Radiation Treatments: Were you told to NOT swim in a pool?

I was told no swimming pool. Its the chlorine in the water and the sun exposure to the radiated area.

I hope we finish Rads soon, it's not fun at all

Faith

Cheryl 1 said:

Your doctor is right saying

Your doctor is right saying you shouldn't swim in a pool.  Fix a cool drink and sit under a tree.  You'll enjoy being outside too.

 

I was also told no swimming in a pool -- and Faith is right that NO sun exposure at all is really important.

Even after treatment, my radiation oncologist told me not to be in the sun without extra protection for any extended period of time for 1 YEAR.  He said that even a bra and t-shirt wasn't enough protection, and that I should use sunscreen over my entire torso if I was going to be out in the sun for a long period of time for the first year. 

So, when you finish treatment, if you plan to swim outside, please do ask your radiation oncologist or the nurse about protection for the first year.

Traci

Ritzy said:

All of the pinkies are

All of the pinkies are right!  No sun and no swimming!  My rads onco told me the same as Traci's did about the one year mark.  And, always put on sun screen!

Sue

You shouldn't be in a chlorinated swimming pool.  It could harm your skin.  I did get sun on the radiated area about 4 months after I finished rad treatments.  We were at the beach and I wanted to swim and have fun.  I used sunblock, and, didn't burn, I tanned.  I wouldn't advice this for others though.

susie09 said:

Listen to your doctor and

Listen to your doctor and just sit pool side with a fancy drink with an umbrella in it.  lol  Before too long, you should be able to get in and enjoy it.  When will you be done? 

 

My rads oncologist told me to not go in a pool and to protect my skin from the sun with clothes and sunscreen for a year.  I understand your wanting to go in your pool, but, you need to take care of your skin now.

There is always next year for you.

Lynne

Cheryl 1 said:

Your doctor is right saying

Your doctor is right saying you shouldn't swim in a pool.  Fix a cool drink and sit under a tree.  You'll enjoy being outside too.

 

Wear big floppy hat/ may shade chest area-sit at side of pool and soak feet-that helps to cool down-not like swimming but some relief.

Denise

TexasCharlie said:

I am one of the few people

I am one of the few people who has an indoor pool and my Rad Onc said swimming was O.K.. I am getting no sun and I go mainly just before bedtime to cool off. I don't really swim I just dunk myself and cool off. It's been in the high 90's here and even at that the pool water is only 78 because it's indoors. I also shower after swimming to get the chlorine off and then apply my creams. The onc said my treated area is reacting much better than most and at 26 days it hardly itches and only feels a little burnt, like a very light sunburn. The rad onc nurse gave me, along with some other creams, some Aquaphor with 2%Lidocaine 50/50 and that helps a lot when it itches.

I was never told that about whole torso sunscreen, thanks for mentioning.

Margeaux said:

Swimming pool

I had a port in for chemo and Herceptin for about 18 months total and was told by the oncologist - absolutely NO swimming.  Too many germs in the pool that may enter the body through the port.  Still had the port in during radiation, so that question never came up.  Do listen, our immune system is all shot to h...ll.  Think of all the swimming you will do next year!  Have fun sitting under an umbrella sipping a nice cool lemonade.  Not too long, though, even in the shade the sun's rays can be damaging. 

Margeaux

Agreeing that the no swimming rule needs to be applied here.  I am sorry.  I miss it too.

TexasCharlie said:

I am one of the few people

I am one of the few people who has an indoor pool and my Rad Onc said swimming was O.K.. I am getting no sun and I go mainly just before bedtime to cool off. I don't really swim I just dunk myself and cool off. It's been in the high 90's here and even at that the pool water is only 78 because it's indoors. I also shower after swimming to get the chlorine off and then apply my creams. The onc said my treated area is reacting much better than most and at 26 days it hardly itches and only feels a little burnt, like a very light sunburn. The rad onc nurse gave me, along with some other creams, some Aquaphor with 2%Lidocaine 50/50 and that helps a lot when it itches.

I wonder why some say it is ok and some not.  Is your skin still doing ok Texas Charlie?  Do you swim every night?

carkris said:

I was never told that about

I was never told that about whole torso sunscreen, thanks for mentioning.

I also was never told not to go into the sun or pool/beach...I took a vacation prior to starting my treatment so I was already brown...thought that would help....it's only making my skin look darker as its getting scorced...ouch!!!

TexasCharlie said:

I am one of the few people

I am one of the few people who has an indoor pool and my Rad Onc said swimming was O.K.. I am getting no sun and I go mainly just before bedtime to cool off. I don't really swim I just dunk myself and cool off. It's been in the high 90's here and even at that the pool water is only 78 because it's indoors. I also shower after swimming to get the chlorine off and then apply my creams. The onc said my treated area is reacting much better than most and at 26 days it hardly itches and only feels a little burnt, like a very light sunburn. The rad onc nurse gave me, along with some other creams, some Aquaphor with 2%Lidocaine 50/50 and that helps a lot when it itches.

it sounds like you are doing pretty well and I am so happy for you.  When will you be done?

Sue