Tip to avoid sun damage after cancer therapies

What to avoid:

Generally

Be sensible in the sun

Try not to get burnt

Do not sit in the sun when it is hottest - during noon and 3pm

Do not be temped to use sun-beds.

Stop smoking altogether – if you can’t don’t smoke whilst in the sun. The chemicals and carcinogens in the smoke greatly enhance the dangerous effects of sunlight.

During and after chemotherapy

During and shortly after chemotherapy the skin can be more sensitive to the sun.  All chemotherapy drugs can photosensitise the skin but particularly florouracil types drugs for bowel and breast cancer. (Sensitivity to chemotherapy agents usually wears off after three months)  

During and after radiotherapy

Be very careful with skin exposed to radiotherapy - Radiotherapy although better with modern techniques can damage the skin but only in the area specifically treated. This may be bigger than you think. For example, with breast cancer the upper cleavage area would have received a dose and this can have a high exposure to sun when wearing a v-shaped top.  Unlike chemotherapy, this sensitivity will be life long.

What to do more of:

Cover up with a hat, long sleeved shirt and trousers if you are out in the sun when it is hottest.

Wear a high factor sun screen and definitely a barrier cream on irradiated tissue

Gentle sun exposure late in the afternoon

After sun exposure liberally apply olive oil to all exposed areas for 10 minutes before taking a shower – watch you don’t slip!

If a tan is essential consider fake tanning agents – although the long terms risks of these post cancer agents is still unknown.