| | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 | I am wondering what you have been advised as to exposure to sun. Have you been told to stay out of the sun completely or is good sunscreen enough.
We just got back from 2 weeks on the beach in Mexico and from the looks of both of us being very tan although we did use lots of high sunscreen could my husband be pushing his luck.
I know I have, just a few days before leaving I saw a small red spot on my nose and felt the need to see a dermatologist. Unfortunately she said it was basal cell carcinoma and I need to come back. Went back yesterday and I thought it would be just a simple procedure to remove it but when I asked how she would know if there were clear margins she said this was just a biopsy and explained plan B. WOW, it looks like I will be having Mohs surgery and some of the before and after surgery were pretty scary. Maybe time to switch from sunny vacations to Iceland.
Just curious what others have been told about being in the sun. I am always reminding my husband to put on sunscreen, especially on his neck.
Husband diagnosed Oct '11 Cancer of the vocal cord Nov '11 removed right vocal cord. Neck Dissection, cancer in one node, .2, very small & contained) Jan '12 Radiation and Cisplatin, 6 doses. June '12 & Dec '12 clear Pet scan. April '13 Celebrating 1 year cancer free since treatment ended.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Im sorry about your diagnosis! Im sure it was quite a shock. Hopefully it wont require anything major for treatments.
My doc told me to avoid any prolonged exposure and wear sun screen.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | The radiated area should NEVER be exposed to sun, although I bet most of us do and few of us use sunscreen at all.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 24 Member | | Member
Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 24 | I was told NO sun exposure, avoid at all costs. Only exercise in the early morning or at dusk (outside), and indoor swimming (I swim laps) is preferable to outdoor. Since I have already been avoiding the sun for the past 15-20 years this doesn't cramp my lifestyle too much but its good to know.
HB
11/2014 - DX SCC, S3N0M0
Non-smoker/drinker/drugs, no cancer of any kind in family, HPV negative
2/10/15 neck dissection, nodes removed (all clear), moderately differentiated mass removed from cheek & hinge of jaw, free flap graft. Clear margins. Micro infiltration into some of the vascular structures in the local area of tumor. PEG tube 1 week later
4/6/15 - Begin 40 Rads & 4 rounds Cisplatin
5/27/15 - rads & chemo complete.
12/5/15 - PET/CT clear. Watch & wait...
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | What??????
I remember during radiation and chemo to avoid too much sun but I thought that was during the treatment period.
How on earth is one to keep my neck out of the sun? Since I had BOT the tough scarring runs underneath my chin and jawbone then back toward below the ear and along the neck lymph nodes.
Out here in California I love to get sun as much as I can. What is the concern?
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | One is supposed to avoid sun exposure on the radiated areas for the rest of one's life. That area becomes very sensitive to the sun. Sorry, Don, you will have to wear a shirt with a collar and put on sunscreen every time you are out in that lovely Californian sun.
Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Don, Target brand sports sunscreen has shown to last the longest and is the best value. You can catch them 2 in a pack even. I have one in my car always. Better safe than sorry. I also wear a hat that covers from the head down the back of the neck if I am out in the sun more than a couple of hours.
If you think about the damage to sensory nerves near the surface, as well as sweat and oil glands, it would make sense during treatment and for some amount of treatment. Just remember some damage we don't see.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 | Wow, I guess we'd better be more careful and next week I will ask our ENT/surgeon about exposure to sun. I know if my husband hears it from him it will make a difference rather than my nagging. I'd better make sure we have one in the car at all times since we like the top down with the nicer weather. High 70's in northern MN and last year we were still having snow in May.
Husband diagnosed Oct '11 Cancer of the vocal cord Nov '11 removed right vocal cord. Neck Dissection, cancer in one node, .2, very small & contained) Jan '12 Radiation and Cisplatin, 6 doses. June '12 & Dec '12 clear Pet scan. April '13 Celebrating 1 year cancer free since treatment ended.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | I also heard sun protection is lifelong after radiation treatment, due to changes in skin, and radiation ionization, which increases skin sensitivity, risk of cancer. I was specifically told to avoid direct sun exposure in radiated field for a year with proton therapy, for other radiation treatments, general head and neck sun protection precautions. If in the sun longer than 10 minutes, sunscreen with at least SPF 45 should be used, along with wearing protective clothing, collar, brimmed hat. With Erbitux, you're told to avoid the sun also, and for two months after treatment ceases due to sensitivity of the skin, and reducing its effectiveness. I have non cancer medications that increases sun sensitivity, effectiveness with sun exposure, so there are warning labels on them or in the drug insert.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Well. Thanks for the advice and warning. It really was new news to me. I always thought it was just during treatment and recovery to be extra careful about the sun. I am brown and rarely get sunburned and never put on any sunscreen. A big dose of sun just gets me tan. Guess I'll need to start; can't hurt.
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | |
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