Fluorouracil & long term sensitivity to sun?

4law
4law Member Posts: 110
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I stopped 5FU chemo over 3 years ago and noticed I am much more sensitive to the sun than before chemo and cancer. I know there is short term sensitivity during chemo and for a few months thereafter, but I couldn't find any information about long term sun sensitivity resulting from flurouracil. Has anyone noticed the same?

Comments

  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #2
    Hi. I stopped 5FU 16 months ago, and the sun burns like the dickens now. I try to avoid it as much as possible. I don't know if it is chemo related, or that we had to stay out of the sun for so long that we are sensitized anew to it.
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #3
    I fish often in the hot tropical sun. Even ten years after 5fu at age 58 I have not had any sunspots removed or burned off. I recently asked my onc(we are still friends) if he thought there were any l/t effects of 5fu. His reply"yes,,,it saved your life". Hard to argue with that.Cheers Ron.
  • 4law
    4law Member Posts: 110
    #4
    ron50 said:

    I fish often in the hot tropical sun. Even ten years after 5fu at age 58 I have not had any sunspots removed or burned off. I recently asked my onc(we are still friends) if he thought there were any l/t effects of 5fu. His reply"yes,,,it saved your life". Hard to argue with that.Cheers Ron.

    I agree that 5fu (and surgery) saved me. More importantly, are you making progress in setting up an appointment to take care of your kidney?
  • eweb
    eweb Member Posts: 14
    #5
    I finished 5FU 4 years ago and have had terrible sun sensitivity on and off since then. With sunscreen, I didn't get visibly burnt, just very sore even after a few minutes exposure at 9:00 a.m. in March! After a lot of research and some luck, I think the problem is UVA rays and real protection from that comes from an ingredient called Mexroyl (Ombrelle)or Anthelios (La Roche Hydraphase UV). I use a sunscreen that has at least 3%. The very odd thing is that after using it constantly for a little while, my skin seems to become normal again and I don't have to apply it constantly. That'll last until the next spring when the soreness returns. Hope this helps and good luck!
    Ellen
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #6
    4law said:

    I agree that 5fu (and surgery) saved me. More importantly, are you making progress in setting up an appointment to take care of your kidney?

    Only two specialists in my area. Earliest I can get in is two and a half months. Worked today ,fixed two mattress closing machines at a mattress factory...didn't think I was going to make it home. Docs were supposed to ring with a new plan...no call..frustration.Ron.

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