flying

akotke

I was just wondering if anyone has flown since neck dissection and radiation or has anyone been advised against it? I just found out my sister is moving to washington and being in alabama, I think ill be flying more than i intended.

Thanks
Angel

Jimbo55

Flying
Hi Angel

I took a flight about half way through treatment and then again about 2 weeks after treatment was finished with no problems, no worries. I never thought to inquire whether it was something I should or should not be doing. The first thing I did upon landing was to get something to drink for the dry mouth for the ride home. Cheers.

Jimbo

Hondo

I had no problem

After my first treatment I went home to Honduras 3 hour in a jet and all was well. The only problem I had was trying to get a bottle of water passed the gate. Which I did because I had my doctor write me a note saying I must be hydrated at all times and I could not drink from a public water supply.

Hondo

Skiffin16

Traveling
I didn't have the dissection, but did have the tonsils out, chemo and rads... I too flew shortly after treatment with no difficulties...

Never hurts to ask your MD/s though.

Best,
John

luv4lacrosse

FLYING
I fly 2-3 times a month most months and have not had any issues with it. (Other than the pat down when they used to think my PEG was some type of a fuse)

Seriously, the change in pressure never affected me in any way.

Mike

ratface

luv4lacrosse said:

FLYING
I fly 2-3 times a month most months and have not had any issues with it. (Other than the pat down when they used to think my PEG was some type of a fuse)

Seriously, the change in pressure never affected me in any way.

Mike

chemo power port
Did you have a chemo power port inserted. This would be the one right above the collar bone under the skin used to infuse chemotherapy? This device contains a small amount of metal and according to the brochure might set off the metal detector. The manufacturer recommends traveling with the ID card or bracelet which comes with the port.

Additionally your immune system is not very capable right now and airplanes are notorious for harboring and transmitting airborne pathogens.

amr2662

Flew to get treatment
I flew back and forth from SC to Houston for my chemo and radiation. Only problem I ever had was with a sinus infection and pressure/pain. I took a decongestant before the return flight and was fine on the trip back.
Meredith

Greend

Ears
Make certain that you can clear your ears before flying. I finished treatments on a Friday and flew to Germany on the following Monday and could not clear my ears. I ended up getting tubes inserted to relieve the pressure. I had a doctors note about water but they took mine anyway. If you go to most drug stores you can buy the small 3oz bottles. Now I fill two with water and carry them on just in case the stores are not open and I can't buy water on the cleared side of the terminal. This happens a lot overseas.

Skiffin16

ratface said:

chemo power port
Did you have a chemo power port inserted. This would be the one right above the collar bone under the skin used to infuse chemotherapy? This device contains a small amount of metal and according to the brochure might set off the metal detector. The manufacturer recommends traveling with the ID card or bracelet which comes with the port.

Additionally your immune system is not very capable right now and airplanes are notorious for harboring and transmitting airborne pathogens.

Power Port
Mine never set off the devices....some might though I suppose.

It's actually pretty much covered with a type of silicon or latex rubber material;

Power Port

JG

akotke

Thanks guys!!! i didnt have
Thanks guys!!! i didnt have a port, i had a peg tube in my arm. I had heard a lot of lymphedema and cabin pressure. I juat wanted to hear of others who had already travelled and thier experiences. The water thing is important for sure. I have a metal surgical clip in my abdomen from a taratoma tumor that was removed years ago so i usually set off the detectors anyway. Glad to hear of short flights and long flights cause my hubby promised to take me to italy when i get that all clear in five years. Its so nice to have a place where people have actually been there and done that instead of doctors who are wonderful but missing the personal experience. Love yall so much!!!

akotke

Thanks guys!!! i didnt have
Not a peg(although i had that too) it was a picc line. Geez, so many things hanging out of my body i get them confused lol!

Skiffin16

akotke said:

Thanks guys!!! i didnt have
Not a peg(although i had that too) it was a picc line. Geez, so many things hanging out of my body i get them confused lol!

