A trip, is it convenient whilst on chemo ?

pepebcn
pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi every body !l was preparing my summer holidays when l was told about my
liver recurrence!. It is 2 years since we don't move or do any interesting plan, and my and my wife were really excited preparing our holidays, when doctors told us the bad new.
Now l am under folfiri+avastin every two weeks , thanks good with very little side effects,
l would appreciate a push from you to convince my self that a trip is possible even whilst on chemo!l would appreciate your suggestions. Did any of you made a major trip during your chemo?
I will appreciate your experiences!
Thank You!
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Comments

  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    Pepe,
    I am all for doing

    Pepe,
    I am all for doing whatever you feel you can do! I had some things going on at work that I did not want to miss and the doctors offered to delay the chemo one week so that I would do it. this was only because I was having blood count issues and they said if I wanted to hold a week off, it would be ok.
    So if the doctor agrees I say "go for it"!!

    Hugs,
    Kathy
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    khl8 said:

    Pepe,
    I am all for doing

    Pepe,
    I am all for doing whatever you feel you can do! I had some things going on at work that I did not want to miss and the doctors offered to delay the chemo one week so that I would do it. this was only because I was having blood count issues and they said if I wanted to hold a week off, it would be ok.
    So if the doctor agrees I say "go for it"!!

    Hugs,
    Kathy

    Yep
    Yes, I went on a week's vacation. As long as your ONC says that it's fine for you. I would take it on your no chemo week so you have the rest of the week to get better (ater chemo)
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Nana b said:

    Yep
    Yes, I went on a week's vacation. As long as your ONC says that it's fine for you. I would take it on your no chemo week so you have the rest of the week to get better (ater chemo)

    Nana where you went?
    Cheers!
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    Trip during chemo
    My husband wasn't going to just sit around the house while I wasted away on chemo; so in September '09 just seven months after starting chemo we took the "good week" and went to England and Paris. Now we live in Little Rock, Arkansas, so that was a long trip over and back for us and we had plans for every day we were there.
    Then in May '10 we went to Curacao for a relaxing holiday. Just snorkeling and laying on the beach. But the trip was 17 hours and it took me a couple of days to get my time clock straightened out.
    I think you should go and have fun. If you need to rest, rest; if you feel like staying up to 2:00 a.m., stay up.
    We are planning a cruise for January '11.
    Take plenty of sanitizer. Wipe off everything you are going to touch, even chair arms, and spray your bed and pillow down with Lysol just to be on the safe side.

    Debbie in Arkansas
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Pepe:
    If your onc says ok, go for it. You can delay chemo for a week, lots of people do it, George and I did. In fact, he is still on chemo, skipping/delaying a week, and on Saturday we are leaving for a 5 day trip more than 2000 miles from home. Our doc encourages it, if you feel well enough to go, he says go, why not, don't let cancer run your lives.

    Ask you doc, if he says ok, no problem, go, the break will do you a world of good.

    Take care - Tina
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    Yes!
    I have travelled several times while on chemo. Always after "OK" from my oncologist -- but he is usually supportive. I take some extra care about hygiene (when my white blood cell count was low, I wore a face mask on the plane). But if you feel up for it and it's OK with your doc, I'd say "go for it". I had to remind myself to take it easy - but I was always happy I did it.

    Tara
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    geotina said:

    Pepe:
    If your onc says ok, go for it. You can delay chemo for a week, lots of people do it, George and I did. In fact, he is still on chemo, skipping/delaying a week, and on Saturday we are leaving for a 5 day trip more than 2000 miles from home. Our doc encourages it, if you feel well enough to go, he says go, why not, don't let cancer run your lives.

    Ask you doc, if he says ok, no problem, go, the break will do you a world of good.

    Take care - Tina

    Falks you are encouraging me a lot !
    l m thinking in a week in NY (my wife loves it) the only problem is that neither social security nor my prived health insurance covers any
    unexpected problem out of the European Union!.Mexico was the other choice but...
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Nana where you went?
    Cheers!

    Not too far. Stayed at a
    Not too far. Stayed at a Resort in Phoenix, AZ with my sister and best friend. Did nothing but relax and get massages. I also went to CABO but I was off the chemo then.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Falks you are encouraging me a lot !
    l m thinking in a week in NY (my wife loves it) the only problem is that neither social security nor my prived health insurance covers any
    unexpected problem out of the European Union!.Mexico was the other choice but...

