Hi Ladies
I am going abroad shortly and would welcome any advice regarding sun protection factor.
I finished chemo in Sept last year & Rads in end Oct last year. I know to use a high factor as a matter of course but wondered if i need to be using a very high factor (50?) when taking into consideration the time frame from active treatment. I am also on Anastrozole.
Maj x
Hi Maj,
I hope you have a wonderful and much-deserved holiday.
I was told Factor 50 - which seems to be standard advice doled out in Scotland. Curiously, most people in England seem to be told Factor 30.
The key is to apply it early and reapply it often I think, especially around irradiated skin, scars and any part of you that might be at risk of lymphoedema. Some clothing offers protection - but specific SPF garments are expensive, I tend to cover up in the sun, but that’s a choice you may not wish to make.
I must be honest I am a total sun worshipper, always have been. And when my onc diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency to me that is a green light. I finished rads in June last year, first holiday was July last year to Devon. I used factor 15 across my chest area and was absolutely fine.
In March this year I had 2 weeks in California in April and a week in June in Greece and just used my usual factors (15 reducing to 10 and then 8) as I have done all my adult life. I was absolutely fine, no difference between the treated side and non treated side.
I think how your skin reacts to radiotherapy is a good indication of how you will do in the sun. Mine was fine, just a bit red by the end, so my skin has been fine in the sun.
And before anyone criticises, I know that we should all stay out of the sun and swathe ourselves in Factor 50 but maybe that is why a problem of vitamin D deficiency is starting to be uncovered in this country (and a potential link to certain cancers).
Hi Ladies
Thank you both for your thoughts.i think my factor 30 is the way to go and obviously more and often. I will also be very careful to keep in the shade for the most part
maj
My original breast surgeon suggested I should keep out of the sun for the first 12 months, then sunbathe topless the following summer to help the white scars to blend in! I did as she suggested, carefully applying factor 30, but found that the area that had radiotherapy definitely caught the sun more than anywhere else and came up as a tanned square.
The Glasgow surgeon who did my reconstruction laughed at the thought of sunbathing topless but then explained that if you live in Glasgow it’s too cold to think of it!
Cheshire Cheese - love your sense of humour re the weather!
I’ve used a spf50 since treatment and always get a good tan on holiday without any burning or peeling. My OH does the same even though he is quite dark anyway and always used to think anything above a factor 2 oil was too much! He insists on the 50 now. I have bone mets and have calcium tablets anyway but think my vitD is ok. We use Ambre Solaire’s kids factor 50 by the way.
Happy hols and enjoy whatever sunshine you get!
Thank you Cheshire Cheese & Lizcat for your input
Good point Samlee. I’ve also been told by a consultant rheumatologist that over-use of high factor sun protection creams in UK over the past few years is responsible for vitamin D deficiency in some people (which, as you know leads, to poor uptake of calcium and potentially, weak bones, something that anyone on AIs would do well to be aware of).
It’s all a balancing act but think of the potential effect on your bones if you use high-factor protection on a long-term basis.