Sunscreen after radiation

amd

Sunscreen after radiation

amd

I just finished radiation in November and will be going on my first cruise in 2 weeks.  What is the safest sunscreen to use? or is it better to put a towel over the area radiated when sitting in the sun? Thanks in advance for advice.

Krissy37

Hi Girls

I finished up my rads last summer (June-July) 08.  My docs said to STAY OUT of the sun for one year after rads.  I wore Neutrogena sunscreen SPF 30 -all the time (still do under my clothes).  I avoided the sun , and when I had to go out, I used sunscreen and covered up.  I had rads on one side , no mast , still have my boobs.  Don't get me wrong, I was BUMMED out, we just moved in a new house with a pool!  We will be here 1 year this May, and I still have not been in my own pool!   Your skin is MUCH thinner from rads , and the sun can further damage the skin, sunscreen or not.  Not what you want to hear, I know, but I listened to my docs orders, even though I hated it at the time.  So last Summer i was WHITE as it gets , but I know I did the best for myself.  Just wanted to share my story.

All docs may give different opinions.........

Krissy

flannelette

Hi - I just got home from seeing my rad onc. The sun can burn your skin through a t-shirt in 5 minutes.

NO SUN on skin for 5-6 months, she said. If you want to swim, fine, but put on waterproof SPF30 sunscreen, do your swim in your bathing suit (no need to wear a t-shirt) come out, get dry, reapply sunscreen, cover your radiated area with 2 layers of clothes. Your skin there is thin & fragile.

For non-swimming outings in the sun, your put on sunscreen then bra then tee or whatever. If no bra, then 2 layers.

I also just read that for anyone you must have UVA as well as UVB sunscreen protection as UVA is just as bad. Look for that on the label.

Have i done this in the past? no, of course not, but will do now.....

Krissy37

Hi nopink

Maybe you should as your doc so you are aware of the damage that could happen.  After all that us girls are put through , we don't need further worries.:)

Krissy

Karen56

Monday will be one year since the end of my rads....I was told always wear sunscreen outside and always moisturize.

However, I've found a new website to check the toxicity of all kinds of products we use, and certain sunscreens are rated high for hazards and chemical exposure. 

Check out www.cosmeticdatabase.com and type in the name of any product as it is on its label.  You'll be amazed that everyday products, cleansers, deodorants, make up, moisturizers, etc. can be quite harmful, at least according to this site. 

Enjoy your cruise...and be well.

Krissy37

Hi Karen56

Thanks for posting the website, it's very informative and scary at the same time!  What particular brand of moisturizer and sunscreen do you like to use?

Krissy

amd

Thank you to everyone for advice.  I have used the safe cosmetics website also and was shocked to see even some of the organic cosmetics had high hazard rating.  I just ordered MexiTan spf 50 and 30 sunscreen since had low hazard score- hope it works!  Never thought about putting sunscreen on under t-shirt but sounds like a good idea.  Will also wear t-shirt too for snorkeling just to be safe.  It's true Krissy, we don't need anymore problems after everything else.  I am looking forward to having some fun since energy now back post-rads.

Karen56

Hi Krissy

I've only just recently found that web site through a friend, but last year 5 months after my rads I used Banana Boat 50.  This brand has a lot of bad scores and I'm not sure yet what I'll use this summer.  I've been going through all the personal care products I use and am making myself crazy about it.  Not surprisingly, the latest creams for wrinkles, which I have been using the past few years, are the worse.  I'm just trying to find some middle ground right now.

The other thing I am researching is plastics.  The little triangle on the bottom of plastics we use for everything has a number in it, and my friend, who has become an organic nut, has warned me to be careful about what I use, but try to get away from plastics in your life - you can't!.  One document I googled gave a quick chart of what the numbers mean.   http://www.plasticfreebottles.com/pdf/HazardsPlastics.pdf  I had bought a reusable water bottle thinking I'm doing myself and the planet good, but with a score of 7 I was probably doing more harm than good.

I guess the old shade tree might really be the best.....

Llimko

I wore rashguard clothing spf 50. Look on skin cancer clothing sites for more informatio