Sunshine - How to handle it if I am that lucky

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Guzzle
Guzzle Member Posts: 710
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Friends, we are rapidly approaching Brit summertime. It is quite possible we may actually see the the sun (although not guaranteed obviously). I know that some of you live in parts of the US and further afield which can get pretty hot. I am an outdoors person and will also travel in Europe post treatment where it is fairly inevitable I will encounter the sun. (If treatment stopped you being waterproof living in UK could be a challenge!). As a furtherance of a chat I had with Nelson Ong I was wondering about practical tips for sun protection. I have just been slapping factor 50 on so far. Thinking of getting a legionairre style cap for running. Finding it difficult to source summer scarfs for men. Help!

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  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
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    My treatment and the

    aftermath was in spring and summer.  I used a lot of SPF sun lotion, and also bought a wide brimmed hat with a SPF of 50.....long sleeves and long pants.  One thing about it tho, after chemo and radiaiton, I was never hot.....nothing could warm me up....so the long sleeves and pants were just fine :).

    p

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #3
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    phrannie51 said:

    My treatment and the

    aftermath was in spring and summer.  I used a lot of SPF sun lotion, and also bought a wide brimmed hat with a SPF of 50.....long sleeves and long pants.  One thing about it tho, after chemo and radiaiton, I was never hot.....nothing could warm me up....so the long sleeves and pants were just fine :).

    p

    Thanks

    Just been invited to Bavaria for Xmas markets where it can hit minus 20 so maybe sun is least of my probs. Found a brimmed hat with flap on back for trekking. Doesn't seem to be many uv resistant scarves for men over here though unless you want a winter one. A uv resistant bandana/neckerchief would be ideal if I could find one. I have every faith one of the fine minds here will have the solution.G.

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #4
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    Guzzle said:

    Thanks

    Just been invited to Bavaria for Xmas markets where it can hit minus 20 so maybe sun is least of my probs. Found a brimmed hat with flap on back for trekking. Doesn't seem to be many uv resistant scarves for men over here though unless you want a winter one. A uv resistant bandana/neckerchief would be ideal if I could find one. I have every faith one of the fine minds here will have the solution.G.

    Gator

    I wear wide brimmed hats, SPF shirt.  The sun doesn't feel good on my skin.  Sports stores have a thin 'gator' for the neck.  Thin SPF fabric in a tube to slip over the head.  Winter cold is also colder for me.  I have a wide brimmed winter hat and many scarves.  I am a sight but I like comfort.

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #5
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    Sun protection

    Guzzle, I love the way you're thinking... Just finished your 2nd week of treatment and already thinking about vacation!  Love it!

    my radiation oncologist told me to keep direct sun off my radiated neck for 1 year post treatment so I use really powerful sun screen as well as a neck cover used by fishermen in the US.   The skin on my neck is as new and as soft as a baby's behind so it has to be sensitive.   

    I'm you're still doing great!   Good luck with week 3 and eat and drink everything you can.,.

     

    keith

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #6
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    KB56 said:

    Sun protection

    Guzzle, I love the way you're thinking... Just finished your 2nd week of treatment and already thinking about vacation!  Love it!

    my radiation oncologist told me to keep direct sun off my radiated neck for 1 year post treatment so I use really powerful sun screen as well as a neck cover used by fishermen in the US.   The skin on my neck is as new and as soft as a baby's behind so it has to be sensitive.   

    I'm you're still doing great!   Good luck with week 3 and eat and drink everything you can.,.

     

    keith

    Time off

    Keith, In 27 years of service I have never had this much time off so when I am recovered I am going to kick the ar*e out of it. UK and in fact Europe are small in comparison to your great country. But I have a lot of places to go and people to see before I put my uniform back on. Lots of the places are hot. If I recover I have 8 days in Malta mid August with family. I want to cycle aroung Gozo which may be a bit ambitious. It used to surprise me how many US citizens had never left their country until I realized how massive and diverse America is. Until we have visited Brits just don't understand the scale. A flight east to west coast is the same as a flight London to New York City! Thank you for the advice about neck gators - I will try to hunt some down. Managed another curry tonight. Regards, G.

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #7
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    Guz

    So Cardiff and Fulham go down. Do be careful with the sun Gary, it is not to be taken lightly. My radiation Onc said "radiation to the skin is like laying in the sun for a couple of full days" always use sunscreen, the maximum you can get. The skin is an organ, the biggest one we have and radiation affects every inch of it. Make sure during rads that you are well moisturized after every session. What do you mean uniform up again, what do you do?

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
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    denistd said:

    Guz

    So Cardiff and Fulham go down. Do be careful with the sun Gary, it is not to be taken lightly. My radiation Onc said "radiation to the skin is like laying in the sun for a couple of full days" always use sunscreen, the maximum you can get. The skin is an organ, the biggest one we have and radiation affects every inch of it. Make sure during rads that you are well moisturized after every session. What do you mean uniform up again, what do you do?

    The first time

    they strapped on my 5FU pump, I happened to get some sun on my face....mind you, it was only for maybe 30 minutes, but it was the first week in July (I was a week out of rads)....the next day my face was very pink....the day after that, my face was swollen and my eyes were slits....on the third day my lips started to split, and my face was shedding skin....That's when I got the wide brimmed hat....so I'm a tad slow on the uptake, I'm a believer now... Embarassed 

    p

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #9
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    sunburn in the fog??

    So you need to worry about sunburns in fog land? LOL

    My understanding is chemo is the agent that creates skin sensitivity to sun. Radiation also causes skin sensitivity beause the rads create burning and peeling of the neck skin, basically a sunburn I guess. Most skin rash and burn is gone during recovery (40-60 days). Others have good ideas on sunscreen protection. You got ATTITUDE!

  • HAWVET
    HAWVET Member Posts: 318
    #10
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    donfoo said:

    sunburn in the fog??

    So you need to worry about sunburns in fog land? LOL

    My understanding is chemo is the agent that creates skin sensitivity to sun. Radiation also causes skin sensitivity beause the rads create burning and peeling of the neck skin, basically a sunburn I guess. Most skin rash and burn is gone during recovery (40-60 days). Others have good ideas on sunscreen protection. You got ATTITUDE!

    We have a lot of sun and I

    We have a lot of sun and I just wore a wide brim hat. 

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #11
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    HAWVET said:

    We have a lot of sun and I

    We have a lot of sun and I just wore a wide brim hat. 

    Aspiration

    Don , all. You are right the sun is an aspiration here but its unpredictable and can surprise us in summer. You wouldn't rely on it to heat your house though. For prolonged exposure hats and factor 50 cream seem to be the way forward. Desert scarves as favoured by the military seem a tad excessive! G.

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