Travel, altitude and chemotherapy

Double Whammy
Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all
I start chemotherapy Friday. I've been invited to the mountains (after Nadir)for a few days. Is there any reason not to go? Altitude is about 5000 feet. Of course, I don't know how I'll feel at that time and it is about 3 hours from medical care.

Thanks

Suzanne

Comments

  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #2
    Suzanne
    I would probably discuss this with your doctor before deciding. How many days after your treatment were you planning to leave for the mountains?

    I'm not sure if the altitude is a factor, although if you had lymph nodes removed it may increase your risk of lymphedema to be in thinner air. I would be a little concerned about the distance from medical care - just in case and especially if this is your first chemo.

    I was fortunate to have very few side effects with my chemo, but others have had problems that needed medical attention and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable being that far away from care if I needed it.

    Of course, I'm not a doctor! I would discuss your plans with your oncologist and make your decision from there.

    Best wishes on your chemo!!!

    Cindy
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    #3
    cindycflynn said:

    Suzanne
    I would probably discuss this with your doctor before deciding. How many days after your treatment were you planning to leave for the mountains?

    I'm not sure if the altitude is a factor, although if you had lymph nodes removed it may increase your risk of lymphedema to be in thinner air. I would be a little concerned about the distance from medical care - just in case and especially if this is your first chemo.

    I was fortunate to have very few side effects with my chemo, but others have had problems that needed medical attention and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable being that far away from care if I needed it.

    Of course, I'm not a doctor! I would discuss your plans with your oncologist and make your decision from there.

    Best wishes on your chemo!!!

    Cindy

    I totally agree with
    I totally agree with Cindy.
    Everyone is different and you just dont know how your going to react to the chemo. At least after your first one youll have an idea but i would talk to your doc first.
    Good luck on your decision!
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #4
    jo jo said:

    I totally agree with
    I totally agree with Cindy.
    Everyone is different and you just dont know how your going to react to the chemo. At least after your first one youll have an idea but i would talk to your doc first.
    Good luck on your decision!

    I agree with the gals .. Sounds like a wonderful
    and lovely time - however, you may need to run this pass your Ono. 3 hours from a hospital,right .. ? First chemo treatment - Is there anyway you can postphone your trip for a few weeks ...


    I hope you get to go!

    Vicki Sam
  • sal314
    sal314 Member Posts: 599 Member
    #5
    Ditto On What Everyone said...
    It's best to talk with your doctor. If you had nodes out, you should wear compression sleeve. I only had a couple out and he was adamant about wearing one anytime I was to fly. That was several years ago, so I don't know if it's changed or not. Best to run it by your doctor.

    Sounds like a grand time! Hope you get the green light to go! :)

    Sally
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #6
    sal314 said:

    Ditto On What Everyone said...
    It's best to talk with your doctor. If you had nodes out, you should wear compression sleeve. I only had a couple out and he was adamant about wearing one anytime I was to fly. That was several years ago, so I don't know if it's changed or not. Best to run it by your doctor.

    Sounds like a grand time! Hope you get the green light to go! :)

    Sally

    Thanks!
    The trip will likely be on day 13-15 (past nadir) of cycle 1. It also just occurred to me that in addition to being in my first chemo cycle, I had a hysterectomy July 1 and I'll be just over a month post op. I won't have had my final post op check yet, either. I keep forgetting I had the hysterectomy because it was DaVinci robotic assisted and the recovery has been so amazing. It was nonetheless, major surgery.

    No one has ever mentioned anything about a compression sleeve under any circumstances - I only had 2 sentinal nodes removed.

    So many questions. Guess I'll have to ask the oncologist(s). Throughout these past few months since my diagnoses, I've just felt safer being home. This will be a girlfriend trip. There will be some "celebrating", so transportation options might also be impaired. I so appreciate the feedback here. I'm pretty apprehensive about going away and I admit I'm probably looking for medical validation not to go. Of course, if I feel bad, I won't go.

