Miami Beach here I come! NOT!!☹️

[Hotlantaphatz]

We’ll got news that it is not advisable to fly ✈️ due to cancer affecting my pleural cavity. Right lung. A little fluid. So, here I go trying to make lemonade out of 🍋! Weather is funky almost everywhere, so I am home for a while. Girlfriends are having mojitos on the beach 🏖️ and I am home sipping lemon water and watching a live Miami Beach cam! 😂 just not the same. But I tell you one thing. … when weather clears and road travel is safe early spring I am taking the first thing smokin 🚂 🚙 🚴🏽 🛼 🐎 to some beach 🏖️ somewhere!!!!

[Trissh]

It's cold everywhere now! A spring beach trip will be great! I have confidence you will thrive on your next set of meds! --Trish

[Trissh in reply to Trissh]

Oh! Sorry, mingled your message about vaca with someone starting new meds. Have a happy holiday!

[TNVol]

Sorry about the Christmas trip but if you need driver/company in the spring, I'm just up 75N. ☀️

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to TNVol]

😎

[Adele_Julia]

with the weather the way it is and umpteen flight delays, I’m happy to stay at home of course I live in Sunny Arizona. I also have a loculated pleural effusion which means it can’t be drained . I wonder if that will affect air travel as I thought the planes were able to manage compression etc

[Hotlantaphatz]

Hi Adele I have some fluid and my right lung is compressed and there is some “scarring “ along the bottom. Not sufficient fluid to drain. Hopeful that Xeloda will help.

[OneLump22 in reply to Hotlantaphatz]

Good luck babe. Take me with you in spirit. I haven't traveled since my diag./COVID lockdown 10/16/2019.

[Adele_Julia in reply to Hotlantaphatz]

oh my ! That sounds exactly like my right chest. Are you in Xeloda? Enhertu ? Look forward to your reply. Xoxo and you can visit me in Arozona anytime! Lol

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Adele_Julia]

I just f I shed m firs 21 das of Xeloda.I am on the 7 days off.

[Adele_Julia in reply to Hotlantaphatz]

I’ll be starting Xeloda my next treatment. If I may ask, what were you on beforehand. I am on Piqray and Fulvestrant. Worried to go on Enhertu die to the lung side effects so onc said Xeloda . My Mets are on my chest (skin Mets) and right pleura lung effusion

[Claireperth]

I feel for all you ladies living in a cold climate for Christmas! However it’s all about the spirit, so get your sherry out and put on your favourite dance music!

😄🎄🌸

[Ursula_I]

i'm not allowed to fly or drive, due to brain lesions 😥. But I had a wonderful trip through France to Spain and back (to UK) in July, it was a great adventure. Much nicer way to travel!!! Roll on Spring! You will have a fab trip too.

Merry Christmas and enjoy the lemon water aka mocktail!

Lucy

[jersey-jazz in reply to Ursula_I]

Dear Ursula

What does this mean when you write that you cannot drive? Was the trip to and from France was on a coach? How do you get around? Your posts are always to kind and thoughtful to others. I am so sorry for you with your difficult situation. Are you in pain?.

[Ursula_I in reply to jersey-jazz]

Hi Jersey-Jazz, thank you! Yes it's a bummer, I first had the brain lesions spotted in April/May, then I had Whole Brain Radiotherapy. I didn't have any neurological symptoms and still don't!! Just fatigue and nausea from the drug combo they put me on (Kadcyla). We went by Eurostar (train) from London to Paris, then a super-fast TGV train, double decker! from Paris to Barcelona. All in one day. Then in Spain we took other trains to get where we wanted to go. Highly recommended form of travel! Just a bit hard for me with the tiredness. Anyway I had an MRI on my head two weeks ago; again, no specific symptoms, they were just following up. The original lesions were much improved (because of the WBRT) but I have a load of new ones 😰. I'm not a candidate for targeted radiotherapy (Gamma knife) because they are too many/too dispersed. So they've swapped my treatment to Enhertu. I'm just praying this isn't my last Christmas... if I think too hard about it I start to cry. So basically ignoring it. As for how I get around... one of my sons has quit his uni course so while he is back at home he can drive me eg to the supermarket... Hubby drives to appointments... or I walk into town. But boy do I miss just being able to hop in the car, it has really reduced my activities and I hate being so dependent on others.

Thanks for your concern.... sorry for such a long reply.

Happy Christmas to everyone. Wishing many blessings and courage in 2023 for us all xx

[Tolife_18 in reply to Ursula_I]

hi Ursula, I admire your creativity in finding way to travel despite all the troubles. I too depend on my husband now to drive me everywhere. He is very kind, but all my appointments really affects his work.

Unfortunately, I have to depend on others for just about everything and it drives me crazy. I was extra independent for my entire life, so it’s really affects me emotionally.

Hope your new treatment works for you!

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

[Ursula_I in reply to Tolife_18]

thank you. I feel for you! I used to be so independent as well!

[PJBinMI in reply to Ursula_I]

I agree with you about train travel! I went on a marvelous European art tour, sponsored by the art dept. of a local college. We flew from Chicago to London and then used Britrail and Eurrail to Bruge, Belgium, Paris, French Riveria, then on to Italy and Germany. The ride thru the Alps was spectacular, one mof my best travel days ever! That was about 35 years ago and I'm glad to hear that rail travel in Europe is still great!

