Any recommendations about traveling while in chemo nadir (neutropenia)? The obvious is avoid large crowds and those who may be ill.
Travel while in Nadir: Any... - Advanced Prostate...
Travel while in Nadir
You know - I thought this was a title of a novel when I first glanced at it.
My advice would be to make sure you are not too far from an emergency room in case you have to go in or don't travel during the time when the risk is high.
Unfortunately, I have experience with this. I had a fever of above 100.4 at one point and had to go into the ER. Everything was OK in my case, but I was lucky. I was close to home and only 20 minutes from the hospital.
I have had 4 of my 6 treatments of Docetaxel and have done some traveling. We know what the dangers of exposure are and must try to mitigate them as best as possible. That being said I have traveled, gone to football games and in general continued my life as it was before chemo. I did wash my hands, carried sanitizer, avoided shaking hands, used paper towels to open doors, in general acted like a person with OCD about germs. This disease takes enough away from us as it is, be cautious but enjoy life!
How low are your white blood cells? When I was on chemo on airplanes and in crowds, I used neosporin on my nasal area and wore mask from the clinic, when I could not avoid crowds.
Depends how you're feeling and how your tests look like. I traveled extensively internationally throughout my chemo: Dominica, Canada, Pacific Northwest, Mexico. Sometimes 3 days after the infusion. On a couple of trips I ate sushi right after breaking chemo fast and swam in the open ocean. But don't be stupid like me, use your judgement.
Travel with a healthy companion. I traveled on chemo and had no problems but it was a comfort having my wife with me in case something went wrong.
To Maleko808: Take precautions as suggested above. Never shake hands, fist bump only. Do not kiss any strange women or men. Finally, where are you going? If it's a nice place take me and my family with you.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 11/09/2018 6:21 PM EST
To j-o-h-n: thanks for the recommendations. If I plan to travel someplace exotic I will let you know. Right now its trips to stores, restaurants, and typical stuff. Disneyland is an option but then again who needs to fight the crowd? I'll just watch reruns of Frozen!
I traveled to Scotland and Ireland (from the USA) between #5 and #6 of Taxotere. So with the MO's concurrence delayed #6 Taxotere by one week. No issues. My oncologist and his staff told me at the outset to NOT let the MPCa drive my schedule, and I have taken that advice to heart! Go for it!