    Thank you again for your input. I will check with the docs.

    Suzanne
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #7
    Double Whammy said:

    Thanks!
    The trip will likely be on day 13-15 (past nadir) of cycle 1. It also just occurred to me that in addition to being in my first chemo cycle, I had a hysterectomy July 1 and I'll be just over a month post op. I won't have had my final post op check yet, either. I keep forgetting I had the hysterectomy because it was DaVinci robotic assisted and the recovery has been so amazing. It was nonetheless, major surgery.

    No one has ever mentioned anything about a compression sleeve under any circumstances - I only had 2 sentinal nodes removed.

    So many questions. Guess I'll have to ask the oncologist(s). Throughout these past few months since my diagnoses, I've just felt safer being home. This will be a girlfriend trip. There will be some "celebrating", so transportation options might also be impaired. I so appreciate the feedback here. I'm pretty apprehensive about going away and I admit I'm probably looking for medical validation not to go. Of course, if I feel bad, I won't go.

    Thank you again for your input. I will check with the docs.

    Suzanne

    Suzanne
    Glad to hear you're checking with you doc. Make sure to ask about the compression sleeve also. I only had 1 sentinal node removed and still ended up with lympedema (although mine was in my breast, so the compression sleeve wouldn't have helped that!).

    With everything you've gone through recently, it sounds like you may want to skip this trip, but definitely listen to what your doctor has to say.

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • putzie
    putzie Member Posts: 66 Member
    #8
    Double Whammy said:

    Thanks!
    The trip will likely be on day 13-15 (past nadir) of cycle 1. It also just occurred to me that in addition to being in my first chemo cycle, I had a hysterectomy July 1 and I'll be just over a month post op. I won't have had my final post op check yet, either. I keep forgetting I had the hysterectomy because it was DaVinci robotic assisted and the recovery has been so amazing. It was nonetheless, major surgery.

    No one has ever mentioned anything about a compression sleeve under any circumstances - I only had 2 sentinal nodes removed.

    So many questions. Guess I'll have to ask the oncologist(s). Throughout these past few months since my diagnoses, I've just felt safer being home. This will be a girlfriend trip. There will be some "celebrating", so transportation options might also be impaired. I so appreciate the feedback here. I'm pretty apprehensive about going away and I admit I'm probably looking for medical validation not to go. Of course, if I feel bad, I won't go.

    Thank you again for your input. I will check with the docs.

    Suzanne

    Suzanne...everyone is
    Suzanne...everyone is different and my doctors have all told me to do what I feel like doing when I feel like it and to rest when I feel like doing that as well. I spent 10 days in Colorado at 7,500 feet after my 2nd chemo. I was short on breath, but so was my husband and he is NOT taking chemo. I was able to hike and play golf but I also rested a bunch. I held the opinion that chemo would not stop me from doing things that I wanted to do, it would not take over my life. I didn't push too hard but held a happy medium and enjoyed my trip. My doctors were encouraging about the trip.

    Hope you can go if you feel like doing it!!! Good luck!!

    dawn
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #9
    Not going
    I asked the chemo nurse today about the trip. I fully admit that I really do not want to go, but I don't want to hurt my friend's feelings. I simply feel safer at home if something wierd happens. So, after telling the nurse all of that, she recommended that I not go because this whole chemo experience for me is an unknown (first cycle) and I'm too far from medical care if needed.

    Done. I want to spend time doing things I know are good and healthy for me on my own schedule. This means being able to walk daily and eat healthy and rest when needed. I would not feel comfortable at the beach (lake) with gunga rungas in the water and sand, and if I said that, you know my friend will stay cabin bound and that's not fair. There's always a party there (lots of fun), but almost everyone smokes and, of course, someone might be sick. It's all about me and this is not in my best interest either physically or psychologically.

    Thanks for "listening".

    Suzanne

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