[Ursula_I in reply to PJBinMI]

yes I hope I will be well enough to make another trip!

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Ursula_I]

sounds fantastic! WTG

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Ursula_I]

I like that…mocktail!

[Gingerann1]

Oh Hotlanta your sense of humor… when I saw the pic of the roller skate I could just imagine you on skates making your way to a beach somewhere! Thanks for making me laugh out loud! Sorry though that you are not able to travel. I’m sure your friends are missing you too…. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and opportunities to travel in the New Year! Lin

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Gingerann1]

Gingerann my friends don’t know how I continue to joke and have fun while going through. They always have these pity looks on their faces when they see me so I then say something crazy and it breaks the ice. Live love laugh out loud!

[Gingerann1 in reply to Hotlantaphatz]

yes, I know those looks all too well…I stay as upbeat around folks as I can. I’ve found that letting them know I’m open to their questions breaks the ice. Most are very intrigued and ask good questions about the new therapies they hear about. I send out a group update after my scans so they can see my progress which thankfully have been great. I know they will also be supportive when things progress.

[PJBinMI in reply to Hotlantaphatz]

Humor has really helped me live with cancer, too! So much absurdity!

[Bettybuckets]

hi Hotlanta - I went to Florida this time last year and it was cold and rainy like it often is in jan. Spring will be glorious and warm. Hang in there!

[Tolife_18]

Hi Hotlanta, so sorry you had to cancel your plans. Not sure where you’re, but perhaps there are other way of transportation you can use in a future.

Funny, but my husband and I are on a way to Florida - he is driving (day 1 out of 3). I wish I could fly, but being in the wheelchair and incontinent (sorry for details), it’s difficult to do by self.

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New year!

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Tolife_18]

enjoy your vacation! Be safe ! Merry Christmas

[mariootsi]

Hope you get to the beach!

[OceanArtist]

I'm a beach addict and usually fly to Maui at least once a year. I have had some issues with build-up of pleural fluid around my left lung and have had it aspirated twice. Your post has me a little concerned about making another trip to the island. Can I ask where you heard about flying affecting the pleural cavity and if you heard anything about exactly what might happen. Thanks for the heads up.

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to OceanArtist]

Sine my recent scans showed some fluid and I do have rib and chest Pain due to my compressed lung my onc explained to me and suggested that I not fly now. I have already had two thoracentesis procedures .

I also researched it online. Scary 😧 stuff! Good luck

[OceanArtist]

Sorry to hear you have to delay a trip to the beach. Hang in there. A little patience will get you there.

Thought I would ask about the cause of your collapsed lung if I may. A pulmonologist recently diagnosed me with a trapped lung which he said is probably causing my extreme shortness of breath. Just curious if the flying thing might affect me the same as a collapsed lung.

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to OceanArtist]

Hi! My lung did not collapse the cavity between my right lung and chest wall filled with fluid containing cancer cells. So my right lung developed a “scar” and it is not functioning normally. So prevent collapse etc it was recommended to not fly at this time. I hope the Xeloda chemo will help.

[Hidden]

That is a must ..Stay Happy...Go with thatI have same idea just go...ant Beach any where

[TammyCross]

Just reading it is so cold in Florida, and they are less prepared for the cold, so good you are at home and snug!

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to TammyCross]

😏

[Unicornuniverse]

I took a road trip this summer because I don't like flying but I wasn't told not to fly when I initially planned the trip - I have pleural effusion on both sides. I'll ask again next time

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Unicornuniverse]

I love the road trip idea when the weather clears up this spring. Thanks

[Sejj]

I, too, have pleural effusions that had been resident to drainage after having pleurodesis where they injected talc. It worked for awhile but then effusion grew. My pulmonary did a thoracentesis with enzyme injected to liquify the fluid. I have now been draining every day and moving tomorrow to three times per eeek, I hope. So no flying for me. I have a seroma on right side of chest, pleural effusion on left, so not much space or comfort for me. I have been on many of the drugs you mentioned and now started clinical trial with combination of trial drug plus cebecetabine and hoping for some good news. I wish you many options to explore to relieve you of your discomfort and anxiety. In harmony with you.

Marilyn

[Hotlantaphatz in reply to Sejj]

I do so appreciate your sharing your journey. I am going to question my onc more about any treatment specific for pleural cancer.

[MyMiracle13]

I have brain mets, pericardial effusion and tumors on my left lung, pleural effusion, fibrosis and collapsed lung on my right . But I have flown to Singapore thrice in 2022. In fact, I am in Singapore today. My onc says that if I have no trouble breathing with all my lung problems then I can fly. He did say though that if I have Pneumothorax (where air escapes the lungs) then I cannot fly. A simple X-ray will show if I have pneumothorax. I also have brain Mets and had WBRT in 2020. I had over21 lesions then but most of them regressed and some disappeared. But my last MRI showed 3 subcentimeter lesions so I am most probably going to undergo gamma knife early this year. I hope your onc can re-assess your situation so you can fly. I don’t drive so I am very grateful to my husband for driving me when I need to be somewhere. Have a hopeful 2023 everyone! By the way I live in the Philippines so Singapore is just a 3 and a half hour flight.

[Hotlantaphatz]

I appreciate your input. I will talk to onc again. I hope it is not my fear.