“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow you got to put up with the rain.”

—  Dolly Parton

For many years, I lived in the “Sunshine” state and anytime I traveled to a place that had seasonal climate, I found myself truly enjoying a rainy day. Not the rainy then hot-sauna-like days of the FL weather, (sorry my Floridians!), but the kind of rainy day that brings a coolness and clean, fresh air, worthy of a beautiful rainbow.

I am rain.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I value the sunshine and all its brilliant splendor, but, when it comes to a day to truly replenish my soul, that is where the rain comes. To me, rain is not about being gloomy, nor is the sun about being cheery. Either extreme is limiting. For me, it is about tapping into the benefits of each and using them as key enablers to help us on our journey.

Beyond the ecological roles the sun and the rain play for the planet, they both have incredible physical and mental therapeutic qualities, which are especially important for those navigating a cancer journey.

As always, we take a moment to provide you with some helpful perspective for your use. But as with everything, with the good we also need to be aware of the potentially not-so good.

First, the sun

Also known as the star at the center of our solar system, it provides countless benefits, but among our favorites are the top three below:

The good: stuff:

1. Vitamin D: For most people, this is the first thing that comes to mind when they think of benefits from the sun. Getting some sunlight, whether direct or filtered, boosts the body’s production of Vitamin D, which is essential for immune health and bone health just to name a couple.

2. Better sleep: A bit of a hidden, but valuable benefit from sunlight. Studies show that early morning light (ideally between eight and ten o’clock in the morning) helps set the body’s clock and enables better sleep at night.

3. Better mood: Yet another hidden gem in the sun’s benefit portfolio. Studies show that moderate exposure to sunlight (again, whether direct or filtered) increases the release of the hormone serotonin in the brain, which is associated with boosting mood and creating calmness.

The biggest watch out!

• Protection from damaging sun rays – affecting the skin as well as the increased risk for skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Photobiology Committee, an independent team of experts on UV damage and sun protection, recommends daily use of not just an SPF 15+ broad-spectrum (UVA-UVB) sunscreen, but also other forms of sun protection such as shade and sun-protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-filtering sunglasses. And if you’re concerned that too much sunscreen affects the ability to gain Vitamin D benefits, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency. In fact, the prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels and protect their skin from harm. They also point out that you can acquire vitamin D from a combination of diet and supplements. So no need to put all your eggs in the sun’s basket!

And now let’s talk about the rain

Also known as moisture condensed from the atmosphere that falls visibly in separate drops…It has a set of key benefits as well as challenges. Below, we list a few. 

The good stuff:

1. Sound therapy: Almost all therapeutic and meditation practices include rain as their sound backdrop. The soothing sound of rain can almost immediately cause a favorable calming balance throughout the body and can easily be incorporated into breathwork and other meditative practices. This is a great tool for cancer patients to leverage on treatment day and the days following, especially to assist with nausea management.

2. Caloric burn: Some studies show that exercising in rainy weather boosts metabolism and causes your muscles to work a bit harder to move your body and maintain balance.

3. Skin health: With rain, comes humidity and with humidity comes moisture, which is great for the skin. Keeping in mind, we are talking about outdoor humidity. And yes, while your skin will often feel sticky in high outdoor humidity, it is benefiting from that moisture in a meaningful way. For cancer patients, many treatments can cause dry/itchy skin and while many moisturizing creams can help, finding some time outdoors with high humidity can be quite soothing. 

The biggest watch out!

• Adverse impact on our mood – affecting thoughts that can lead to feeling depressed or lethargic. This is a key balancing act. As much as I love the rain, there have been days when it brings me down versus calming me. It’s a subtle, but important difference. Always speak with your doctor if you are finding it difficult to cope or get through the ‘rainy days’.

With love,
Amelia O.