to worry about, the colours can vary from a teal green to a dark purple this is usually caused by taxol and can be covered with dark polish. You might experience nail changes up until 8 months POST chemo.

🔵keeping your hands and feet hydrated is very important dry cracking skin can lead to infection I recommend sponges to use on your hands and feet as a gentle exfoliation.

🔵using hand and foot cream is very important to improve circulation and hydrate your skin. I recommend daniel field toxin intensive balm and Jennifer young's mint foot balm. Which you can purchase from my website.

09/10/2017

Breast reconstruction after cancer can be very daunting, Top breast reconstruction surgeon Mr Dan Marsh from the Royal free hospital london has written this informative blog for Sparkle Through Chemo because knowledge is power


Dan Marsh – consultant plastic surgeon at Royal Free Hospital, London with a special interest in breast reconstruction and correction of congenital breast conditions. I trained in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford and London as well as specialised fellowships is the US.


Reconstruction can be carried out at the same time as the removal of the cancer (immediate) or at a later date (delayed). The type of reconstruction depends on the patient’s wishes, the breast size, the need for further treatment and the tissue available.

The simplest reconstruction involves the use of silicon breast implants which can be placed with or without artificial dermal matrix that is usually porcine in origin and adds an extra layer of support between the skin and the implant.

If the reconstruction is delayed or a significant amount of skin needs to be removed (due to the position of the cancer in the breast) then a latissimus dorsi skin and muscle flap is taken from the back and swung round to the front of the breast. Commonly an implant is also placed with this type of reconstruction as the muscle flap alone doesn’t provide enough volume.

Breasts can also be reconstructed using free tissue transfer when tissue is taken from one part of the body and used to replace the breast. The most common tissue used is from the tummy (DIEP flap) as this is an area where a significant amount of tissue can be harvested to match the volume removed from the breast. This technique requires microsurgery to join an artery and vein together to ensure the survival of the tummy tissue when it is transferred to the breast.

Other potential sites for tissue harvest if there is not enough on the tummy are upper thighs (TUG or PAP flaps) or the upper or lower buttocks (S-GAP or I-GAP flaps).

There are other types of breast cancer treatment and reconstruction when not all the breast needs to be removed – for example when patients have a small area of breast cancer or a cancer that has responded very well to chemotherapy that is sometimes given pre operatively to shrink the size of the tumour. This treatment is called therapeutic mammoplasty and uses plastic surgery techniques to reshape and lift the breast after the cancer has been removed in patients who do not require a full mastectomy.



Although we try very hard to match the size, shape and feel of a natural breast the reconstructed breast will be different to a normal breast. Particularly with a delayed reconstruction when we need to bring in large areas of skin from elsewhere there may be areas of reduced or no sensation on the new breast. It can be difficult to recreate the natural shape or ptosis of the breast so the reconstructed breast may sit higher than the non operated breast; this is particularly the case with implant only based reconstruction. Some patients may go on to require radiotherapy as part of their cancer treatment which can affect the reconstruction.



How soon can reconstruction be done/who is it available to?

This can be immediately at the time of cancer treatment or at a later date once the cancer treatment is complete. In the UK only 1/5 of women are offered an immediate reconstruction which is partly an NHS resource issue as immediate reconstruction typically requires coordinated operating between breast and plastic surgeons which isn’t available in all centres. Many breast surgeons offer reconstruction without the need for plastic surgeons however they typically do not offer free tissue reconstruction.



Information on Ni**le reconstruction

This is usually carried out 6 months after breast reconstruction and involves the use of local skin flaps and tattoo or simply a tattoo alone. There are some excellent 3D ni**le tattoos which are great if the opposite ni**le is fairly flat.



Questions to ask your surgeon.

What are the risks involved in the surgery

How long will I need off work

What does the recovery involve

Should I stop any medications

What are the alternative types of reconstruction available

Will the timing of the reconstruction have any influence on any ongoing cancer treatment I may need






Emotional support offered before during and after.


At the royal free I set up a patient support group – the London Breast Reconstruction Awareness Group where you have the opportunity to meet women who have had breast reconstruction in an informal relaxed atmosphere. Our previous patients are happy to show their reconstructed breasts, donor site scars and talk candidly about their experience. Also here you will meet other women currently going through cancer treatment and reconstruction. Further we offer appointments with psychologists who specialise in counselling women undergoing breast cancer reconstruction.