Cruising with MBC and having Xeloda. - SHARE Metastatic ...

SHARE Metastatic Breast Cancer

6,601 members8,139 posts

Cruising with MBC and having Xeloda.

38 Replies

I am going to be on a new medication regime.

My husband isn’t happy as we have a cruise booked for the Norwegian Fjords end of May and he feels I will be to much at risk.

Anyone every taken a cruise on this medication.

A Liverpool sky. Love this City.

Thanks

Read more about...
38 Replies
Pbsoup profile image
Pbsoup

Tell your husband that I am on the same meds, and was planning to go to India to visit a slum development project I am involved in. My Onc looked a bit surprised, but didn't say no. He just prescribed antibiotics in case I got food poisoning and said to wear socks and shoes.

The only reason I didn't go was the flight was routed over Russian airspace so the airline canceled it last minute. I plan to try again in April or May. That said ,my bloodwork and immune system are still strong--I am very healthy except for terminal cancer LOL

One slight issue you might have is if your feet get sore from the side effects of Xeloda, walking can be a bit rough. So you may want to factor that in depending on the itinerary --be sure to pack comfortable shoes. Most cruises allow you to stay on board during shore visits though, so if you are having a sore foot day, you can always relax and read a book on board.

Of course your doctor may have other reasons for you to not go--but I think Norway in May sounds lovely!!

My theory is there will be a point I can't do things I want to do. Until that moment, I want to carpe the damn diem.

in reply to Pbsoup

My goodness. You certainly are adventurous. What a pity it’s all been cancelled. I know how you get great benefit from the trips. Let’s hope it isn’t to long before you can go.My husband was more concerned about the virus but passengers have to be vaccinated twice and be tested before they travel. He worries so much about protecting me but we will be as careful as possible.

Thank you for replying and for your help. My Oncologist warned me about sore feet so I have comfy shoes for that and with advice from Sandra before I have walking poles I can use.

My treatment date has come through and I will still be away for my treatment date in June. Have the hospital ever delayed your treatment or have you had a break before. It’s only by a week. I will have been on treatment for 3 months.

Thanks

Cheryl

Best wishes

Pbsoup profile image
Pbsoup in reply to

I am on a two weeks on/one week off cycle. I started when in was in the UK in November so he had me on a lower dose at first in case the hand/foot was bad.

It seems I am the most uncomfortable ar the end of the second week. Not sure if you can try to align your cycle with the trip? Otherwise am sure you can just bring the pills with you. Not sure I would miss treatment but that’s me.

Per the virus, I think it’s a threat but isn’t going to abate any time soon. I’m a bit sanguine about it. But I live in an area where people are super careful and all vaccinated….

I so hope you go! And your husband sounds so caring ❤️

kokopelli2017 profile image
kokopelli2017 in reply to Pbsoup

carpe the damn diem.....haha! love that. might be stealing that quote😉

Go go goIt will be a good time to forget about everything here and embrace the amazing sites.

Glad the new treatment is starting soon my love

Clare x

in reply to

Thank you lovely. Did you get Sandra’s and my email

in reply to

I did thank you but I still can’t reply to them. I will get Tudor to sort my emails out tomorrowX

I forgot to say, beautiful photo.Liverpool rules

stardust1965 profile image
stardust1965

Beautiful skyline! If you are feeling well go for it. It will be amazing. Your husband can pamper you.

I was told that’s my next line of treatment (Xeloda, not cruising) but I’m hoping my scan at the end of April will show Fulvestrant jabs are working. 🤞.

In the meantime my next trip is in early April to the RM Hospital! I need to plan something a bit more special than that! 😂

If you decide to go do post a photo so we can live vicariously through your cruise. 😉

in reply to stardust1965

Thanks so much and I will post photos. Best wishes for RM.

stardust1965 profile image
stardust1965 in reply to

Thank you Cheryl.

wendle3007 profile image
wendle3007

Hi. I'm not on Xeloda so I don't understand the risks your husband is concerned about but assume it is about immunity. If you've been on a cruise before, you will know that they are very good on hygiene because of long-in-the-past outbreaks of other viruses and so there has always been hand sanitiser when you get on an off the ship; at entrances to food outlets; at enquiry desks etc. If you wanted to wear a mask in any busy public rooms then I doubt anyone would think it unusual. I also expect with a Fjords cruise you'll be wanting to spend as much time as possible in the open air.

