Hi, I am new to HealthUnblocked. In December 2018 I was diagnosed with HER2 Negative stage 4 secondary breast cancer in my bones and lungs. I am on Denosumab (once a month), Pablociclib, Letrazole and Calcium+VitD.
The worst pain at present is in my ribs (3 fractured from the Cancer) Pelvis and lower back.
While time allows me I want to fly to the Countries I love with my husband. All in Europe. I am concerned about flying as my Oncologist said it can affect the lungs and white blood cells. My bloods have always been good and although the Cancer has reduced in my lungs and lymph nodes in my chest I am still concerned.
We cancelled two holidays in Europe last year as treatment was new but have booked two for this year.
Welcome to this site! I find it really helpful and supportive and I am sure you will too.
I think you have done well to book a couple of holidays to Europe this year. It will give you something positive to look forward to outside of treatments and appointments. I would speak to your oncologist if you are concerned about your white blood cells and see if there is anything you can do to boost them.
Take care,
Sophie ❤
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Thank you so much. I live in Liverpool
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You're welcome! I had a feeling you were in the UK. I'm from Suffolk.
I have lung Mets. Initially treated almost 6 years ago. I fly to Europe every year. In fact, I was so afraid of flying, I hadn’t flown overseas in over 30 years. Since this diagnosis, I figured something will get me sooner or later, so I dealt with my anxiety and have had beautiful trips. Unless there is something active going on, go. I flew while on Ibrance and less than optimal white counts. If all goes well with my next scans, I’m taking off again. Enjoy
I'll just echo what SophSP and NStoneRocks have said....unless there's a compelling medical reason not to, go! I think travel is almost therapeutic...it's certainly good for the state-of-mind! I don't know where you live, but I also feel that breathing better air, ideally near water, is so good for you...I breathe deeply when I'm near the sea or in the countryside and picture it getting to all of my cells.
My docs have encouraged me to travel. I think the immune system/WBC's can be dealt with through normal caution (hand washing, maybe wipe down the seat tray...). I'm not sure what they're saying about the lungs, but I have heard that window seats on planes get less oxygen. I had a friend who fainted there from lack of oxygen and the attendants explained the issue...something about the way the air flows on the plane. So if your breathing is compromised, maybe choose an aisle seat?
I hope you take and enjoy your trips...
Be well,
Lynn
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p.s. Loved the title of your post! Me, too!
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Hi Lynn,
I agree that travel is therapeutic. I enjoy jet setting and getting to see more of the world. I get lots of fresh air where I live (on the edge of the woods) and close to a river. If I fancy going to the coast, I am just an hour away from the North Sea. It's such a great feeling breathing in fresh sea air.
Sophie ❤
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That sounds truly lovely, Sophie...I'm generally a city person, but lately have really been craving nature, especially water (I'm a Pisces! )...I need to do something about this!
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Thank you, Lynn. I don't mind cities if I am just visiting, but I am a country girl at heart. I would miss the woods, forests, nature reserves, rivers, fields and locally grown produce if I lived in a city. So I would definitely recommend getting out there in nature and taking it all in. I will be glad to wave winter goodbye and enjoy some nicer weather. We've got a storm passing through today, which hasn't been much fun!
Sophie
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We live in a City Centre but have also lived in the wilds of Essex and Cornwall. We wanted the best of both worlds as hubby likes fell walking and we both love the Lake District. In October we are hoping to go to Lake Iseo in Italy. Plenty of walking and site seeing. We are close to the coast where we live now. Take care
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I can understand wanting to have the best of both worlds. I like smaller cities like Cambridge, over the crowds and congestion of London. I love Cornwall and the Lake District. I can't think of anywhere nicer to live in the UK! It would be hard to choose, so they are tied for first place in my book. If I ever moved from Suffolk I would want to be somewhere coastal, so it would probably be Cornwall for me. Your upcoming trip to Italy sounds great. It will give you something positive to look forward to later in the year.
I'm off to bed soon. Have a good night!
Sophie
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Best wishes
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Thanks for the advice and teaching me something I didn’t know about. I will request aisle seats for our trips.
And I have heard that if you sit in the aisle seat you are exposed to more germs because of people walking up and down the aisle. The window seat is supposed to be more sheltered from the germs. So it’s probably a toss up which seat is best!
Makes sense so I guess the dreaded middle seat might be best...?
I’ve not dared fly when my wbcs are low each month so we’ve taken road trips instead.,
I’m thinking, however, it wouldn’t be so bad to take a flight during my first two weeks of an ibrance cycle, as my wbcs are high enough then. It’s only in 3rd week and the next 1-3 off, that they’re low and my immunity compromised.
I wash my hands constantly, wear masks in large public spaces and always have antiseptic wipes with me for grocery store carts, theater seats, door handles etc. As you can see, I’m fairly paranoid about picking something up, particularly now in cold and flu season.
I’m glad to hear so many of you are traveling longer distances on a plane. I’ve always travelled a lot and have felt very confined since my diagnosis. Maybe I just need to take more risks.
From one red to another, it’s hard to time your travel to only your first two weeks, so I just go when it’s convenient. We came to Maui on the weeks we did to be able to coincide with my son’s family. It turned out to be the end of my last week, my week off, and the beginning of the first week. I’ve done fine. I do wipe off airline trays and armrests but I can’t stand wearing a mask with glasses. I’ve done fine, in fact I have been healthier than before...no colds in the past two years. Just live and enjoy your life! Elaine PS, we have wind warnings. It’s whipping all the germs out to sea! I’ve never been here with this much wind!
Winds are still high here in Liverpool. This is the first time I have had positive responses from websites. I’m so grateful. Let us all enjoy our lives now and for the future, whatever it may be. Best wishes
We are a pretty positive group! Even when we disagree, we are nice about it😄. I try to check HealthUnlocked every evening before I go to bed to see if anyone has posted. There are other regulars that do the same, so no one usually goes unanswered or ignored.
