If you have had any type of cancer, practice precaution when you’re out in the sun this summer.
Avoid direct sunlight and stay in the shade as much as possible. Some of the chemo drugs and anti-nausea medications can also cause heightened sensitivity to sunlight.
“I talk about this with all my patients, particularly as they undergo chemotherapy,” said Dr. Joseph Edmund, hematologist/oncologist at Marshfield Clinic Health System. “This treatment makes skin more sensitive to the sun.”
The radiation therapy can cause redness of your skin which is temporary side effect. Skin exposed to radiation fields are more sensitive to UV light.
UV light can also cause radiation recall, where areas exposed to radiation therapy in the past can look like severe sunburn and may blister, peel and become red, swollen, and painful. Your skin “recalls” where radiation beams were directed. It is recommended to provide extra protection to the areas that underwent radiation therapy forever.
Protect yourself while in the sun.
The same precautions dermatologists stress to people are very important for patients who have undergone or are undergoing cancer treatments.
If you have undergone or are undergoing cancer treatments and are in sunlight, wear a wide-brimmed hat; use sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and re-apply it every two hours or every hour to any area that is getting wet; and don’t use tanning beds or lights.
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“I cannot stress that enough,” Dr. Edmund said of tanning beds. “Please avoid them completely. There is no safe amount of indoor tanning, and the ‘pre-vacation’ indoor tan is neither a safe nor recommended approach to sun safety. That can’t be emphasized enough.”
Avoid risk taking, like drinking and smoking.
“In general, once you’ve had a primary cancer, you are at risk for another cancer in addition to being at risk for recurrence of the primary tumor,” Dr. Edmund said. “You are more at risk than a person who’s never had cancer, so we advise patients to take general preventive measures like being current on cancer screenings, colonoscopy or pap smear for example, avoiding risk factors for cancer such as smoking or excessive use of alcohol.
Risk takers, like chronic smokers and drinkers, are also more likely to develop cancer because of their exposure to chemicals and toxins.
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Nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking cigarettes or secondhand smoke exposure. Quitting smoking lowers the risk for 12 types of cancer.
“I have seen many patients who are chronic smokers who present with head and neck cancer and get treated successfully for it but continue smoking and develop a second cancer like lung cancer,” Dr. Edmund said. “This is not uncommon. The key is to educate the public on cancer prevention measures by making the right lifestyle decisions.”
For cancer help, talk to a Marshfield Clinic Health System provider.
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Choosing the best stick, lotion and spray sunscreen
8 responses to “Sun after cancer treatments”
I recently was diagnosed with lung,adrenal glad and cancer in my lymph nodes and I always go to the beach in August. I'm starting chemotherapy on June 3rd and I was wondering if I should not go to the beach and stay home or go and take precautions while in the sun. I don't really know what the effects from chemotherapy will have on me so I'm not sure if vacation is even an option for me.
Hello Steven,
Thank you for reaching out. We recommend talking directly with your provider before going to the beach. Because of their extensive knowledge of your medical history, they can best advise you. Thank you,
Jake
I just finish my cancer trick men t I have limnot cancer and I was in the sun for 1 hours what is going to happened to me
Hello Angel,
We recommend talking directly with your health care provider. They can best advise you due to their extensive knowledge of your medical history and past conditions.
Thank you,
Jake
My wife is taking chemotherapy and she was out n the sun fishing for 8 hrs . Now she feels really drained and has really bad burns . What shall I do
Hi Anthoria,
Thank you for reaching out. We strongly recommend talking to your wife's doctor as soon as you can about the the symptoms she is experiencing. Her doctor knows the most about her medical history and can best advise her.
Thanks,
Jake
Hello my question is I,m a lung cancer survivor of 5yrs should I avoid being in the sun
Hi, Carolyn. Thank you for your question.
In general, if you have had any type of cancer, you should practice precaution when you’re out in the sun.
Additionally, as Dr. Lai includes in the story, all general precautions for being in the sun, apply to cancer survivors even more so: "The same precautions dermatologists stress to people generally especially apply to cancer patients and survivors."
We have more sun care tips here: https://mfldclin.wpenginepowered.com/tag/sunscreen/
We suggest bringing specific questions related to your medical history and sun safety to your care provider.
-Kirstie