Skin cancer is not expected from exposure to IR. However, increased skin temperature can reduce DNA repair efficiency, and promote skin cancer that is initiated by other agents. Skin thickness may also increase due to repeated IR exposures.

You may have seen the social media posts warning about possible dangers of non-contact infrared thermometers. These devices, which are held up to a person’s forehead to take their temperature, are being widely used in schools and child care centers. The good news is that the claims about their danger are false.

IR, particularly IR-A or near IR [700nm-1400nm], raises the internal temperature of the eye, essentially “baking” it. Medical studies indicate that prolonged IR exposure can lead to lens, cornea and retina damage, including cataracts, corneal ulcers and retinal burns, respectively.

These results suggest that infrared radiation may have beneficial effects on skin texture and wrinkles by increasing collagen and elastin contents from the stimulated fibroblasts.

Researchers at NCI’s Center for Cancer Research have found that a technique called near-infrared immunotherapy for treating cancer has the potential to kill cancer cells in record time, essentially destroying them with the flick of a light switch.

How treatment works to stop cancer spread

• Surgery. Depending on the type of cancer you have, surgery may be the first-line treatment.
• Radiation therapy. Radiation uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
• Chemotherapy.
• Targeted therapy.
• Immunotherapy.
• Stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

Hyperthermia (also called thermal therapy or thermotherapy) is a type of cancer treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures (up to 113°F). Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues (1).

“Rather than killing cancer cells outright, mild temperature hyperthermia ‘primes’ cancer cells to be more susceptible to radiation or chemotherapy. It can also target tumor cells that prove resistant to radiation and chemotherapy.”

It’s true that the vast majority of cancer treatments cause skin sensitivity. Because of this, direct sun exposure during chemotherapy and radiation is not advisable. This doesn’t mean that you have to avoid the sun completely, but you will need to take special precautions to avoid becoming burnt and dehydrated.

Humans with cancer are more susceptible to feeling cold in “normal” temperatures, especially after receiving treatment. The researchers suggest that cancer cells possibly induce cold stress in order to secure and promote their own survival.

Some chemotherapy drugs can damage the nerves that send signals between the central nervous system and the arms and legs. This is called peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms include tingling (“pins and needles”), numbness or pain in your hands and feet, and muscle weakness in your legs.

Most types of pain related to chemotherapy get better or go away between treatments. However, nerve damage often gets worse with each dose. Sometimes the drug causing the nerve damage has to be stopped. It can take months or years for nerve damage from chemotherapy to improve or go away.

You’ll usually have four to six cycles (doses) of AC chemotherapy, over three-four months. Both drugs are given on the same day, every three weeks. The time between each cycle of treatment gives your body time to recover.

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle.