Holidays( Booking them when you don’t know What sort of treatment you are going to be on)

[BangorBelle56]

Ok I am probably feeling a bit sorry for myself but would like to know how others (especially in UK sort out holiday) Iam greatful to be alive, but last October I had booked the same villa we go to every year in a small village in Crete. In November I found out that my breast cancer had metastasised to my spine, liver and lungs after nine years cancer free. I started on Ibrance and Arimidex after radiotherapy for my spine. Unfortunately there was damage to my lungs during the biopsy( they didn't even manage to get a biopsy ) and I was in hospital for a week. It has been a real trial to try and get my lungs back to being able to walk about. I was very excited when I saw a private lung specialist who gave me permission to fly, The holiday in September was on and I felt on top of the world. Then came more bad news. The CT scan show progression of liver cancer . I had missed so many clinics because of public holidays I thought this might be the cause. All my for rounds of Ibrance were three weeks on two weeks off instead of three weeks in one week off.There was St Patrick’s, Easter and Whitsun all holding up treatment. My oncologist decided to put me on Taxol for 18 weeks and a Picc line had to be inserted. Had to cancel the holiday. It was the one thing l was working towards . By the time my 18 weeks is up it will be too cold to swim inGreece and Imam afraid to book for next summer in caseI am on IV chemo. By the way I know Imam lucky to be able to afford holidays but these were supposed to be the golden years with kids grown up, my husband retired and time for each other. Suggestions please 😊

[nstonerocks]

you don’t need to apologize for spending money on a holiday. You more than deserve it and it sounds like this really lights you up. Also sorry for all you are going through, and don’t blame yourself. We won’t ever know why these things happen. You are doing the best you can and that’s all any of us can do. I’m here in the States, so not sure what your options are. Is it a beach you crave? Beautiful countryside in a temperate climate? When will your chemo be over? How long are you willing to travel to get to your destination? I encourage you to keep exploring your options. It will help get you thru the missed vacation and the chemo. As for reserving for next year, what is the cancellation policy? Keep the dream alive.

[Mindysooty]

Hi

Yeah dont be apologizing for the holidays. Good on ya I say.

Has someone said you'll be on IV chemo next year? I suppose there's always a possibility for any of us at any given time. I wouldnt worry about whats not happened yet - just book and get insured so if it does happen you're covered. I saw a post somewhere about holiday insurance for us - I think Boots was a good one.

The bank hols are a nuisance pushing things back. Easter and May Day pushed my scans and treatment back too. Very annoying but we dont get a choice we just have to go when they send for us.

Hope you get your holiday sorted. Take care

Josie x

[Barbteeth]

I understand exactly how you feel

Why not just wait until nearer the time when you want to have a holiday and get a last minute job....look on Airbnb site...they have lovely villas for rent and you can usually get cheap flights out of school holidays...we do this a lot...we’re always last minute bookers...it then takes away the worries of booking too far in advance

Just a thought

Barb xx

[Hidden]

Hi,

I know it's hard to plan too far ahead when you are unsure of what treatment you will be on. So my suggestion would be to wait until nearer the time that you want to go on holiday and then see if you are still having chemotherapy, how you are feeling and so on. So if Crete is out of the question you might want to consider a staycation. They seem to be gaining in popularity now in the UK, so that might work better for you.

I have been umming and ahhing about going with my husband to America in September to see my in-laws, as I've not been over there in more than seven years. I know that if I do go, I will dread the long haul flight, layovers and seven-hour time zone change (I don't handle jet lag too well), and if I stay home I will regret seeing my family.

Sophie

[BangorBelle]

Thank you all for your replies. I know I can always book a holiday last minute. The place we go to is a tiny village in Crete with villagers who know us and welcome us back every year. You have to book a year in advance as there are only a handful of villas there. I always feel so calm and happy there. I don’t just want a any holiday, I want to be with our friends in the village and restaurants. Not sure anyone would insure us when I already have cancer.

[Barbteeth in reply to BangorBelle]

I got travel insurance from ‘insurancewith’

Cheap and they were really helpful

Barb XX

[BangorBelle in reply to Barbteeth]

Thanks Barb. Find it incredible a company would be willing to give cancellation insurance for someone with metatastic breast cancer. Is this a UK company?

[Jerseygirl45]

I too feel like I cannot make plans for a vacation because of treatments.

How many weeks are you into on Taxol. I had seven and broke my ankle stopped for seven weeks. Started again now after seven weeks so sick went to ER with dehydration, severe vomiting, diarrhea and so weak cannot stand. Lost 20 lbs food tastes so bad I cannot eat. I cancelled chemo yesterday. It is working by bringing my tumor markers down to 200/300 . Doctor wants a few more chemotherapy to get all the way to normal.

I need some time to feel better before I start again. How well are you doing on it? Any side effects?

Barbara

[BangorBelle56 in reply to Jerseygirl45]

Hi Barbara, you poor thing. That all sounds awful. I am a Taxol newbie, after Ibrance and Arimidex did not work. This is only the second week. The first week was hell with the Taxol seeming to attack my weakest point, my TMJ. This week after some pain meds from my Dr I feel like a different person but I still have 16 weeks to go. I have mets to liver, lungs and spine. I think we all have difference reactions to these drugs. Nine years ago I had the FEC cure chemo for my breast cancer and found that fine. I think Taxol is a whole different ball game. sending you hugs. x

[BangorBelle56 in reply to Jerseygirl45]

Just noticed you are having your chemo every three weeks. Mine is every week. It is supposed to be easier to tolerate that way. Will have to wait and see.

[Jerseygirl45 in reply to BangorBelle56]

No mine is every week also. I am glad if you do not have any did effects. And believe me I will do a few more if doctor suggests, just would like to give myself a few weeks to feel better. We have no choice but to do what we can.

Thank you for getting back to me. Hope you continue to do well with treatments.

Barbara

[BangorBelle in reply to Jerseygirl45]

Sorry I thought I read on your bio it was every three weeks. I hope youbwill be well enough to continue soon. My heart goes out to you x

[Jerseygirl45 in reply to BangorBelle56]

I have had 16 treatments since January. We were hoping to do about 2 more depending on tumor markers. They went down a lot. Hoping to go all the way.

Will be thinking of you.

Barbara

[Jerseygirl45]

Thank you Sandra. This is what we all have to do right. Anything that will help keep us with our families.

Barbara

[Buffwright]

I went to Europe last summer for 6 weeks with minimal reservations. (I’d been on Ibrance for about 3 years). Other than flights (which can be booked with insurance), I tried to make hotel reservations that could be cancelled and in some cases didn’t even make reservations til a few days before (in Florence and Bologna). Fortunately, I didn’t run into problems. The disappointment of not going is tough, as is the reason! But plan anyway...and perhaps risk spontaneity when you get a break!