Carboplatin and sun exposure

[bamboo89]

I had my first infusion on Thursday - I asked the nurse whether I needed to stay out of the sun, but all she said was to keep the arm where the infusion was flowing covered, or the vein area would darken where the drug had tracked into the body. I asked about my face and legs and she said they 'didn't care about those', but having looked on line tonight, I'm getting somewhat mixed advice. It's not mentioned under the carboplatin medical information, but one Cancer site in America says to use sunblock of 15 or higher or keep covered up. Other sites refer to combination drugs or caelyx rather than carboplatin - those are definitely a no no for sun exposure.

Thoughts and experience anyone, or at least anyone who's only had carboplatin rather than combined treatments...

Miriam

[Cropcrop]

I believe our skin is affected by any chemo, I had my last infusion of carbo/taxol over 5 years ago and still am much more sun sensitive than I ever used to be, I use a 50 factor sunscreen each day I leave the house with the exception of night time of course 😂. We should always be sun aware but more so both during and after chemo.

I hope your treatment isn’t too arduous and does it’s job for you. Take care and stay safe at these scary times ❤️Xx Jane

[izzybruce]

I was having my chemo in the summer of 2017, went for a little seaside break, it was a nice and warm week, I just put sun protection on which I do anyway, you should be fine xx

[bamboo89 in reply to izzybruce]

Thanks - I can;t understand why there's nothing from Macmillan re sun and carboplatin specifically, but there isn't. Certainly is for Taxol, but not carboplatin... and I;m not having taxol... Not sure I've got any suntan lotion though, I never normally bother with it, never have done. Figured I;d just wear a sleeve over the arm they used to do the infusion... it'll only be sun exposure whilst tiddling about with pots on my balcony, not full on sun bathing, and we could all do with the Vitamin D the sun creates with Covid19 about... its somewhat protective against the virus, there's a theory that black people in America are getting badly affected because its harder for them to make Vitamin D via the sun, so they're probably short of it in the body., especially if they live in more northerly cities. Unproven so far, tests need to be made...

[izzybruce in reply to bamboo89]

I always wear factor 30 anyway, I think I read about taking care in the sun, just put plenty of sun cream on, xx

[bamboo89 in reply to izzybruce]

Well, guess I'd better order some then, if Amazon's got it!

On second thoughts, don't think I'll bother - they're all full of chemicals like parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate and loads of others, all the stuff you should not expose yourself to whilst on chemotherapy. will just wear long sleeve teeshirt instead. There's one that isn;t, but its got a long delivery date unfortunately... but I've ordered it for later on anyway, assuming Covid doesn't kill me off first!

Cheers

[Differentforgirls in reply to bamboo89]

Tropic do ones without parabens etc.

They have a website - google tropic skincare. Really good natural products.

There’s an app called Think Dirty to find out what products contain what. They give products a score between 0-10.......10 being the ones to avoid & 0 with natural ingredients.

I use so many of their products since I heard about them after my diagnosis.

Hope this helps xx

[bamboo89 in reply to Differentforgirls]

Oh great, thanks - I ordered via Amazon paraben and sodium lauryl sulphate,generally natural shampoo and conditioner, and a special toothpaste with no mint flavour or sls (been looking for one for ages, costs a bomb, but well, at least it won't burn my tongue) and they arrived today .. the 'natural' sun cream I found I ordered, but its not coming for another 10 days, Will check the Tropics site, never heard of it, wish I'd waited to order now!

Miriam

[Hidden]

Hi Miriam. I was diagnosed 8.5 years ago. No one has ever said to me I should stay out of the sun. I live in Western Australia & the temp here today is 37c. I wouldn't go out in it purposely but I've put out the washing & about to get it in (doesn't take long to dry!), I've done a few quick jobs in the garden - watered some needy plants & cleaned the bird baths & given them clean water.

For both my lines of chemo I had a mix with Carbo being part of that mix. I belong to an OC support group and I've never heard anyone say to stay out of the sun. Personally, I've never worn sun screen (I've lived here nearly 50 years). I've had no skin cancers. I think there's a sensible approach: just don't stay out in it for long but if you know you have to, then make sure you have a hat and cover for your arms. It will probably have been a while since your skin was exposed to the sun, so don't overdo it to begin with. You need the Vitamin D to help keep up your resistance to infections. Best wishes. Pauline.

[bamboo89 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Actually, I live in West London in the warmer south east, so was sitting in the sun for a couple of hours on Tuesday and Wednesday last, as well as about 3 weeks ago, we've had a mild and wet winter till the rain stopped about 3 weeks ago - had the carboplatin on Thursday for the first time,so I have had a little sun exposure this year. Usually, if the sun's out, I'm outside if possible... from what I can tell, most women don't just have carboplatin on its own, so the sun exposure thing is more discussed when other drugs are used too. Hot here today, would love to be out there in a full on sun dress... but I've gotta keep my right arm covered! Also, our uv levels here will be nowhere near as high as where you are, although March, April and May are when they're highest, specially with very little pollution about. There are some nice side effects from no planes and being locked down - clearer, safer air to breathe! I havent seen such clear air and sky since that volcano went off in Iceland and all planes stopped for a week or so a few years back. Well mostly, for some odd reason, we've had two pollution warnings this week for PM2.5 particles, but all the usual other stuff (nitrous oxide, ozone, PM10s) is very low.

Cheers, Miriam

[SUE7777]

Definitely always use sunscreen to protect your skin, you need vitamin d but take it easy and don't overdo it. I don't have a garden so will have to look like a ghost this year. Caelyx is a different chemo drug. Take care Sue xx

[bamboo89 in reply to SUE7777]

yea, Caelyx there are warnings about the sun for... many thanks. Oh, poor you, no garden, I can't cope with a bit of space outdoors, though I mostly spend it on my south facing balcony these days. How you managing during this lockdown with no space outdoors?

Miriam

[SUE7777 in reply to bamboo89]

At least I overlook open space 👍

[bamboo89 in reply to SUE7777]

Well I suppose that;s something, but since I'm shielding, I am very grateful for the balcony, I must say... take care

[Erinna72]

Hi Miriam,my doctors told me not to go out in the sun between 12 md and 3 pm when i was doing carbo treatment. I am due to start Olaparib this coming week and even though the doctors didn't mention anything about sun exposure i read that I'm not supposed to expose myself to sun during the hottest part of the day.

[Numi in reply to Erinna72]

Hi - If Olaparib has similar properties to Niraparib, then sun sensitivity is likely to increase massively and continue to do so over time. I have to wear Factor 50 from spring to autumn and a hat even on sunny spring days. I find my scalp particularly sensitive despite having thick hair.

[bamboo89 in reply to Erinna72]

Oh, thanks, that's interesting, and funny - that's what I always tell people about their Japanese Acers and a few other plants when they want to plant them! Wonder why no one said a word to me about the sun, it was only that I asked, and as I say, all she said was keep the arm that had the infusion out of it... but it is only Carboplatin, not olaparib. I do know if I get bald spots on my head to keep those covered in the sun... really looking forward to bald spots, not!

Miriam