Forum Discussion

catcrazy's avatar
catcrazy
Member
12 years ago

Sunbaking And Chemo

Hi ladies, hope you are all well. This may seem like a very trivial issue, but I am wondering if you are able to still sunbake when undergoing chemo? After a life as a sun worshipper I wonder if I am kidding myself that I can have chemo and lay around in the sun all day? On another note, I have ordered my wig and am due to recieve call shortly to start chemo. Watched the Four Corners show on living with advanced cancers ( the costs), very interesting watching. I am 39 and have mets to the bones and lungs after breast cancer only 10 months ago. Didnt have chemo at the time just because there was a very small difference in percentage of getting it back with or without the chemo and quite honestly I felt I would sweep it under the carpet , thinking maybe by my mid 40's or so I would be dealing with this, but not this soon. Sorry to be rambling about trivial things but I find silly things like this are keeping my mind off the big things. Thanks all!!

chemotherapy

4 Replies

  • catcrazy's avatar
    catcrazy
    Member
    12 years ago

    Thanks ladies, looks like it will be 'tan in a bottle' for me lol. xxx

  • louiseg's avatar
    louiseg
    Member
    12 years ago

    Yes, stay out of the sun!  The chemo makes your skin super sensitive to the suns rays and you could end up with skin cancer from what I've been told!  Good luck with it all , Louise x

  • Janet_Plummer's avatar
    Janet_Plummer
    Member
    12 years ago

    I had my chemo in winter so it wasn't an issue but I do remember the chemo nurse saying that the sun could damage your finger nails when they in a weakened state due to chemo. She recommended wearing black/very dark nail polish to protect them from the sun. I did try it for a while but because it was winter I didn't persist. I imagine your skin would be more vulnerable too. Although I understand your desire to sunbake - I love to lie in the sun and get a bit of a tan too - I would probably hold off while you are having chemo. Good luck and take care. Janet.

  • Chris's avatar
    Chris
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi, I think the recommendation is to avoid the sun, as in sun baking, as the chemo drugs can made you very sensitive to the sun and cause sunburn. This can linger for sometime after chemo. Perhaps ask your Oncologist what he thinks. Good luck with your upcoming chemo. Love Chris xx