Traveling

I traveled....
...but only domestically. In fact I took several trips between chemo treatments, but it was with the okay of my oncologist. You have to make your own choice, but if it were me, I would put off Europe until after chemo. You would not want to be so far from home if some kind of illness or complication were to arise. Perhaps Europe could be something you plan for after chemo...something to look forward to.

There are lots of great places to go, do and see here, but if you truly want to go to Europe, check with your insurance first to see what their coverage is while traveling.

Pick me! Pick me!
As you may remember, my 'second' home is in The Netherlands (Holland). We managed to avoid traveling during treatment for my rectal cancer, but hit it bang on with the breast cancer. Between #3 and #4 of Adriamycin/Cytoxin...and I was feeling pretty rough. My onc said that it was OK to push #4 off a week later, since I had been pretty good up till then.

Having just finished the chemo 6 months earlier for the rectal cancer, I was down 45 pounds and bald. I even walked with a cane up to the gate. But, EVERYONE was soooo helpful!!! Well, except for the lady next to me on the plane. She was, shall we say, a 'healthy' size...and must have thought that since I wasn't using all of MY seat, well, SHE should! I finally put my mask on, because she was being so intrusive, and asked her to please not touch my seat armrest controls, which were between us. She got up in a huff and didn't return for a looooong time.

The only advice that I have is to take a mask or two, since germs don't know where to stop in the plane, make sure to let the flight attendant know that you are in treatment...they are usually very careful with we cancer warriors! Also, if the person beside you is sick, ask to be moved...so that you have less exposure (no sneezies in your food..lol). In addition, make sure to stay VERY well hydrated while on board...water is the best. I carried my own food, since my tummy was touchy all of the time. If you are not used to traveling long time segments, you might look into a flight split so that you can stretch your legs. Make sure your connection is long enough to not add stress, and register for a wheelchair when you buy tickets (you don't know how long a walk between gates, and this way they will take you right from gate to gate). I was used to a non-stop, LAX to Holland, so I could stand the 10 hours...I slept ALOT.

That's it in a nutshell. It IS doable...and it REALLY lifted my spirits to get away and see a new landscape. If you decide to go, ask me anything...I do this run at least twice a year. And if you are near Holland when we are there...I'll show you around!!!

Hugs, Kathi

Balkans
After being diagnosed with stage IV in 2005, I took a month-long trip to Croatia, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Istanbul in 2006. It was a break from chemo, somewhat. I took a break from my infusional drugs and took Xeloda with me. I went back on all my usual drugs when I returned, and then this past January and February I went back to Croatia and Bosnia to work on a project. By this time, my cancer had progressed (was actually in remission in 2006) so I took all my oral medications and held the infusions until my return. Tomorrow I go to Chicago for just one week, and won't be doing any chemotherapy at all. I suppose there could be a risk in taking these chemo breaks, but there is also a quality of life issue to consider. I really wanted to take these trips and take them at times I was feeling well enough to enjoy them. Since I am basically on chemo for life, there will never be a time that I am "through" with chemotherapy and treatment. We only get this one life, so I say it's important to do the things you want to do, weighing the risks against the benefits of living the experience. On the other hand, if you don't want to go to Europe, you might consider making the reservations anyway, staying here to keep current with your treatments, and sending me in your place. I will promise to take plenty of pictures and video, and send it all to you.

Rodney