Plans to go to India but I am nervous

[Gaily71]

Hi guys need advise about traveling. One of our close friends is getting married in India. I have talked to my oncologist about going and I have the O’K but they are suggesting malaria, typhoid and hepatitis A. All I’ve been told is no live immunizations. I am stable and have Ben doing well. I just have never traveled there so I am stressing a little. Any advise?

[Hidden]

Hi Gail,

If you feel well enough you might want to consider going to India. Are malaria, typhoid and hepatitis A live vaccines? If not, I would have them and start making plans to go! Sometimes we spend so much time thinking of what could go wrong, and what could happen that we lose sight of all the wonderful experiences we will miss out on if we stay put and don't go. Just think about how you will feel if you do not go. Is it something you are likely to regret? Or do the benefits outweigh your worries?

Sophie

[Hidden]

I would follow their advice and have the shots or meds. Ensure you drink bottled water or water you know has been treated and you should be good. Enjoy your trip.

[Bailey3266]

I’d go! I’m worried daily no matter where I am; but doesn’t stop me from flying across country& wentbto Dominican in May right wen people were dying (I think 9 total) from bad liquor in mini bar. Glad I don’t drink!

Definitely bottled water only & I’d also boost your vitamin C & whatever else helps boost your immunity—I forget name but there’s a thread in that!

Do the shots if they’re not live.

I’d also got flu shot and pneumovaxes (there arev2 types) up to date! Just went for wellness and got Shingles vaccine (not live). I’m not a germaohobe but being Lysol wipes for the airplane tray, buttons etc. I bring a face mask so when I hear others sneezing or coughing...just in case. Hope you decide to go!

Tumeric and garlic and Glucosamine are all good meds

[Ruffledfeathers]

If you really want to do this go for it life’s too short for regrets. Bailey has given you some brilliant advice which I’ll be taking ‘on board’ too. I’m off to see my son over Christmas in Vietnam . I was like you should I or shouldn’t I then it just dawned on me ‘go for it gal!’ (I’m not really a gal I’m 69 😊) my daughter went to India after treatment 7 years ago and had a fantastic time. She went on her own joining a group of people there she said it was the best experience of her life . If there are no obstacles you can’t get round go for it Gaily71.

Best wishes x

[kearnan in reply to Ruffledfeathers]

That is on my bucket list. I love to do exotic travel. I had been planning to go alone to Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos near Christmas 2008 and then BOOM, the recession and I lost my job and that went down the drain. I am considering going for my 60th birthday in January. I have limited savings so that is a big thing. My friend who lives in Africa invited me to stay with her and her hubby but I have been to Africa (East Africa) loved it but I really try not to go to same place twice. I joined a group of single people who like to travel but don't want to go alone. They are planning a trip to Viet Nam and Cambodia. I really would prefer to go to Cambodia and Laos. Lucky you. Post about it when you return. It is on my bucket list, but since I can barely afford, the bucket, I don't know. It seems expensive.

[Ruffledfeathers in reply to kearnan]

It’s not so pricy if you go at certain times and hotels are really cheap. Hope you’re able to tick this off your bucket list Kearnan . One thing on my bucket list was flying somewhere business class and our sons Christmas present turns out to be that !

Best wishes x

[kearnan in reply to Ruffledfeathers]

I lucked out. I went to East Africa when I turned 40 way before my diagnosis. I had never married or had kids and thought this was a dream of mine and I better do it now because who knows where I will be in several years. So I booked it online and flew 17 hours by myself. When I landed in Africa, I felt so excited that I had the guts to do it by myself. I was supposed to meet a guide there with a sign with my name. I knew ONLY two other people were going to be on this trip and safari with me. Boy, the minute the Africans seen me by myself, they were all grabbing and trying to take my luggage so that they could take me to hotel. I used my Brooklyn NO, STOP. and then seen the guide with my name. We had to wait almost 40 minutes for the second plane to arrive. Would you believe it? It was two sisters, my age, from Brooklyn like me and lived about 20 minutes away from me in Brooklyn. Damn..you fly 17 hours to the other side of the world and meet up with two sisters who live 20 minutes away from you in Brooklyn LOL....it was hysterical but worked out great. I do the low economy version. Going home on the flight, I was "bumped" up to business class. I was in shock. They were overbooked and put me in business class. The difference was amazing. I felt so special and I kept pulling the curtain and looking at the poor souls in coach (that was me going there). We only had about 15 people in business class. The chair, the food, the service.......I lucked out and especially since it was a long flight. I want to go back but not sure I could handle a 17 hour ride (we stopped in Sweden to fuel up for an hour) now.

