travelling after chemo?

ketziah35

My family and I want to take my mom out of the country 2 months after chemo? Can I get thoughts on this? We don't want to bring it up if it is to crazy.

HollyID

My suggestion?
Talk to your oncologist and get his opinion.

geotina

Suggestion
Like Holly said, talk to the oncologist.

Personal opinion only, since it is out of the country, personally, I would hesitate. How long a trip out of the US are you talking about? Sometimes it take some time to get energy, stamina, etc. back so soon after chemo. If it is a trip to Mexico or something like that for a week, probably be ok. If it is a trip to Europe for a few weeks with lots of walking, etc. mom my not be up to it.

Tina

KathiM

I agree with others..
Talk to her onc...

From personal experience, I know it's tough to travel during treatment. I went to my oncologist first, and she said 'ok, as long as your white count is ok...it will also lift your spirits'. So, I went to The Netherlands. This is a 10-hour flight, and I was early boarded, and wore a mask...

I took it VERY easy during the visit, napping when I was tired, eating well. My onc was right...for me, it was a good thing...I had been in and out of chemo for almost a year solid...I was getting weary. But, I went 'home', not to a hotel, not to traveling...I don't think I would have enjoyed a busy schedule of site seeing!

BUT, and it's a big BUT...it's up to her oncologist...the bugs in the airplane alone can be a big risk, even for those of us that are 'well'!

Hugs, Kathi

abmb

You just never know
You just never know till you ask. My husband and I went on a Cruise last August in the middle of chemo. His doc said not to put life on hold, Chemo would still be here when he gets back. In fact putting it off a week helped with his blood counts. Don't be afraid to talk to your doc about anything. Take care and God Bless. Margaret

Michelle Hopes

If she is up to it
My mom is in her 70's with met colon cancer. Checking with her doctor is a good idea. Last year we gave my mom tickets to Florida to see her sister during the winter (live in NY). She was tired and did a lot of resting but she had a great time.

The people at the airport were great, they picked her up in a shuttel and delivered her to the gate. A trip might help your mom continue to make progress.

Take care.

ketziah35

Michelle Hopes said:

If she is up to it
My mom is in her 70's with met colon cancer. Checking with her doctor is a good idea. Last year we gave my mom tickets to Florida to see her sister during the winter (live in NY). She was tired and did a lot of resting but she had a great time.

The people at the airport were great, they picked her up in a shuttel and delivered her to the gate. A trip might help your mom continue to make progress.

Take care.

How did your family handle
How did your family handle the germiness of the hotel and airplane with your mom?

abrub

ketziah35 said:

How did your family handle
How did your family handle the germiness of the hotel and airplane with your mom?

I always carried a small hand sanitizer
I always kept a small hand sanitizer with me (small enough to fit in my 1 quart zip-top bag for the airlines.) There are the pen-sized spray bottles or the very small bottles of gel. I constantly cleaned my hands, and was careful in what I touched - did the best I could. I traveled to France less than 2 months after chemo, and was fine. I actually made the reservations when I would be on an "off" week, but ended up stopping chemo after 7 rounds.

Enjoy your travels!

abmb

abrub said:

I always carried a small hand sanitizer
I always kept a small hand sanitizer with me (small enough to fit in my 1 quart zip-top bag for the airlines.) There are the pen-sized spray bottles or the very small bottles of gel. I constantly cleaned my hands, and was careful in what I touched - did the best I could. I traveled to France less than 2 months after chemo, and was fine. I actually made the reservations when I would be on an "off" week, but ended up stopping chemo after 7 rounds.

Enjoy your travels!

Travel sizes
Travel sizes are great, aren't they? I carry the sanitizing gel and sanitizing hand lotion. Every time we touch something not in the house we sanitize, anyone enters the house has to sanitize hands at our front door. Take care. Margaret

ketziah35

abmb said:

Travel sizes
Travel sizes are great, aren't they? I carry the sanitizing gel and sanitizing hand lotion. Every time we touch something not in the house we sanitize, anyone enters the house has to sanitize hands at our front door. Take care. Margaret

That is what we did with my
That is what we did with my mom by setting up sanitation centers. We don't let anyone come in the house that smokes. No one in her bedroom or her bathroom.

