Community Connection: Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for volunteers! Could you help?

OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).

Sun Sensitivity during Chemo

I'm taking a daily dose of Niraparib and one of the side effects listed was sun sensitivity.  Yesterday I went to the Lunenburg Harbour to see the Bluenose II coming back from its last trip of the season.  My grandson is a deck hand onboard, so I wanted to be there. The ship was about a half hour late, so I was in the sun for a half to 3/4 of an hour.

I had completely forgot about this side effect, but within 5 minutes I could feel various places getting burnt. Then I remembered, but I had no sunscreen with me. There was no shade, but I tried to stand where there were people between me and the sun (tall people, big people = more shade!). I am well and truly burnt and it is more severe than I have ever experienced (I have always burned easily).  I used to say I could stop at a stop sign and get a sunburn; right now I think  I could cruise through a green light and get  one.I was wearing sandals, so I have burns across the tops of my feet - worst on the toes. Where my arms and my chest were uncovered. Kicking myself for not taking precautions nor going and getting some sunscreen (even asking tourists if I could have some of theirs.

Has anyone else experienced sun sensitivity? Did you notice you burned much more quickly and did you also burn worse than previously.

Thanks for listening and commenting. I should change my name to LobsterLunenburg.

Cheryl 

Comments

  • I did experience burning when i was on NIraparib.  I do not normally burn but on this drug I did.  I wore hats and long clothing and sunscreen to decrease the risk.