Hello Patrick and thanks for your post

As you probably know after radiotherapy the skin becomes much more sensitive to the sun because of the damage from the radiotherapy to the healthy cells as well as to the cancer cells.

We have some general information on our website on radiotherapy and how it affects the skin.

You should continue to protect your skin from the sun for at least a year after radiotherapy and most doctors would recommend being extra careful after this too avoiding sunbathing and taking precautions. Wearing a sun block of SPF 50 and a UVA 4/5 star rating and wearing a hat with a brim that provides shade to your neck as well as your head are good ways of doing this.

The general advice for everyone is to stay safe in the sun so you may find it helpful to read our information about how to be safe in the sun.

It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor or specialist nurse as they can advise you if you need to take any specific precautions.

I hope this helps. Give us a ring if you would like to talk things over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene