If you have blood cancer, are having treatment for blood cancer, or finished treatment in recent years, it is even more crucial than ever to protect your skin from the sun.
Protect your skin by wearing a hat, clothing that covers your skin and sunglasses, applying sunscreen and staying in the shade.
Sun exposure and blood cancer
Blood cancer and its treatments can cause sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) exposure leading to sunburn and skin damage. Having blood cancer also increases your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
Treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies and radiotherapy can make your skin more sensitive to damage from the sun. If you’ve had a stem cell transplant using donor cells (called an allogeneic transplant), being out in the sun without the right protection can increase your risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD).
Because your medicines can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, it is important to protect yourself against the sun’s UV radiation and reduce your skin cancer risk.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is high-energy radiation generated by the sun. UV levels can be harmful on warm, sunny days and on cool, cloudy days too.
UV is highest during the middle part of the day, between about 10am and 3pm.
Sun protection times are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology when the UV Index is forecast to reach 3 or above. At that level, it can damage your skin and lead to skin cancer even if you don’t get sunburnt.
How to protect your skin
Cover up to create a barrier between yourself and UV radiation.
Take these sun protection measures:
Clothing
- Wear clothes that cover your skin, such as long skirts, pants, long-sleeve shirts and collared shirts.
- Wear fabrics with a dense weave that don’t let much light through.
Sunscreen
- Apply SPF 50 or SPF 50+ waterproof broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- Reapply every 2 hours.
- Apply 20 minutes before you go outside.
- Apply more than you think you need.
- Water resistant sunscreens are less likely to be washed off by water and sweat.
Hat
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin and eyes.
- Caps and visors don’t protect your neck, ears or all of your face.
- Choose a hat made with densely woven fabric. Loose fabrics like straw can let sun through.
Sunglasses
- UV radiation is harmful for your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses labelled with UV protection and large enough to cover your eyes fully and provide sun protection from all angles.
- Check the tag to make sure they meet the Australian Standard for eye protection (AS1067). The Standard has 5 categories of sun protection. Choose category 2 or higher. These lenses absorb more than 95% of UV radiation.
- Some sunglasses have an Eye Protection Factor (EPF). Ratings of EPF 9 and 10 provide excellent protection blocking almost all UV radiation.
Shade
- Seek shade under a tree, building, umbrella or sunshade.
- UV can reflect from water, sand, snow and concrete so wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen even in the shade.
Monitor your skin
Monitor your skin for any changes. Get to know your skin and what is normal for you.
It is important to check your skin regularly and if you have had blood cancer get a health professional to check it every year.
Any changes including new spots, or changes in shape, colour or size of an existing spot should be checked promptly by a GP or dermatologist.
Sunscreen regulation
Sunscreen is a key part of sun safety. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates sunscreens to ensure they are safe, effective and provide the sun protection factor (SPF) stated on the label.
Issues with sunscreen protection in Australia
In June 2025, consumer advocacy group CHOICE tested 20 popular SPF 50 and SPF 50+ sunscreens. They found that 16 out of 20 did not meet their claimed SPF levels when independently tested.
The TGA is investigating the CHOICE findings, has recalled many sunscreen products and is undertaking sunscreen regulation reforms.
What you can do
- Always look for an “AUST-L” or “AUST-R” number on sunscreen labels. This means the product is on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
- Find an ARTG registered brand. A listing on the ARTG ensures the product has been properly checked.
- Follow the directions on the sunscreen label, apply enough, reapply after swimming, sweating or towelling.
- Combine sunscreen with other sun protection including shade, wide-brimmed hats, protective clothing and sunglasses.
- Stay up to date with sunscreen recalls.
Services for managing and monitoring your skin
Talk to your treatment team about any sun sensitivity you may be experiencing from treatment and if you are having any skin problems.
Visit a GP or dermatologist for regular skin checks and also make an appointment if you notice any new skin spots or changes in shape, colour or size of existing spots.
Sunsmart – provides sun protection advice, an UV alert app and information about skin cancer checks.
Cancer Council – has information about sun safety and how to check for signs of skin cancer.
The Bureau of Meteorology – provides a daily UV forecast for various locations in Australia detailing the UV level and recommended sun protection times.
References
- Sunscreens, Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Multiple sunscreens recall: Lower than claimed SPF levels, Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Sunscreen SPF testing – information for consumers, Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Sunscreens using the same base formulation as Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+ sunscreen, Therapeutic Goods Administration
- We tested the SPF claims of 20 sunscreens: 16 failed, CHOICE
- TGA acts following CHOICE sunscreen investigation, CHOICE
- UV knowledge centre, The Bureau of Meteorology
- Skin cancer risk in more than 200,000 patients with haematological malignancies over 30 years: a nationwide population-based study in the Netherlands, British Journal of Dermatology
- Sunsmart, Cancer Council Victoria and Victorian Government
- Sun safety, Cancer Council
- Slip, slop, slap, seek, slide, Cancer Council
- How sunscreens are tested and regulated, Cancer Council
- Staying safe in the sun and hot weather with blood cancer, Blood Cancer UK
