care of the skin in the sun during radiotherapy

Public Archive
1

Hi
This lovely sunny weather is challenging me.
Any advice about what to do about sun protection whilst still having treatment. My leaflet says cover up your chest area (can manage that) but what about the neck?

One set of advice I had was to wear a large brimmed hat and a scarf. As my neck is itching like mad a scarf doesn’t feel good. anyone any bright ideas?

Crispy

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Hi Crispy,
Obviously keep your chest area covered and try to stay out of the full sun.
I have just returned from the Maldives on honeymoon and while I were out there I brought a factor 80 sun block. Its by Banana Boat but i’m not sure you can get it in the UK. You’ll have to do a little research.
Factor 80 is practically complete sunblock so it may be worth investing in this.

Hope this helps,

Mandy xxx

3

Thanks Mandy

Certainly worth considering for my trip abroad in November but at the moment whilst I’m having treatment have been told not to apply creams to my neck other than those given by the hospital.

Have a wonderful broad brimmed hat that I bought to go to Malaysia. It is wonderful outside but I feel a bit silly if I wear it inside to cover my lack of hair. So have taken to wearing a scarf underneath for those embarrassing moments when the hat blows off or you take it off without thinking.

Crispy

4

what about a silk scarf for your neck - I read a tip a while ago about ppl using squares of silk inside their bras for comfort whilst having rads.

5

Following on from lilacblushes suggestion I bought a silk scarf in Primark (£2) which I find useful as its very light and not itchy.

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good old Primark …

7

Hi crispy

This pamphlet might help - page 4 has some advice on skin care and radiotherapy

breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/radiotherapy_mar_06_0.pdf

best wishes

Ann

8

Hi there

I have been told to keep my neck covered because of treatment to the collarbone. I also bought a primark scarf, did not see any silk ones so will have another look.
Alison

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Hi there

Spent last night rading my drawers and found some silk scarves. Have discovered some are better than others. did find that if one was long enough to wind round my neck and cross over the v at the front of my neck i might be able to tolerate a blouse with a collar. Looks very Noel Coward! Have also discovered a very comforting silk blouse (george not primark)

Now for the laughes.

1 Nice lady who took me to rads yesterday had hysterics when she saw me in turned up collar bouse and huge floppy hat. Maybe with the neck scarf sorted out I’ll be able to dispense with the hat
2 last week wore a new fetching turquoise headscarf that was long enough to wrap round my neck Lawrence of Arabia style. When I took it off in the evening discovered that it wasn’t colour fast so had a green head with very short greeny grey hair (What was it about not using hair colours on new hair!!)

Anyway thanks for the support

Crispy

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nice image crispy

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Glad you think so, lilac bushes. i was horrified but it did wash off.

Have just raided local Asda and bought 2 cotton tops with integral hoods (in the sale). Think that may fit the bill. But am not certain that I want the image of an overgrown hoodie (can you be a hoodie if you’re over 50?)

12

Get the green hair back on the go and team it up with a hoodie … you will be hip & trendy in no time.

13

19 year old son thinks the hair cut prior to chemo was a vast improvement and wanted me to get a pink wig so maybe i should take your advice. Son was the one who nicknamed the scarf the Noel coward look. He is most disappointed that i’ve washed the green hair

Crispy

14

I just sunbathed and the only bits that got burnt were the non radio bits i.e. my good breast.

that’s cos radiation had tanned me

I don’t think there’s been any research into radiotherapy and sun

but radio is bad for skin in the same way sun is

I don’t care

Mole

15

well folks now the sun has gone in I’ve at last solved the problem!! Headscarf round head with one knot and the rest of the scarf wound round the neck and tucked into a lightweight cotton hoodie. Can put the hood up if I really want. Looks very trendy/ hip hop and I now feel safe to drive with the car window open in hot weather.

Thanks for all the advice

Crispy