[Ruffledfeathers in reply to kearnan]

Wow Kearnan you really lucked out there being upgraded and what’s the chance you should meet up with people who lived so close to you ! I absolutely love Brooklyn been 3 times my niece used to live there. Hope you fulfill your dream of going back to Africa (and that they’ve overbooked again 😊)

Best wishes x

[MyMiracle13]

Do go and enjoy the trip. Aside from drinking bottled water only, be wary of ice cubes. I had a friend who suffered from gastroenteritis because although it was bottled water she poured in her glass, the ice cubes were probably made from non-filtered or non-purified water.

[Albert23]

if You are well then enjoy, India is like marmite you either love it or hate it, I loved it and will be looking to go again soon, have a brilliant time.

[kearnan in reply to Albert23]

That is what I heard. People love it or hate it due to the crowds and the different smells.

[JohnMc312]

Gail,

I would take every reasonable precaution available to you. But still go. If anything stage 4 has taught me is i dont know how many years i have let but i want to make sure each year is pack full of life

[kearnan]

Get the required shots, go to India and enjoy yourself. When I went to Africa and Amazon and Peru, I needed to get shots. This was before cancer but it is important to get certain shots when going to another country. Other than that, enjoy yourself. I am hoping to maybe try and go back to Africa in January. A former attorney I used to work for in NY moved there with her hubby to work for UN. She knows how much I love Africa and has invited me to stay with them. I am seriously considering it. I went in my 40s alone but the only thing I would worry about now is if I can seriously handle a 17 hour flight. If your onco okayed it, they feel you are up to it medically. Sounds exciting. I would imagine you would need to purchase travel insurance? Not sure how that works because when I went years ago, I was not ill and never bothered.

[diamags]

Spoiler alert -- I love, love, love India. I used to go there for work. I would go. Definitely get your shots. Stay at nice hotels. Do not, under any circumstances, eat any street food. Only eat at nice restaurants. As has been mentioned below, only bottled water. No ice, unless it's in an alcoholic cocktail (the alcohol will kill any nasty bacteria in the ice). Probably best if you stay away from ice cream or other cream based products. If you follow that -- and it's not hard, you should have an amazing trip. If I had the excuse, I'd be there in a heartbeat. Enjoy!!!

[Ruffledfeathers]

Brilliant advice diamags we’re rooting for you Gaily !!

[Mimigram]

I took doxycycline for malaria which is actually a helps prevent cancer. I would just bring along a facemask and some hand sanitizer and wipes .

I had hepatitis A and B before I knew I had MBC cancer. I did not have any trouble with them. You do have to take them a couple months apart so plan ahead.

Have fun

Mimi

[illini9]

I recently traveled overseas (africa) and got the necessary shots with no issue - nothing live though so didn't get yellow fever. I've been to India twice and there is great advice throughout this thread. I would add don't eat anything raw or that you haven't washed and peeled. Just practice really good habits for low blood counts (purell, handwashing, bottled water for drinking, toothbrushing, etc.) My oncologist also prescribed cipro for me to take with incase I got sick - a good preventative thing to have along just in case. For my most recent trip I also traveled with a water bottle and life straw so always had filtration with me so I could stay hydrated.

My only other piece of advice is to build in rest and recovery - When we travel we now maybe go a day earlier to rest and deal with jetlag before starting activities. Or I structure days to allow for mid-day nap/rest as I deal with a lot of fatigue.

It's definitely an amazing country and so different than most places I've been able to visit.