My family has nicknamed started calling me "Hitler", "beech", the general and the Gestapo.

Ok. I am glad that I am not the only one. Actually, I told them to follow the rules or don't come over.
.
I'm also the blunt one, but "I LUV MY MOMMY!"

P.S. Everyone thinks my sister and I are being overprotective. Let's analyze this. My mom is in chemo. All her friends work with kids with cooties. I don't think we are being overprotective. She still goes to Wal-Mart.

Ketziah

msccolon

ketziah35 said:

That is what we did with my
That is what we did with my mom by setting up sanitation centers. We don't let anyone come in the house that smokes. No one in her bedroom or her bathroom.

My family has nicknamed started calling me "Hitler", "beech", the general and the Gestapo.

Ok. I am glad that I am not the only one. Actually, I told them to follow the rules or don't come over.
.
I'm also the blunt one, but "I LUV MY MOMMY!"

P.S. Everyone thinks my sister and I are being overprotective. Let's analyze this. My mom is in chemo. All her friends work with kids with cooties. I don't think we are being overprotective. She still goes to Wal-Mart.

Ketziah

germs
and thank god for the precautions walmart takes! I love their cart cleaning stations! You aren't being over protective, you're being careful. If they don't like it they can just visit over the phone! It's surprising how easily we can pick things up when our immune systems get even just a little compromised!
mary

KathiM

ketziah35 said:

That is what we did with my
That is what we did with my mom by setting up sanitation centers. We don't let anyone come in the house that smokes. No one in her bedroom or her bathroom.

My family has nicknamed started calling me "Hitler", "beech", the general and the Gestapo.

Ok. I am glad that I am not the only one. Actually, I told them to follow the rules or don't come over.
.
I'm also the blunt one, but "I LUV MY MOMMY!"

P.S. Everyone thinks my sister and I are being overprotective. Let's analyze this. My mom is in chemo. All her friends work with kids with cooties. I don't think we are being overprotective. She still goes to Wal-Mart.

Ketziah

On the cruise, there was LOTS of sanitation stations!
And, the greeters at the buffets always sprayed our hands...

And, in the elevators, and, when reboarding the ship after a port visit...

There are also antigerm wipes, in single packages, for sale...look for the ones with alcohol in them...they are VERY handy!!!



Hugs, Kathi

Brenda3.16

KathiM said:

On the cruise, there was LOTS of sanitation stations!
And, the greeters at the buffets always sprayed our hands...

And, in the elevators, and, when reboarding the ship after a port visit...

There are also antigerm wipes, in single packages, for sale...look for the ones with alcohol in them...they are VERY handy!!!



Hugs, Kathi

I am 42 and have been on
I am 42 and have been on chemo since March of 2009. I have done lots of traveling. I have not gone out of the country, but I would. My Onc said not to put life on hold. I am looking at long term chemo. I have not had any problems wiht travel. My trips are great therapy for me and my family. We Just went to the NJ beach in June and will be doing another trip in Aug. Brenda

abbey712

Brenda3.16 said:

I am 42 and have been on
I am 42 and have been on chemo since March of 2009. I have done lots of traveling. I have not gone out of the country, but I would. My Onc said not to put life on hold. I am looking at long term chemo. I have not had any problems wiht travel. My trips are great therapy for me and my family. We Just went to the NJ beach in June and will be doing another trip in Aug. Brenda

My family and i live in New
My family and i live in New Zealand where my Dad has been undergoing cancer treatments, including chemotherapy since 2008. He has always wanted to see New York, so last year during a break in his chemo my parents and i made the trip. Despite chemo making him tire easily he actually did better with all those flights than my mum or i. We organised our sightseeing so there was time for a mid afternoon nap, and we made every minute of the trip together as a family count.Just be aware no travel insurance company will touch you and have an exit strategy should you need to come home in a hurry. My Dad stopped chemo for good 3 weeks ago after our oncologist told him there was nothing more to be done. No matter what happens now i'll always be greatful for the great experience we shared together.
Praying for you
Abbey

KathiM

abbey712 said:

My family and i live in New
My family and i live in New Zealand where my Dad has been undergoing cancer treatments, including chemotherapy since 2008. He has always wanted to see New York, so last year during a break in his chemo my parents and i made the trip. Despite chemo making him tire easily he actually did better with all those flights than my mum or i. We organised our sightseeing so there was time for a mid afternoon nap, and we made every minute of the trip together as a family count.Just be aware no travel insurance company will touch you and have an exit strategy should you need to come home in a hurry. My Dad stopped chemo for good 3 weeks ago after our oncologist told him there was nothing more to be done. No matter what happens now i'll always be greatful for the great experience we shared together.
Praying for you
Abbey

I'm sending up prayers...
For your dad.

