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How blood cancer patients can practice sun safety in the summer

By The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | July 23, 2025

For many, summer is a time to get out of the house. Vacations, backyard cookouts, going for walks in the park—there's no better time of year for having fun outdoors. 

And yet, it’s important to always make sure you’re practicing sun safety during the summer months. That’s especially the case for cancer patients and survivors, who must stay aware of sun exposure before, during, and after treatment. 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Information Specialists, highly trained oncology social workers and nurses, often receive questions from patients about sun exposure. Sunlight has its benefits, but protecting yourself from too much sun exposure is critical, due to the risks of exposure to ultraviolet light and the potential skin-related side effects of cancer treatment. 

How can you do that? LLS’s Information Specialists have answers to questions on sun safety for cancer patients, complete with best practices on how to make sure you’re staying safe while you’re outside and enjoying the summer: 

Q. Why is my skin more susceptible to sun damage during treatment?  

Skin-related side effects of cancer treatment can include dryness, redness, itchiness, sores, or increased sensitivity to sunlight, making your skin more sensitive to the harmful effects of sunlight. It’s important to check with your care team about specific sun-related effects of your therapy.  

Q. If I already have blood cancer, am I at an increased risk of skin cancer?  

A recent study1 indicates that people with blood cancer have twice the risk of developing skin cancer than the general population. In fact, skin cancer is the most common second cancer1 among blood cancer patients—particularly those who are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)2,3. Many cancer treatments, including medications and radiation therapy, increase your sensitivity to the sun, too.  

Q. Should I avoid the sun during treatment?  

People who are being treated with certain drugs or radiation therapy are generally advised to avoid all direct sun exposure during treatment, and for a period after completing treatment. Make sure you check with your care team about what precautions you might need to take to protect your skin.  

Q. What aspect of sunlight harmful?  

Ultraviolet (UV) light4. It’s a type of radiation emitted by the sun that can damage skin cells. This leads to sunburn, premature aging, and in some cases, skin cancer.  

There are three kinds of UV rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB), and Ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA and UVB rays reach the earth’s surface, while UVC rays are absorbed by the ozone layer5. However, UVC rays are prevalent in things like tanning beds and sun lamps.  

Q. What can I do for my sun safety?  

By taking a few extra precautions, you can make sure you’re protecting yourself from harmful UV rays. For example:  

  • Plan outdoor activities around when UVA and UVB rays are not as intense. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)4, the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try scheduling outdoor activities in the morning or later in the day.
  • Seek shade. Walk under trees or man-made infrastructure that provides protection from the sun. The sun’s rays are reflected by sand and water, too, so take extra care on trips to the beach or a lake!
  • Cover up. Wear a scarf or a soft hat with a wide brim to protect your head from the sun. Choose clothing that covers your arms and legs, and consider wearing clothing specially designed to protect against UV rays. If you can, try to avoid lightly woven fabrics that let sun rays through.    

Q: What should I look for in sunscreen?  

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends6 that you use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, and that you reapply it every two hours when you’re outdoors. Additionally, you’ll want to look for sunscreens that offer protection against UVA and UVB rays, along with ones that are water resistant—even if you do find a water-resistant one, make sure you reapply it after going into the water7.

And if you have a bottle of sunscreen that you’ve kept stashed away since last summer, make sure it meets these requirements and hasn’t expired. Don’t see an expiration date? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)8, you should consider your sunscreen as expired if you still have it three years after you purchase it.  

When you’re applying sunscreen, make sure you cover more than just your arms, legs, neck, and face. Your feet, ears, and the top of your head may all be exposed to the sun and can be forgotten when applying sunscreen, so make sure they’re also covered.  

Q: When should I ask my doctor about skin cancer?  

Anyone can be diagnosed with skin cancer, regardless of their skin color. As a result, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your dermatologist (or, if you do not have one, a primary care physician) if you have any concerns, especially if you notice a new mole or spot on your body. If you notice a new spot on your body, remember ABCDE9:   

  • Asymmetry (one half of the spot looks different than the other half)
  • Border (the spot has a poorly defined border)
  • Color (the colors of the spot are not the same)
  • Diameter (the size of the spot is larger than 6 millimeters, which is approximately the size of an eraser on a pencil)
  • Evolving (the color, shape, or size of the spot changes)  

These are the things to check with a new spot, and if you notice any red flags, the AAD recommends you consult a dermatologist immediately.  

Additionally, make sure you check your entire body, particularly the places you might not think to look—your hairline, the soles of your feet, even under your nails.  

Still have questions? We can help!  

Everyone’s situation is unique. It’s good to follow best practices, but there may still be things that you want to clarify.  

If that’s the case, reaching out to an LLS Information Specialist is an option! Our Information Specialists are here to lend a hand, whether that’s answering questions themselves or helping you get the support you need. You can reach out via phone, email, or our live online chat.  

LLS also has a collection of free information booklets that may be able to help. The full list of booklets can be found right here. Specifically, you can check out our booklet on caring for skin, nails, hair, and mouth offers advice on how to take care of those things during cancer treatment.  

Summer is for going outside and having fun. Still, it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of your skin while the sun is shining, particularly if you’re a cancer patient or survivor.   

The good news is that, with some planning and a good bottle of sunscreen, you can protect yourself from harmful UV rays and get the most out of the summer months.  

Sources  

  1. Eggermont, Celeste J, Andrya Hollatz, Marlies Wakkee, Marieke Louwman, Avinash G Dinmohamed, Eduardus F M Posthuma, Tamar Nijsten, and Loes Hollestein. 2025. “Skin Cancer Risk in over 200.000 Patients with Haematologic Malignancies in 30 Years; a Nationwide Population-Based Study in the Netherlands.” British Journal of Dermatology, January. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljaf027.
  2. Kleinstern, Geffen, Abdul Rishi, Sara J Achenbach, Kari Rabe Chaffee, Neil E. Kay, Tait D. Shanafelt, Aaron Norman, et al. “Skin Cancers Among Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Patients - the Effect of UV Radiation and CLL Clinical Characteristics.” Blood 128, no. 22 (December 2, 2016): 4772. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.v128.22.4772.4772.
  3. Landego, Ivan, Shirley Li, Chao Xue, Vincent Poon, Robert C. Clayden, Kevin Ren, Yuka Asai, and Annette E. Hay. 2020. “Risk Factors for the Development of Skin Cancers in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” Blood 136, no. Supplement 1 (November 4, 2020): 15–16. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2020-138961.
  4. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Sun Exposure | US EPA,” US EPA, March 20, 2025, https://www.epa.gov/radtown/ultraviolet-uv-radiation-and-sun-exposure.
  5. Center for Devices and Radiological Health, “Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation,” U.S. Food And Drug Administration, August 19, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/ultraviolet-uv-radiation.
  6. “Sunscreen FAQs,” n.d., https://www.aad.org/media/stats-sunscreen.
  7. “Sun Safety Facts,” Skin Cancer, July 1, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/sun-safety/index.html.
  8. “Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, August 16, 2024, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun.
  9. “What to Look for: ABCDEs of Melanoma,” n.d., https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes.