Tanning

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newboobs
newboobs Member Posts: 121
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Okay I'm going to "poke that bear" with this topic. Do you all avoid the sun since cancer? I am 6.5 yrs cancer-free and tend to get out in the sun more. We enjoy beach trips several times a year and I like having some "color." What do you all do?

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  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #2
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    My motto is: live as well as you can as long as you can. If you enjoy the sun, use sunscreen and don't overdo it, but enjoy it, by all means. My Sister was at least half mermaid. She lived as close to the beach as she could afford and spent as much time as she could on the beach before and after she became a cancer survivor. The only change she made was when she had a port (wrong name for it). She had tubes coming out through her skin and was not allowed to get it wet, so she did not swim in the ocean, but she certainly did wade and sit in the water and enjoy the sun. Even with that she lived 6 years longer than the Drs. said she would. I am still in the process of treatment, but I do not plan to avoid the sun much more than I ever have (I am not as much of an outdoor person as my sister). I will probably continue to wear the hats I have come to enjoy since starting chemo, and I will use sunscreen (I burn easily, so I use it anyway).

    That's my 2 cents worth. seof
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
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    Hi New, My brother was diagnosed with melanoma las year(he lives in Fl. and so did I for about 10 years) and that was definitely a direct result of sun exposure so I am very concerned about the sun. I was a sun worshipper in my teens and twenties but now avoid it like a vampire! I wear a 70 sunblock on my face and 50 everywhere else. I also avoid the sun during peak hours. Afterall, it is solar radiation and uv rays penetrate deep into the dermis. Maybe I am a bit extreme but I figure it is at least one cancer causing element I can control.
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #4
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    I don't avoid it but even before cancer - limited time in the sun - heavy sunblock - hats. A little bit of sun is the real source of vitamin D and good for you. But getting color - and hope you're not offended - but I think its stupid. There are plenty of self tanners and I use those all the time for a little bit of color as I am one of the whitest people you could meet. My brother (45) was diagnosed with melanoma Friday - if I wasn't already convinced I would be now.
    Sorry to be harsh, but I enjoy my life and I just don't get it when people aren't doing the things that are known to help them.
    S
  • bev49
    bev49 Member Posts: 42
    #5
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    I am so light complected, I burn easily, so the sun isn't exactly my friend. With better info about sun damage, and new, better sunscreens, I do go out sometimes, but after 33 rads, I am worried about already being radidated, so I avoid it if I can. I know it used to healthy for us, it does, as someone pointed out give us vitamin D, but now with the o-zone reportedly causing melanoma on the rise, I just use caution. Also, I am warm all the time, a side affect from Arimidex, and don't enjoy being heated up from the sun. I don't think it would cause excess damage, not one Dr. has ever told me to avoid the sun, I feel like it is one of those individual decisions. I just know that is has been a very, very long winter here in Ohio, and we are just happy to see the sun! Take care.
    Blessings,
    bev49
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #6
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    It was probably about five years ago that I read it, but I did read something that said that folks with breast cancer have a higher than average risk of basal cell carcinomas. That's a type of skin cancer that is easier than some to remove and "cure", but it is not something anyone would particularly want to have. I don't avoid the sun, but I will wear sunscreen once it is summer and I ask the doctor to check me for skin cancer every year. Right now I'm testing low on vitamin D so I'm trying to make an effort to get outside for 30 minutes or so each day without sunscreen. So far I'm averaging about 8 minutes a day for the week. . .
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #7
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    The skin cancer risk aside...when I found out that one makes leather by TANNING the skin of cattle...I opted out years ago!!!!! I am afraid of skin cancer to be sure, but am even more afraid of wrinkles!! I slather myself with no less than SPF 30 everyday...and avoid sun-worshipping at all costs. I go for walks during the day and get my Vitamin D fix. But of course, whatever you want to do New...LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen
  • survivor51
    survivor51 Member Posts: 276
    #8
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    I use sunblock and I do get out in the sun. I have had several basal cell skin cancer and had them removed but that was before breast cancer. I went on numerous sites from John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, and ACS to find the answer. The answer is the same for BC and Non BC patients, be wise, use sun screen, try not to be out between 11-4. I love the feel of sun on my face and it just makes me feel good. I don't just lie out and sun bathe but I do have fun in the sun.
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #9
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    chenheart said:

    The skin cancer risk aside...when I found out that one makes leather by TANNING the skin of cattle...I opted out years ago!!!!! I am afraid of skin cancer to be sure, but am even more afraid of wrinkles!! I slather myself with no less than SPF 30 everyday...and avoid sun-worshipping at all costs. I go for walks during the day and get my Vitamin D fix. But of course, whatever you want to do New...LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen

    Chen
    I with you on the wrinkles - and it's worked. I know people 10 years younger than I am that look older than I do...
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #10
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    Hola New!
    It has been a while. I hope you are well. From what I understand, spending 15 minutes in the sun, unprotected is healthy as it builds Vitamin D in our system. However, long periods of time in the sun is not safe if one is unprotected. Use at least an SPF 30 if you are very light skinned. But, I think you should be safe to enjoy the sun with sun protection.
  • jackiemanz
    jackiemanz Member Posts: 85
    #11
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    Hey New

    I agree with seof enjoy life as long as you can. So if you like being out in the sun well then do it.

    Myself I like getting my hands dirty in the soil and my husband and I like to go boating on weekends when its nice. Just last weekend we were up close to you at Lake Oconee. But I do make sure I put on SPF 15 that way I get at least alittle bit of sun. So go enjoy the beach if thats what you like to do.

    Hugs,
    Jackie
  • bratgirl
    bratgirl Member Posts: 5
    #12
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    WHATEVER!!!! I love the sun, and I am a breast cancer surviver, 33 years old. It makes me happy. What doesnt cause cancer? You have to live and if you want to tan, TAN.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
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    chenheart said:

    The skin cancer risk aside...when I found out that one makes leather by TANNING the skin of cattle...I opted out years ago!!!!! I am afraid of skin cancer to be sure, but am even more afraid of wrinkles!! I slather myself with no less than SPF 30 everyday...and avoid sun-worshipping at all costs. I go for walks during the day and get my Vitamin D fix. But of course, whatever you want to do New...LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen

    Im with you chen! I am very bitter at the tought of wrinkles too---i use a 75spf on face and 50 everywhere else. its the one stinky thing about being in my 40s.......
  • CindyPR
    CindyPR Member Posts: 36
    #14
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    Hey New,
    Miss you. Enjoy the sun as I have, but now with the ratio and chemo after 5 years done, need to stay off of it. Love the Ocean but go in shade, as love PR. But be careful as with being already diagonised with cancer not a good thing. Love you good friend.
  • jagged
    jagged Member Posts: 55
    #15
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    I absolutely love the sun.

    Following my breast cancer treatment, lumpectomy and chemotherapy, I started going to the tanning beds. I got dark and loved it. Part of this was just being released and rebellious. (I'm too old for that.)

    Well, I hope they are not related, but within one year, I got cancer again. This time it was a cancer of unknown primary (CUPs) (it did not have any of the BC markers). I stopped with the tanning beds, just in case. Well, almost one year after treatment, I got CUPs again. I am in treatment now.

    I do not avoid the sun and love going for walks in it. I just don't go to the tanning beds anymore. Where I live, there is not enough sun to overdue, so I don't worry too much about being out in the sun.
  • CindyPR
    CindyPR Member Posts: 36
    #16
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    New,
    Great wish I looked that good in the bathing suit. HAHA. No with the tropic weather need to also do what you do. But here hot fast. Give me some info., shade trees, kayak. Miss you good friend
    Love, Cindy

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