Are there precautions I should take before our annual trip to the beach?

Q: Are there precautions I should take before our annual trip to the beach? 

A: While undergoing cancer treatment, you need to be more cautious than usual about spending time in the sun. That means covering up exposed skin with protective clothing and using sunblock (SPF 30 and higher is good), whether you’re dashing through the waves or skiing down snowy slopes. Avoid direct sun for prolonged periods, especially during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to apply sunscreen frequently, cover up, wear a hat, and stay in the shade as much as possible.

Chemotherapy makes you more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, so your skin burns more easily. This sensitivity goes away after treatment ends. Radiation leaves permanent changes to your skin. Going forward, you’ll always need to be extra careful about providing sun protection for skin areas that received radiation.  
--Kathy Newman, RN, BSN

Your skin may also darken from hyperpigmentation, a side effect of chemotherapy.