As Pboup says, we can all expect to have limitations on what we can do in the future so we should enjoy life to the fullest we can right now.

Maybe ask your medical team what their thoughts are and if they are ok with it, then hopefully that will convince your husband.

Best wishes, Wendy

in reply to wendle3007

I will ask them. Thank you.

Beryl71 profile image
Beryl71

Lovely photo. I'd ask your oncologist.I asked mine about going to Nicaragua on ibrance and letrozole. He just said avoid crowded places. I thought what about an aeroplane? In the end I think we have to take some chances of we don't want to give up living. Take care, love Carolyn x

stardust1965 profile image
stardust1965 in reply to Beryl71

Hi Carolyn,

As you know I’ve had to fly continuously for the past 18 months back and forth to the U.K. to access medical treatment. I read a very good article about the air filtration systems on aircrafts which are second to none. This put my mind at rest. I wear an N95 single use mask and, touch wood, I have remained Covid free.

Did you get to Nicaragua?

Vicki

Beryl71 profile image
Beryl71 in reply to stardust1965

No not yet. I'm not sure things are so good there, and I have to go via the US. Winter is the best season, so we'll see what next winter brings. Meanwhile I'm up and down to North Uist and have been fine using small regional airports. X

Saab900 profile image
Saab900

Hi, I am on Xeloda cycle 6 and second line of treatment. I have minimal side effects- just fatigue which is worse in the mornings. I have just come back from a week in Iceland where I was successful in viewing the Northern Lights which was high up on my bucket list. I think you have to take the plunge and embrace these experiences if at all possible. You will have been on several cycles by the time of your trip so hopefully will have minimal SEs and confidence in how you feel. Embrace and enjoy and do post some pics if you are able to.

in reply to Saab900

Thank you and of course I will.

TNVol profile image
TNVol

Hi, Cheryl! I haven't been on this medication yet, widowed 15+ years ago and will be 76 in a few months. I've decided that cancer and recently covid have too much control over my life. Therefore I'm moving forward with a do what I want/when I want/where I want/while I can attitude. Not having someone else to consider is lonely and I'm glad you have a great husband to share the trip with. Please go, enjoy and share photos and make us envious. 😘

in reply to TNVol

Thank you and I will xx

kokopelli2017 profile image
kokopelli2017 in reply to TNVol

hi TNVol. great advice on 'do what you want while you still can'! i personally have always dreamed of going to Italy (my grandparents came thru Ellis Island as young adults) but that ship has already sailed. i too am solo, husband divorced me upon primary diagnosis, and now mbc mets has destroyed my spine to the point of immobility. we (me and ex) had planned to go as soon as all the blended 'kids' were out of college. well he still went. but i did not. so yes, i totally agree with your 'do what you want/while you still can' attitude! i have been blessed with 3 grandchildren....2 of them since mbc....so i am lucky on that front!carole xo

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi

What a beautiful photo. I have been to Liverpool and loved it!

in reply to mariootsi

It’s changing rapidly. It’s becoming a beautiful City.

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to

I actually went to London, Manchester and Liverpool to be with my daughter after my husband, her father died in 2004. She was working at the Fringe Festival and we needed to spend some time together. I insisted we needed to go to Liverpool for a Beatles tour! It was so much fun! Years later, when I lived in Hollywood, California, I had the opportunity to meet Paul McCartney at a star ceremony for George Harrison, after he died. I was in love with Paul since I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show when they first came to America. It was a dream come true!Lol

kokopelli2017 profile image
kokopelli2017 in reply to mariootsi

wow Marianne. what a great experience....good for you! i am a huge beatles fan. and yes, Paul was my favorite too. although i had a 'little thing' for George too...lol. can't believe you actually met in person😊

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to kokopelli2017

I know! It was amazing!

in reply to mariootsi

Such a lovely story. Paul is often around Liverpool. His roots are here so he often comes back. There is a Cancer Centre in the old hospital here called Linda McCartney Centre. Linda sponsored it. I’m not sure that happens now she has passed. He presented my Stepdaughter with her diploma when she graduated from LIPA.

