Suntan

Lynn Smith
Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Last year I laid out in the sun.Hadn't for years but a class reunion and had to have a tan and not pale.It did worry me.

For those of you who lay out what sunscreen do you use??? Seems like I read at least a 50 for radiaion blockage from the sun rays.

I totally forgot to ask my oncologist last month.URRRRRR. Won't see my doctors till Aug and Oct.

Have some of you discussed sunbathing with your doctors.What do they think???

We Finally have sun here and temps in the 80's.From winter to summer.Spring was skipped.

Thanks
Lynn Smith

Comments

  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #2
    Your question brings up an
    Your question brings up an interesting observation from my stand point. My RO just got back from a vacation in Palm Springs and has the nicest tan you can imagine. Of course he had a nice tan before leaving for his trip. Our Wisconsin spring has not brought warm sunshiny weather so I think he must have a tanning bed or visit one regularly. Now is that a good example to be setting for his patients dealing with cancer? My guess is he isn't concerned about skin cancer. I guess like anything else, it's Russian roulette as to what's coming your way. I've always tanned well in the summer months and I don't plan on changing that, but I will be more protective regarding radiation site.

    Not much help I know.. LOL
    Lorrie
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #3
    butterflylvr said:

    Your question brings up an
    Your question brings up an interesting observation from my stand point. My RO just got back from a vacation in Palm Springs and has the nicest tan you can imagine. Of course he had a nice tan before leaving for his trip. Our Wisconsin spring has not brought warm sunshiny weather so I think he must have a tanning bed or visit one regularly. Now is that a good example to be setting for his patients dealing with cancer? My guess is he isn't concerned about skin cancer. I guess like anything else, it's Russian roulette as to what's coming your way. I've always tanned well in the summer months and I don't plan on changing that, but I will be more protective regarding radiation site.

    Not much help I know.. LOL
    Lorrie

    What is it with radiation oncologists?
    Lorrie, I had to laugh at your post….The last time I saw my radiation oncologist, 1 year after finishing treatment, my appointment happened to be a few hours after my annual appointment with my dermatologist, for my annual skin check.

    My RO was fussing over how my skin in the treatment field is still darker than the surrounding skin (I don’t care at all, but he seems to hate the way it looks), and said to me, “Don’t worry, once summer comes and you’re in the sun, you can even out the color.”

    ??!!!??

    I said, “Dr. S., I just came from having my annual skin check with Dr. G. – I don’t think you want me to tell her you think I should get outside and tan, do you?!”

    He laughed, but didn’t really seem to think there would be anything wrong with that. But I do – after all I’ve been through, I don’t want to have to deal with skin cancer too. I stay out of the sun as much as possible, wear moisturizer and foundation with sunscreen on my face every day, and wear at least 30 SPF sunscreen on my arms and neck if I have to be in the sun.

    Traci
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
    None of my cancer Drs ever
    None of my cancer Drs ever said anything about it - my PA on the other hand has been 'reading me the riot act' for years about using sunscreen. I must admit that I do use it more since IBC but not all the time. Yes I do understand why she gets after me - she's had to burn off a few small pre-cancerous lesions so yeah she's right I should be more careful. But it's hard to always remember and when you're out as much as I am when it's warm enough between my gardening/mowing and the horses I'm outside hours daily. Lay outside in the sun though - don't have time for that - too much to do.

    Susan
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #5
    Rague said:

    None of my cancer Drs ever
    None of my cancer Drs ever said anything about it - my PA on the other hand has been 'reading me the riot act' for years about using sunscreen. I must admit that I do use it more since IBC but not all the time. Yes I do understand why she gets after me - she's had to burn off a few small pre-cancerous lesions so yeah she's right I should be more careful. But it's hard to always remember and when you're out as much as I am when it's warm enough between my gardening/mowing and the horses I'm outside hours daily. Lay outside in the sun though - don't have time for that - too much to do.

    Susan

    Linking...
    Have read a few articles that are starting to link melanoma with bc....a friend went through bc last year..no chemo..but rads and now Tamoxifen...her onc noticed a place on the bc boob...sent her to a dermatologist...turned out to be melanoma...has since had 2 surgeries to remove 4 melanomas...one on the breast, one on her back,one on her thigh and one right above her navel...the one on her thigh is stage I....she has always loved having a tan...she has been advised to use #80 sunscreen 365 days a year...but a certain kind as sunscreen contains estrogen...who knew! I'll
    Find out what type she has been told to use...

    If it's not one thing.......
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #6
    MAJW said:

    Linking...
    Have read a few articles that are starting to link melanoma with bc....a friend went through bc last year..no chemo..but rads and now Tamoxifen...her onc noticed a place on the bc boob...sent her to a dermatologist...turned out to be melanoma...has since had 2 surgeries to remove 4 melanomas...one on the breast, one on her back,one on her thigh and one right above her navel...the one on her thigh is stage I....she has always loved having a tan...she has been advised to use #80 sunscreen 365 days a year...but a certain kind as sunscreen contains estrogen...who knew! I'll
    Find out what type she has been told to use...

    If it's not one thing.......

    Did a quick Google
    Just did a quick Google on Estrogen and Sunscreen. Yeah - there is something to it. According to how I understood what I read it's not actually estrogen that is in sunscreen but an estrogen mimicer that has Estrogenlike activity. The culprit is Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; Oxybenzone)
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #7
    Rague said:

    Did a quick Google
    Just did a quick Google on Estrogen and Sunscreen. Yeah - there is something to it. According to how I understood what I read it's not actually estrogen that is in sunscreen but an estrogen mimicer that has Estrogenlike activity. The culprit is Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; Oxybenzone)

    Gee whiz
    Gee whiz Im still not sure. I have a few moles on my breast. Well under them.I am desperately thinking about having them taken off.My friend who is a bc survivor says all her moles go as soon as she gets one. I've had mine for many many years.

    Some doctors says yes to the sun and some no. I forgot to ask mine.

    I know of one young mother has had 6 melanomas taken off and loves the sun.She also goes to the tanning bed.I would never use that false artificial rays or whatever it is.Talk about a cancer risk.

    If I do lay out I will use a sunscreen 50.I will be lucky to get a tan with it being that high. I only lay out for about a hour.

    Lynn Smith

Discussion Boards