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Sunsmart

Sunsmart



Protection from the sun is essential for children having chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy make the skin more sensitive to the sun - the skin burns more easily. Outside, all children having treatment must dress is light-coloured, long sleeved clothing, and wear a wide brim or legionnaire's hat. When applying factor 30+ sunscreen, pay special attention to the backs of hands, tops of feet, back of neck, ears and scalp.

If your child is having radiotherapy, do not put sunscreen on the skin where the radiotherapy is done. The sunscreen may have certain properties which may cause skin to burn when it gets radiation during radiotherapy.

A variety of SunSmart products are carried by most chemists and The Cancer Council Victoria shops.

Remember:
  • Healthy intact skin protects your child against infection
  • Hair normally protects the back of the neck, ears and shoulders. There is less protection when there is hair loss
  • Bald heads burn very easily

For more information on being SunSmart, please refer to The Information Book Edition 2.1, Section 3:20.
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