That's great advice about the travel insurance...wow!

Hugs, Kathi

Kathryn_in_MN

Traveling
I got an extra one week break in the middle of my treatments and went to Mexico for New Year's. I went again 3 weeks after my last disconnect to celebrate the end of chemo. Those two trips were two of the most important parts of my recovery. Getting away from it all can make a huge difference. I work from home and was housebound most of the winter - only getting out for medical appointments. I really needed a change of scenery.

I think two months after chemo is over is certainly not pushing it at all. You just have to realize that she may still be fatigued a lot. As long as you let her go at her own speed, it could be a very good thing.

Consider getting travel insurance that has a pre-existing condition waiver. As long as she is well enough to travel at the time you book, she is covered if you have issues and the doctor won't let her go later. I don't ever travel out of the country without travel insurance, but especially for someone with ongoing medical issues it is very important. I don't know how old your mother is or what her insurance is, but Medicare and most HMO's do not cover you once you are outside the US.

bdee

Traveling
I've been on chemo for 17 months now every other week. My husband and I have traveled to England and Paris on one of my off weeks last September and to Curacao this May. We were going to England at the height of the Swine Flu scare, so I took sanitizer wipes and Lysol spray. I sprayed down my airline seat, wiped the chair arms, washed my hands a lot, and sprayed Lysol on my bedding.
When we went to Curacao I just sprayed the bedding with Lysol. I didn't have any problems and my oncologist was all for it. He just doesn't want me traveling anywhere I would have to get shots first.
As I will be on chemo for the rest of my life, I don't see any reason to lay down and let life pass me by. We are planning a trip to Australia for next year.

Debbie in Arkansas

KathiM

bdee said:

Traveling
I've been on chemo for 17 months now every other week. My husband and I have traveled to England and Paris on one of my off weeks last September and to Curacao this May. We were going to England at the height of the Swine Flu scare, so I took sanitizer wipes and Lysol spray. I sprayed down my airline seat, wiped the chair arms, washed my hands a lot, and sprayed Lysol on my bedding.
When we went to Curacao I just sprayed the bedding with Lysol. I didn't have any problems and my oncologist was all for it. He just doesn't want me traveling anywhere I would have to get shots first.
As I will be on chemo for the rest of my life, I don't see any reason to lay down and let life pass me by. We are planning a trip to Australia for next year.

Debbie in Arkansas

You GO, girl!!!!
You bring up a great point...as long as you are careful, why NOT go places????

And thanks for the tip on the airplane seats...I didn't think about the armrests...GREAT idea!!!

(My oncologist said: "But when you do, there's only 2 things...check with me, and take me along....lol!)

Hugs, Kathi

Unknown

Kathryn_in_MN said:

Traveling
I got an extra one week break in the middle of my treatments and went to Mexico for New Year's. I went again 3 weeks after my last disconnect to celebrate the end of chemo. Those two trips were two of the most important parts of my recovery. Getting away from it all can make a huge difference. I work from home and was housebound most of the winter - only getting out for medical appointments. I really needed a change of scenery.

I think two months after chemo is over is certainly not pushing it at all. You just have to realize that she may still be fatigued a lot. As long as you let her go at her own speed, it could be a very good thing.

Consider getting travel insurance that has a pre-existing condition waiver. As long as she is well enough to travel at the time you book, she is covered if you have issues and the doctor won't let her go later. I don't ever travel out of the country without travel insurance, but especially for someone with ongoing medical issues it is very important. I don't know how old your mother is or what her insurance is, but Medicare and most HMO's do not cover you once you are outside the US.

This comment has been removed by the Moderator