I have been to Europe twice (once just before diagnosis, once right after) and to India. Headed to Europe and India again over next few months. For me, from the West Coast of US, all are 11-20 hour flights.
I am on Ibrance and have not had great neutrophils each cycle. To be honest, when I travelled I took few precautions other than lots of hand washing and pacing myself so I didn't get too exhausted. in India I did the usual foreigner things of not eating unpeeled fruit, only drinking bottled water and being generally careful. I even visited a slum project (I was there for work) and was bitten by flies hanging out in pretty extreme garbage, That concerned me a bit, but no harm no foul.
I did not take malaria meds, or have any shots prior. I asked my doctors and they seemed unconcerned. I do take Turkey Tail mushrooms for immune support (on advice of an integrated oncologist, ask your Dr. before starting anything) and took a probiotic.
When I got back from India, I had my usual bloodwork to restart Ibrance and it was the first time the counts were high enough to start right away without an extra 3 or 4 days off. Go figure! Maybe there was something medicinal in the flies!! (kidding)
Everyone is different, and I certainly don't want to diminish how others are not as robust as I have been (so far...it will all change as that's how MBC goes) but my point is as long as your doctor approves and you are generally in good health other than cancer (!) it is likely fine. Carpe Diem.
I’ve been to Europe several times when I was taking Ibrance/letrazole...no problems at all...it’s easy to obsess about ‘catching’ things...I never have changed anything at all on those meds and never been ill once
Go on holiday...forget mbc for the duration and have FUN
Barb xx
Thank you. I’m feeling reassured. I have a defence nasal spray I use anyway and I’m careful with hand hygiene but we can become to clinical. Best wishes
My oncologist says it’s great to go away and have things to look forward to. She’s never once said don’t do plane travel.
I’ve only done some interstate trips in Australia. But after April, (I’ll have done a camping trip at an indigenous festival in a hired campervan, and a road trip to a blues festival.... that one is a long drive.), I’m going to organise some OS trips. It’s been 2 years, and I’m happy to say at present, I’m still stable. So I figure, if not now, when?
Welcome to the board. You will make new friends here that understand . We are all going through similar circumstances. Enjoy your trips but be sure and pace yourself. Blessings Hannah
Welcome to our wonderful community of international MBC women full of strength, insight, information, encouragement, humor & hope. You can share anything on this site, the good, the bad & the sad. We are here for each other & we “get it” because we are all living on the MBC roller coaster. If you can go, GO! Enjoy the moments. 🙏❤️🙏🌈
This site and wonderful comments have made me say yes, let’s do it. Thank you x
Go for the vacations! Tumors reduced...let's dance. Good news! With help from the Above keep it coming. That's a big deal..yay.
Keep thankful and well. Just planning a trip is exciting. My oncologist had no problem with me travelling. Just when I mentioined india, mentioned should be in reasonable distance from reliable medical care, which I was....5star hospital, that thankbG-D didn't need it at all.Do you get a break from ibrance...maybe schedule trip for break when WBC goes up. Enjoy...
It does wonders for well being and positivity, the name of the game we're
All in
May your ribs heal...did the doctors consider radiation there. I twisted my back trying to pick something up that I shouldn't have...not a smart move and broke something in spine..did not show up on stay only CT. Did radiation nd it healed thank G-D nicely.
Hi, nice to hear from you. No, they haven’t offered radiation for my ribs but they have offered one session for my pelvis. I refused as I’m not sure how bad the pain will get. I do have a week off from Ibrance every month. I’m ok without it for a few days then I start aching again. We booked our holidays to Poland and Italy around my treatment but due to a small op on my gum because of Osteo Necrosis caused by Denosumab jabs I had to stop my Ibrance for another week. It messed up our travelling dates. I see my Oncologist tomorrow so he will advise me. I had a tooth extracted last July and the gum still hasn’t healed. I had damaged jaw bone (5small pieces) that had to be removed so my Denosumab has been stopped altogether since last July. Unfortunately that’s a side effect from the jabs. I’m hoping to start again end of this month.
My ribs on one side feel painful most days and I try not to wear a bra (not a pretty sight but hey ho). The Metastasis are more prominent in my Pelvis, that’s why the one off Radiotherapy was offered.
We carry on don’t we folks? Smiling and coping the best we can. It’s great being on here and knowing I’m not the only one.
Let’s keep it going, to me it is better than therapy at the moment.
I say go for it. I am on Anglesey and was diagnosed last April. I went to Italy and Turkey last year, and have booked Morocco and Norway this year.
Do the things you want to do. I find I am better and have less pain in the heat abroad.
Clare xx
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Hi, that’s good to hear. Just been told my Cancer is stable so we will be flying off. The Oncologist said he is happy for me to,do,so. Yay....... take care
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P.s. going to Kraków and Lake Iseo in Italy. Pure excitement.
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Woohoo. Congrats on the stable, and on the very exciting holidays planned.
Bless you, Flower Fairy! Are you flying from the states? I've only been to London and Paris and, of course, recommend both highly! I hope you have many wonderful vacays for MANY YEARS TO COME!!
XXOO Linda
Hi Linda, no flying from Uk and got the go ahead from my Oncologist today. So happy as I missed travelling last year and it’s so close to my heart.
Best wishes
Today is a good day. My Oncologist has told me my Cancer is stable. (Diagnosed December 2018). I have been off my Denosumab since last July due to a tooth extraction. My jaw bone didn’t heal and I had to have a small op to remove jaw bone. One of the side effects from Denosumab. I can now go back on the infusions once a month. He also said I can fly. If my WBC are good I should be ok. So, holidays here we come.
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