Just received my first dose of Photofrin 75mg Inj—any tips on managing light sensitivity?

peter_tucker2026-04-17 296 5

1 min read

last active 4/17/2026

HOT

I was prescribed Photofrin 75mg Inj today for my cancer treatment. The nurse was pretty clear that I need to avoid direct sunlight and bright indoor lights, but I'm at a loss for how to manage my daily routine. Does anyone have tips for handling this extreme light sensitivity? How long can I expect to be sensitive, and what precautions can I take to avoid worsening it? I'm really worried about how this will affect my life, especially with work and daily activities. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

photofrin

cancer treatment

light sensitivity

peter_tucker2026-04-17

1 min read

last active 4/17/2026

HOT

Comments (5)

lori_allen4/14/2026

I went through the same thing. You can still do your daily routines, but you need to plan a lot. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and a hat. Also, get a set of blackout curtains for your home, and consider getting a UV light meter to check the safety of indoor lights. If you're going out, try to stay in the shade as much as possible and avoid peak sunshine hours.

randy_ramirez4/14/2026

I had to avoid restaurants with window seats, too. It was a real pain, but just remember that this is temporary. It was only for 3 weeks. Any time indoors, make sure it's well-shaded. Keep a list of all your safe places. You'll figure it out!

pamela_hart4/14/2026

I was amazed to see the sensitivity! Anything with a strong light source makes my eyes feel like bed of needles. No more TV or computer for me.

peter_moore4/14/2026

I totally got this! I had to shuffle my work schedule a lot. I quit for my first two months of treatment. The way they explain it is this drug is activated by light, so the more you are exposed to light, the more the drug will react and hurt you. So keep that in mind. Anyways I am back to work now 8 weeks free of treatment.

abigail_day4/14/2026

This is such a major adjustment. I was driving around with tinted windows and found it to be a huge relief. I could still run my errands! It's odd but worth it to put on a hat and gloves before stepping out in the sunlight. I had a lot of anxiety about exposing my skin—so even gloves and a long sleeve shirt helped me a lot. I feel like I can't go out anymore but it gets better.