LOL
LOL, you must have been reading my posts.....nice recovery on the double post....

Good catch on the PEG in your arm also.... I was being nice and didn't PICC on you...

Best,
John

Hondo

Greend said:

Ears
Make certain that you can clear your ears before flying. I finished treatments on a Friday and flew to Germany on the following Monday and could not clear my ears. I ended up getting tubes inserted to relieve the pressure. I had a doctors note about water but they took mine anyway. If you go to most drug stores you can buy the small 3oz bottles. Now I fill two with water and carry them on just in case the stores are not open and I can't buy water on the cleared side of the terminal. This happens a lot overseas.

Traveling with Water

The only place I had any problems was at the San Francisco Air Port. The head guy there was a horses azz and did not want to let me bring water through the gate. When I told him I hope he never gets cancer to live the nightmare we live he just waved me through and did not say anything more. Back then I was also traveling between Trinidad quite a bit. As long as I had that doctor’s letter in my hand I had no problems.

Hondo

longtermsurvivor

Hondo said:

Traveling with Water

The only place I had any problems was at the San Francisco Air Port. The head guy there was a horses azz and did not want to let me bring water through the gate. When I told him I hope he never gets cancer to live the nightmare we live he just waved me through and did not say anything more. Back then I was also traveling between Trinidad quite a bit. As long as I had that doctor’s letter in my hand I had no problems.

Hondo

flying with water = PIA
I fly a lot, and in the years that I really was deficient in saliva (I'm not any more), this was a hassle. I've forgotten water in my backpack, been caught by the screener, more than once. What I finally did was to routinely empty my bottle in advance of security, then fill it on the opposite side. Works fine, unless you are really cramped for connections, then it doesn't work at all. I routinely found that the stewardesses are pretty helpful when I got on a flight without water.

Greend

Flying
I flew IMMEDIATELY after treatment. Finished on Fri. and flew out on Mon. The only thing I will tell you is that if you are having problems clearing your ears now, which I was, then be careful. It caused me a lot of pain whenever I could not clear my ears due to pressure changes and I ended up getting tubes after I returned from europe. After a period of time the problem cleared itself. I too am from Alabama.

Goalie

Greend said:

Flying
I flew IMMEDIATELY after treatment. Finished on Fri. and flew out on Mon. The only thing I will tell you is that if you are having problems clearing your ears now, which I was, then be careful. It caused me a lot of pain whenever I could not clear my ears due to pressure changes and I ended up getting tubes after I returned from europe. After a period of time the problem cleared itself. I too am from Alabama.

Wise Guy from the Middle East
Just got back from Beirut. These were my first long flights since treatment finished a year ago. As I had blood clots during treatment I did ask the Onco doc to write me a note for an upgrade on the overnight flights. The project didn't like this but I admit that I was a little worried. However, a year ago I started flying short flights to Mexico a month after finishing rads and chemo and before the neck dissection and then again just a couple of weeks after. I have never had any problems and the lymphedema was significant in those first months.

I too carry water constantly and, after having been really hassled over bottles have just gotten to trying to time it so I drink the last of the bottle just before passing through security. When they question the empty bottle I just stretch my neck out and show them the big scar and croak about my throat cancer. That at least gets the bottle through. Then I fill up at the first water fountain.

In the early months of traveling I was carrying a big load of Boost Plus in my luggage and these always got picked up in the x-rays when I got to Mexico. I just explained that they were diet supplements and a quick reference to cancer and they would wave me through. I looked so bad in the early months that this was easily believable.

I find that the biggest difficulty in traveling is the lack of easy snacks or light meals. With the lack of saliva, bread is almost impossible to eat and that lets out sandwiches anywhere in the world. For real meals I can always find soup or pasta or something but snacks or food on the go is very challenging. My wife, DrMary, also gives me to pack some small containers of milk to go with the protein shake stuff I always carry and a shaker to make them in. Once I am someplace I go out and buy fresh milk but having the small box means that I can make one even if I arrive at midnight. Life, especially life on the road, is still a challenge.

Doug