Hi Ladies
Just a quickie as not sure about this one. Can anyone tell me do we have to be extra careful in the sun when having chemo? Not that I sit in it with a mad toddler to run about after but just wanted to know the “rules” on sun and chemo??
Huge thanks
P xx
I don’t know what the rules are Paula, but do know that instinctively I’m being careful. I just don’t think that too much sun and chemotherapy would be good partners. I’m sure it’s perfectly okay to be in the sun providing we’re sun safe … having a toddler will ensure you won’t be static and at risk!!
Gill x
Hi Paula,
I found sitting in the sun made me feel really queasy while on chemo - fortunatly we didn’t get much sun last summer. Don’t suppose you’ll be sitting for long but if you do keep well hydrated. not sure about the sun screen thing -
cheers
caroline
Hi
The nurse told me off yesterday for not wearing sun cream I asked why as she said its because your white counts are low if you get sun burnt you might not heal well and could lead to skin cancer/infections. In addition to this she also said your skin is vunerable due to toxic chemicals.
Hope that helps.
Sukes
Hi Paula
You should be careful in the sun if you are having rads.
This is advice from the cancer backup site on this subject
Avoiding the sun
Your skin in the treated area is very sensitive and needs protecting from the sun or cold winds. If you are having radiotherapy to the head or neck, try wearing a hat or a silk or cotton scarf when you go outside.
For at least the first year after your radiotherapy, it is very important to cover the treated area if you go out in strong sunshine. Wear clothing made of cotton or natural fibres, which have a closer weave and offer more protection against the sun. Even after this time, the area of treated skin will be more delicate than normal, so extra care should be taken. Use a sun-cream (of at least factor 15) and cover the area with a hat or close-weave clothing. It is important to remember that you can burn even through clothing if you are out in hot sun for a long time.
You can swim as soon as any skin reaction has settled down, usually within a month of finishing treatment. However, if you are swimming out of doors, do not stay in the water too long, and remember to use a waterproof sun-cream.
Hope this helps
best wishes
Ann
hi just my 2 cents’ worth
the nurse that administered my chemo last week said that chemo attacks rapidly dividing cells and skin cells divide quite rapidly so that is one reason to avoid being out in the sunshine too long.
me, well I find that being outdoors on a sunny day makes a BIG difference to my well being in terms of my morale, and I have always practices Safe Sun (ie I never buy lower than SPF15 and even in winter I wear a facial moisturiser that includes SPF15) and I will heed the advice to the extent that I won’t lie on a sun lounger and turn myself over every 30mins like a rotisserie chicken, but being cooped up indoors on a beautiful day is too depressing so I would rather go out but just stay in the shade especially at the time of day where sun is the strongest ie noon til 3pm.
I’ve invested in some floaty kaftans for summer but agree it is still important to apply SPF cream under clothing if you’re gonna be outside for long.
Assuming that when I start radiotherapy it will be applied to my left tit, well I haven’t got them out on hols for ages, we now tend to visit countries where it’d be frowned upon so when I do go back to tenerife or ibiza I am out of the habit.
This is not proper advice obviously it’s just me, and it may be totally wrong so I agree ask the professionals and if in doubt, err on the cautious side.
I am to start rads on 9th June for 3 weeks and then go on hol to Spain straight after .I have been told by my BC nurse to cover up, but what I don’t know is what I need to keep covered, is it my shoulders, my chest?
i have read in leaflets they leave lying around the hospital that you should keep the treated area covered but if you have had chemo as well take care in general (which as I said, I do in any case)
lucky thing i won’t get hols til second half of sept have a sangria for me x
I have been warned many times by my oncologist to use the highest factor sun cream I can get hold of. Many chemos cause you to be more sensitive to the sun. I also find I need to wear shades (not just as a fashion statement!) as my eyes are more sensitive too.
Jenny.
i had to wear my sunnies this evening I sat outside a restaurant and although the sun was getting lower in the sky and I was in the shade I noticed a glare.
this year I won’t fret if I don’t top up the tan, thankfully I am olive naturally, and went to tenerife just before my first chemo and have hung onto the tan quite well so far. But I am darned if I’m staying inside.
Thanks Ladies for all the advice…I am pretty fair skinned anyway so don’t tend to sit in the sun for long periods plus can’t as have toddler to chase but I wanted to know if I had to be more cautious and from all your advice it has to be a yes.
Many Thanks
Paula x
Hi Paula
“A Croydon Lady” is that not a contradiction in terms, LOL! I have lived here for 10 years but I am actually a northern lass, I grew up in Leeds 
I like living in Croydon we have an acceptable shopping centre, and at night we are spoiled for choice on restaurants and bars, but there are far too many chavs and chavettes - I hasten to add that I am not one of them although I AM wearing a bandanna today with hair extensions out the back, but I think I look like a classy lady working the gangsta look, hehehehe!
I had my op at Shirley Oaks hospital and now I am going to the Royal Marsden in Sutton. It is a shame they can’t do my therapies at Shirley but I understand why I need to go to a specialist hospital. But Shirley Oaks is more like a hotel than a hospital it was lovely.
Oh Wow calarabel. You have my life in opposite! I grew up in croydon and now live up North (Cumbria, but family is all leeds way bar my Ma whos far away in Watford 
Anyway on the sun protection front may I personally recommend:
A coolmax buff. Bought one yesterday and it’s brilliant. UV protection and coolness (but warmth too just stays the right temp).
clothing with an SPF factor. My mum just gave me a rather nice simple white shirt that’s SPF30. It survived a trip white water rafting down the grand canyon and it gets *hot* there.
I’m not fond of creams because of all the rubbish that goes in a lot of them. I’d rather cover up. I always cut a leaf off my aloe vera plant and smother it over any skin that’s been exposed at the end of the day. I will ask my onc if that’s still OK to do.
Hi Clarabel and Vertangie
Love the sound of the bandana did you get any offers for being a classy gangsta moll??Lol…
I had many night out in Croydon in my early 20’s and worked in quite a few places within south Croydon and Central. Certainly alot to do for entertainment and shopping. !
I know Shirley Oaks has always had a top reputation and the Royal Marsden is pretty good considering its a leading cancer hospital isn’t it??
And Vertangie did you live in central Croydon? Big difference to Cumbria??!!
Anyway back to sun stuf I asked chemo nurse about it and she said just remember your skin is more sensitive now so do the usual stuff with sun tan lotion…high factor !
vertangie
hi just wanted to say that the company called green people do a fantastic natural sun cream (and face cream), its mainly an internet company but a few health food shops sell it as well.
jo