Holiday flare up of radiotherapy symptoms

Hi Aimee76 

Sorry to read if your awful experience 

I was told by my oncologist to wear factor 50 for two years and avoid exposing the areas irradiated completely. 
After two years 30 should be enough 
I suspect your sun protection was removed by swimming 

I hope you’ve managed to heal well by now  

Thanks Beesuit that’s really useful to know and I’ll make sure I keep myself covered and use a factor 50 on that area from now on. 

Hi I spend 5 months if year in Spain I wear factor 50! Every day on face and neck even when home in uk it’s routine for me. First 2 years I wore a loose buff even when in sea and frequent application of cream swim with hat on when in sea and  stay mostly in shade even now. I do cycle and now as long as my sun creams stsyscwith me have no issues. 
I use supermarkets own brands mostly but in Spain I do buy Eucrin factor 50 ftom pharmacy for my neck and face crest if body 30   
I do have ginger genes  ( dads side) so  i  have  freckles always have with high factors.
don’t be put off look fir a dill buff or scarf fir extra protection in heat of summer big floppy hat and sunglasses let people think you’re somebody famous hiding away. 

Hazel x 

Hi Aimee. Sorry to hear that your holiday was affected by the sunburn issue. I live in Australia so have the sun challenge every summer. When I go swimming I wear a floppy Breton hat that I bought from the Cancer Council. It is one that can get wet and is soft so that it can be squashed and packed easily in my luggage if I go away. Also wear 50 plus sun screen and a t shirt especially made for swimming but you could wear anything that covers the top half of your body. I have avoided getting sunburnt using these tricks. I also stay in the shade as much as possible by sitting under a sun umbrella or sometimes there is a jetty there that I sit under. I avoid going out in the sun without a hat every day. 

Best wishes for future holidays. 

Lyn