    Wow in Europe and coming to
    Wow in Europe and coming to the states! Go somewhere where there are hot springs to heal your body!
  • Jane822
    Jane822 Member Posts: 50
    I planned a trip
    to visit my family during the holidays while on the same chemo regimen as you. I was gone for 2 weeks and we delayed my treatment a week. I live in Florida and went to Pennsylvania -- the weather was cold and lots of snow -- I certainly was not accustomed to that! I took an antibiotic for 7 days and wore a mask on the plane. Every time I've flown I've gotten a cold or bronchitis. Not this time! Drink lots of water and keep the hand sanitizer handy.
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    I did
    I had a very rough time with chemo, and I don't think I could have gotten through to the end without my break in the middle. I got an extra week off in between my FOLFOX treatments over New Year's and my husband and I went to our house in Mexico. It is where I have always gone when I need to recharge. The island is a special place for me spiritually. I was able to escape our awful cold Minnesota winter and get some warmth - wonderful when I was dealing with neuropathy set off by the cold. I took walks in the fresh air, which I couldn't do at home because of the cold. I walked along the ocean and sucked in as much energy as I could from the sun and the ocean. Then I went back and finished the second half of my treatments.

    I'd say go for it if you want a small break and vacation time with your wife. It can be good for both of you to re-charge and get away from the constant reminders of cancer and treatment.
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member

    I did
    I had a very rough time with chemo, and I don't think I could have gotten through to the end without my break in the middle. I got an extra week off in between my FOLFOX treatments over New Year's and my husband and I went to our house in Mexico. It is where I have always gone when I need to recharge. The island is a special place for me spiritually. I was able to escape our awful cold Minnesota winter and get some warmth - wonderful when I was dealing with neuropathy set off by the cold. I took walks in the fresh air, which I couldn't do at home because of the cold. I walked along the ocean and sucked in as much energy as I could from the sun and the ocean. Then I went back and finished the second half of my treatments.

    I'd say go for it if you want a small break and vacation time with your wife. It can be good for both of you to re-charge and get away from the constant reminders of cancer and treatment.

    We use to go very often to Mexico
    Actually my wife's sister and her husband live there ,he manage a big hotel Spanish corporation in Mexico ,may be you know "oasis hoteles" most of them in Riviera Maya .
    l wish go there for one week but you know a fun story? When we ( the spanish) arrive there and Henan Cortes, killed in battle to Aztec emperor Moctezuma,before he died he put a curse on us ,1 week of dhiarrea!!! (we call it The curse of Moctezuma) and since then it works hahaha!! So l got enough with my chemo dhiarrea, and l think lm going to choose a different destination this time!
    By the way , what part of Mexico you use to go???
    Have fun!!
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    pepebcn said:

    We use to go very often to Mexico
    Actually my wife's sister and her husband live there ,he manage a big hotel Spanish corporation in Mexico ,may be you know "oasis hoteles" most of them in Riviera Maya .
    l wish go there for one week but you know a fun story? When we ( the spanish) arrive there and Henan Cortes, killed in battle to Aztec emperor Moctezuma,before he died he put a curse on us ,1 week of dhiarrea!!! (we call it The curse of Moctezuma) and since then it works hahaha!! So l got enough with my chemo dhiarrea, and l think lm going to choose a different destination this time!
    By the way , what part of Mexico you use to go???
    Have fun!!

