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.

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.

The radiated area should NEVER be exposed to sun, although I bet most of us do and few of us use sunscreen at all.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hello, I am new to this but my radiation was in '14. I have had no straight answers from any of my Dr.s but I am not taking another chance. I live on the Jersey shore and wear a s.p.f. 50 neck protector from Amazon. Pretty stylish too




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I know a few survivors that developed skin cancer years later in the radiated area. Sunscreen and prolong exposure to the sun is important for everyone and especially those of us who had radiation.

Thanks for the reminder, Susan, and I just mentioned this yesterday at our head and neck cancer meeting. I know of a few myself, although one was on their back, another ear, and another jaw.

Here is a general sunscreen guideline, which you may have seen or similar, but I may have seen for head and neck cancer a much higher SPF.

https://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?id=1042