I was hoping someone might be able to advise me on whether you think it is safe to fly with a Meningioma. Last year my family and I were due to travel abroad in April for a long deserved holiday. I personally hadn’t travelled abroad for many years and was so looking forward to it but my GP advised that I should cancel it once I had received my diagnosis due to the risk factor. Sadly we agreed and took his advice and cancelled at the last minute. However when I saw my Neurosurgeon in the August I asked him whether he thought I could have travelled abroad and much to my surprise he said it should have been fine and thought my GP was being overly cautious and that I should get on with my life and go for it whilst the tumour is stable. I am currently on watch and wait.
I am so confused by this conflicting advice. My family are keen to book a holiday abroad to lift my spirits but I really don’t know what to do. I am so scared to put my self at risk. Is it safe to fly with a Meningioma . Whose advice do I go on?
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
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Limegreen2024
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Personally I haven't flown since I was diagnosed in 2014 with a menigoma, as I suffer with raging headaches and a build up of pressure due to my tumour when I am at high altitudes and would not cope with the cabin pressure.
I guess it's difficult if you are being told different things by different professionals to know what advice is the best to take.
I've had my surgery now but it's still early days and I'm still experiencing the same pressure headaches, but I hope one day to be able to fly and go on holiday again.
Thank you for your response. That’s reassuring to hear that it is possible. I may not have to rule it out but need to have another chat with the medics before I make any decisions.
Thank you so much for your advice. Really appreciate it. I definitely need to think it through very carefully. The cabin pressure does worry me coupled with the fact I suffer with vertigo. Like you say so difficult when you hear differing views.
Hi I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I had a seizure in August and they found the menengioma, I had a holiday booked for a wedding in Sicily in September. The specialist nurse/consultant at Addenbrooks said it was safe to fly, I was a bit nervous to say the least but was ok otherwise. I had my op in November 2023 and now back at work. Fear of the unknown is the worst, doing nice things with family/friends is always good medicine 😊
Thank you for response. That’s really encouraging to hear. I think you’re absolutely right it is fear of the unknown that’s the worst feeling. I agree we should try to be living our lives as normally as possible and quality time with friends and family is so important. I am starting to think I might just go for it.
Afternoon, I was diagnosed with a meningioma in September and flow to Cyprus the day after I was diagnosed as no one could give me an answer. My GP on return home told me to live my life as normally as possible which I have continued to do. I think that your neurologist would be the person to go to. Hopefully you get to enjoy some sunshine ☀️
I was diagnosed two years ago and, like you, am on watch and wait as it is currently stable. I have flown a few times since my diagnosis, both short haul and long haul. I have felt some pressure in my head during flights but nothing too bad (not enough to stop me flying again). I was nervous about it but was told by the specialist that it should be fine. Your neurosurgeon should know best on this. My consultant has told me that GPs won't always know what is best in the specialist medical fields as the nature of their job is different.
If you decide to go for it, I hope you have a lovely time.
Great to hear that you have not been put off flying. Like you said you’ve got to expect a certain amount of pressure in your head with or without a Meninginoma but as long as it’s bearable it shouldn’t deter you from flying. I think I will still double check with my Neurosurgeon to give me peace of mind before I take the plunge. Hopefully I will be able to go otherwise will accept it for now until the time is right. 😊
I had my meningioma for years before it was discovered (15+ years) and never had any problems flighing. I would go with the neurosurgeon, they have much more experience with this than the GP.
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Is it true that 3cm meningiomas don’t cause symptoms? 
Have surgery or wait?
Questions to ask Neurosurgeon