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to

Really? Wow! So sad Linda died.

Guitarbella profile image
Guitarbella

I am not on the same meds as you, still on Ibrance & Letrazole 14 cycles in, but feel life is for living, if we don’t take a few chances now we will regret it. Looking through the replies, I can’t believe the places some people have/ or hope to travel too. ( Iceland, Fjords, Nicaragua, India It has given me hope that I will be able to travel to some of the places on my bucket list. I am UK based& my Onc was not too happy when I asked if I could cruise to Northern Europe & insisted I do a “proper risk assessment” & be aware of the dangers, especially sepsis, and only then to go if it was something I really needed to do at this stage!! Not helpful or encouraging at all.

Sadly I now have a horrible Covid like bug so that ship will probably sail before I am better😢. Life is difficult enough when you have MBC we need some exciting adventures more than ever. Good luck with all your plans, please let us know how it goes, living your best life, and post some photos. 🛳🚢🛳❤️

in reply to Guitarbella

I’m in Liverpool and we sail from Liverpool. My Oncologist didn’t bat an eyelid when I told him. I hope you can have a break and Imwish you better. This virus haunts us all.

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI

I agree with the others here who've said how great that cruise sounds! My husband and I went on an Alaska cruise about 15 years ago, when I was about 3 years into the MBC journey. My onc encouraged it! Of course that was pre-covid, and alot was different then. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken, only other trip even close was a European art tour I took in 1986, led by an art teacher from the local college. At that time cruise ships had a doctor on board and with technology being what it is today, you could probably get the important parts of your medical records down loaded into one of those little gizmos you could carry with you! I don't have any experience with Xeloda, but I have alot of experience, possibly too much, keeping cancer from controlling my life! I wonder if that is behind your husband's worrys...worth talking about! I'd love to see photos of the fjords! I hope you and your hubby can take this cruise and fully enjoy it!

in reply to PJBinMI

We have cruised the Fjords before and they are beautiful. Clean air, blue water and mountains. Just love it. My husband is concerned about Covid we we all have to test before we go. I understand why he feels this way and he will eventually come round but I need to know for myself if anyone else has taken a trip like this after only being on new meds for a couple of months.Thanks for replying. Best wishes

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI in reply to

My husband worries about Covid, also. We're fully vaccinated and have had two boosters each, and mask when we go anywhere and live in an area with a low vaccination rate, few mask wearers, etc. The pandemic sure casts a shadow over everything! About being on a new med--2 months is probably long enough to rule out at least some side effects. Cancer makes these decisions more complicated.

in reply to PJBinMI

Definitely does and we do exactly as you but in the City shops hardly anyone bothers. We go to two shops outside the City and at non peak times. People carry on as if it’s all over. Cases are really rising here but……..you just cannot expect everyone to do as we do annoying as it is to us. You probably feel like us. My 94 year old Mum caught Covid in hospital after going in for a spine scan. Bless her, she got over it. She is back in hospital again now. We are hoping she is discharged today after a week in there. She had a chest infection so she has been left with a weakness. She never goes out but has carers in 3 times a day. Who knows, maybe one of them carried a germ and she caught it. Joys of life 🙄

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell

I hope you have a wonderful time on this trip and do not have any side effects from Xeloda. Sending you some hugs and prayers.

kokopelli2017 profile image
kokopelli2017

i vote GO! and hoping you and that sweet husband have a wonderful time! carole xo

in reply to kokopelli2017

We will. Thank you.

Thank you everyone for your comments on this topic.

Best wishes and have a good weekend everyone.

👍

You may also like...

MBC and cruising

Thank you everyone for your contribution regarding travel insurance and cruising. I have had a drug...

Anyone have info about cardiac effusion with mbc?

have average 2 months to live. I'm in shock. Have been doing well with Faslodex and have good tumor...

I think I will be coming off of Xeloda, which I have loved….

short of breath, and think that it may have stopped working. I have a CT scan tomorrow, and get to...

xeloda

stay on this. I know people have problems with their hands and feet . Thanks .

Xeloda

Quite frankly, having this week without any heavy duty chemo drugs, makes me feel normal and good.