Ouestiona about getting out in the sun...

allmost60
allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
My husband and I are avid fishermen. We spend all of our spare time in our boat down on the Columbia River fishing for steelhead and salmom...summer, fall and spring runs. As a matter of fact we are scheduled to take off for the first two weeks in August and already have our cottage arrangements paid for and ready to go. Of course now we are in a waiting pattern because of this cancer I have and not knowing when treatment will start etc, etc. I tan easily and by summers end I have a great tan from all the fishing time spent on the water. So far this year I haven't gotten a lick of sun and have zero color. I'm too tired to sit out for even short periods of time. I'm also concerned that the sun might harm me with this cancer going on. I've thought about going and getting the spray tan done, but feel like I should first consult my doctor because of not knowing what chemicals are used in a spray tan.Will the sun harm me at this point and is it better to just not get out in it? I sure don't want to create a new set of problems if I can aviod it. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh...also...once my hair is gone I assume I should never get sun on my bald head...right? Sure hope we will be able to go to the river as we've planned. My theory is...I can fish less if necessary and if I need to rest then why not do it at the cottage on the river as to doing it at home? We will only be an hour and half away from home, so we can easily drive back and forth for treatments...right?

Comments

  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #2
    fishing
    You will be able to do what your body tells you, you should stay out of the sun, I know myself there are day's I can garden, play my guitar, others day's I can't get off my chair. When I do yard work, it can only tolerate abour an hour out there, anymore and I pay for it later in the day!!! Good Luck Vinny
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #3
    THE SUN
    Sue, Vinny hit that right on the nose. Some days as the singer John denver says, some days you are a diamond and other days you are the coal, during treatment that is. You get up one day and feel like you can conquer the world. Other days you do not really feel like getting up at all. It does get better the farther away from the treatment you get. The bad part is by the time you are about 80%-90% back to yourself its time for another treatment. It will go that way till treatments are complete. Remember, we are all different in the way we react to the chemo, but it seems the tiredness thing is pretty consistant with everyone. As far as being in the sun with out your hair ,just be sure to wear a hat that is wide enough to over shadow your ears. It would not take much to get a sunburn where the sun has never really shined before. You know what it is like to be out in the sun all day and then tie your hair back for a little while. Don't take long for the tops of the ears to burn does it? Hang in there, we are all with you. John
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #4
    COBRA666 said:

    THE SUN
    Sue, Vinny hit that right on the nose. Some days as the singer John denver says, some days you are a diamond and other days you are the coal, during treatment that is. You get up one day and feel like you can conquer the world. Other days you do not really feel like getting up at all. It does get better the farther away from the treatment you get. The bad part is by the time you are about 80%-90% back to yourself its time for another treatment. It will go that way till treatments are complete. Remember, we are all different in the way we react to the chemo, but it seems the tiredness thing is pretty consistant with everyone. As far as being in the sun with out your hair ,just be sure to wear a hat that is wide enough to over shadow your ears. It would not take much to get a sunburn where the sun has never really shined before. You know what it is like to be out in the sun all day and then tie your hair back for a little while. Don't take long for the tops of the ears to burn does it? Hang in there, we are all with you. John

    Thanks guys...
    Well...that all sounds good to me. I guess I'll catch fish on the days I feel good and on the days I don't I'll just kick back and chill out at the cottage. Either way I'll make the best of it. One day at a time....Sue
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #5
    allmost60 said:

    Thanks guys...
    Well...that all sounds good to me. I guess I'll catch fish on the days I feel good and on the days I don't I'll just kick back and chill out at the cottage. Either way I'll make the best of it. One day at a time....Sue

    Heat
    I didn't really have restrictions other than to use sunscreen and like John and Vinnie say....do what you can while you feel like it.

    I personally did not handle the heat well AT ALL during chemo. I spent very limited time outside, usually in the morning for a cup of coffee on the front porch watching the sun rise. As soon as it started getting warm, I was ready to go back inside for the day.

    Shaving my head was wonderful relief from the heat and even to this day I can't stand long hair. I actually just got it cut to about 1/8" shaved in the back and the top is about 1/2" and I love it! Just wear a scarf or hat and LOTS of sunscreen (sorry to repeat, but very important).

    You can also look up the information about each drug in the chemo cocktail for any concerns with the sun. Good luck to you. Have you gotten your diagnosis yet?
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #6
    dixiegirl said:

    Heat
    I didn't really have restrictions other than to use sunscreen and like John and Vinnie say....do what you can while you feel like it.

    I personally did not handle the heat well AT ALL during chemo. I spent very limited time outside, usually in the morning for a cup of coffee on the front porch watching the sun rise. As soon as it started getting warm, I was ready to go back inside for the day.

    Shaving my head was wonderful relief from the heat and even to this day I can't stand long hair. I actually just got it cut to about 1/8" shaved in the back and the top is about 1/2" and I love it! Just wear a scarf or hat and LOTS of sunscreen (sorry to repeat, but very important).

    You can also look up the information about each drug in the chemo cocktail for any concerns with the sun. Good luck to you. Have you gotten your diagnosis yet?

    dixiegirl
    Hi,
    Yes... I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. I have Follicular NHL-stage3-grade 2- Type A. Next Tuesday I go in for a bone/marrow/biopsy test to finish out my staging. I'm thinking the test will be positive, but until the bone biopsy and marrow results come back I won't know for sure. Right now I'm going on a gut feeling. I cut my hair last week really short and it was quite a step for me as I've never had short hair even as a kid. I'm ok with it and not really into the whole "worry about how I look thing". I yam who I yam...ha! I have wayyy more important things to think about than how I look right now! I will remember what everyone has said about using sunscreen and not getting a sun burn. I'm in the whole menopause thing right now, so the heat really affects me...hot flashes are a **** to deal with without adding a sunburn or over heating from sun exposure. Lordy...when it rains it pours...ha! So much for these being the "Golden Years"...ha!
    Nice talking to you....Sue
  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 441
    #7
    allmost60 said:

    dixiegirl
    Hi,
    Yes... I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. I have Follicular NHL-stage3-grade 2- Type A. Next Tuesday I go in for a bone/marrow/biopsy test to finish out my staging. I'm thinking the test will be positive, but until the bone biopsy and marrow results come back I won't know for sure. Right now I'm going on a gut feeling. I cut my hair last week really short and it was quite a step for me as I've never had short hair even as a kid. I'm ok with it and not really into the whole "worry about how I look thing". I yam who I yam...ha! I have wayyy more important things to think about than how I look right now! I will remember what everyone has said about using sunscreen and not getting a sun burn. I'm in the whole menopause thing right now, so the heat really affects me...hot flashes are a **** to deal with without adding a sunburn or over heating from sun exposure. Lordy...when it rains it pours...ha! So much for these being the "Golden Years"...ha!
    Nice talking to you....Sue

    yes i agree staying out of
    yes i agree staying out of the sun is the best thing.If you do go out in it,just be sensible. Use high factor sunscreen and cover up with light,cotton clothing that will keep your skin covered but allow it to breathe and stay cool.

    I know if you're recieving,or have recieved radiation then you should avoid sunbathing and especially getting burnt.

    You only need half an hour SUNLIGHT per day to get your RDA of vitamin D so dont worry about not getting it cus you will.

    Dont let cancer dictate how you live your life.Just do what you can WHEN you can

    Enjoy your fishing trip! =)

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