    I have been to
    I have been to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Penasco, and Cancun. And have had the pleasure of being visited my Montezuma! Now that is a joke!
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    We are taking my mom t o a
    We are taking my mom t o a resort. What we were told was to watch out about going to places where hygeine was an issue. Hint anywhere where u can't drink the water, but we are clean freaks because chemo affects the immune system. We are taking our own cleaning supplies and cleaning the bathrooM etc. We also went to the local health dept. Website and looked at the ratings of any restaurants we r going to visit. Tell your doc first. Docs want you to check with them first, but they generally like to see you get out there and enjoy your life. Good spirits aid iN the recovery process. We were even told that my mom can occasionally have a glass of wine on her off week of chemo. We just have to be smart about travelling. If the floors, bathrooms and ceilings are nasty, dowe really want to enter the bldg? Not!
  • Patti1
    Patti1 Member Posts: 109 Member
    GO FOR IT
    Go for it and Enjoy yourself, after the initial shock of my husband being diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer, we talked and talked and decided at 58 years old, how many things we wanted to do and just had not done yet. Well we went and purchased a Motorhome and all thru chemos, rad treatments and surgerys,we go out in it every chance we get. This disease in not going to run our life we are going to show it how to run. Go on that vacation and enjoy yourself and for that moment in time you will forget about Cts,Blood Draws, Doctors Appts ETC. We are leaving on Sept 11th and headed to the Smokey Mountains
    RV and Motorcycle and for that week will leave all behind. Love you and hope you go.I wish you luck with your chemo treatments as we had fantastic luck with Avastin

    Patti
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Patti1 said:

    GO FOR IT
    Go for it and Enjoy yourself, after the initial shock of my husband being diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer, we talked and talked and decided at 58 years old, how many things we wanted to do and just had not done yet. Well we went and purchased a Motorhome and all thru chemos, rad treatments and surgerys,we go out in it every chance we get. This disease in not going to run our life we are going to show it how to run. Go on that vacation and enjoy yourself and for that moment in time you will forget about Cts,Blood Draws, Doctors Appts ETC. We are leaving on Sept 11th and headed to the Smokey Mountains
    RV and Motorcycle and for that week will leave all behind. Love you and hope you go.I wish you luck with your chemo treatments as we had fantastic luck with Avastin

    Patti

    Roma, this is going to be the trip !
    Just one hour from Barcelona , health care for EU citizens , and Saint Peter,s church there!!! (always good to visit the boss)
    What do you think about?
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Patti1 said:

    GO FOR IT
    Go for it and Enjoy yourself, after the initial shock of my husband being diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer, we talked and talked and decided at 58 years old, how many things we wanted to do and just had not done yet. Well we went and purchased a Motorhome and all thru chemos, rad treatments and surgerys,we go out in it every chance we get. This disease in not going to run our life we are going to show it how to run. Go on that vacation and enjoy yourself and for that moment in time you will forget about Cts,Blood Draws, Doctors Appts ETC. We are leaving on Sept 11th and headed to the Smokey Mountains
    RV and Motorcycle and for that week will leave all behind. Love you and hope you go.I wish you luck with your chemo treatments as we had fantastic luck with Avastin

    Patti

    Double post
    double post.
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    pepebcn said:

    Double post
    double post.

    all the time
    I vacation all the time. Hell, that's all I've done since I started this mess. I'm either in the hospital or on the road. If you're like me and not trying to be cured with chemo, skipping a treatment doesn't seem to be too bad. If I am getting treated, I will usually go on the back end of a cycle or delay a cycle. On my current treatment I feel pretty rough for a few days but feel awesome the rest of the time. My treatments are 21 day cycles. So I've been having 2 full weeks of feeling really good. Plus I just bought a yacht so I need to break it in reel good (not a typo). You know, I think I'll post a picture of my new boat. Give me a minute.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Roma, this is going to be the trip !
    Just one hour from Barcelona , health care for EU citizens , and Saint Peter,s church there!!! (always good to visit the boss)
    What do you think about?

    That sounds nice!
    I haven't been to Rome, but I hear it is wonderful. It is nice it is not too far away, but you will be in a different country, with health care, etc. Good choice!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    snommintj said:

    all the time
    I vacation all the time. Hell, that's all I've done since I started this mess. I'm either in the hospital or on the road. If you're like me and not trying to be cured with chemo, skipping a treatment doesn't seem to be too bad. If I am getting treated, I will usually go on the back end of a cycle or delay a cycle. On my current treatment I feel pretty rough for a few days but feel awesome the rest of the time. My treatments are 21 day cycles. So I've been having 2 full weeks of feeling really good. Plus I just bought a yacht so I need to break it in reel good (not a typo). You know, I think I'll post a picture of my new boat. Give me a minute.

    Your boat looks beautiful!
    Your boat looks terrific, I hope you + your family enjoy it. We are sailors + bought a sailboat this year after many years without one.