After treatment liver lesions undetectable and bone is stable
I have been stable with no progression for 4 years on Herceptin /Prejeta. and Zometa
I am in the process of booking a trip to Europe one year away. I have to book this early if I want to use points for the flight and find the best places.
Am I nuts to book a year out? It seems I am tempting fate but if I don't book now, the points needed to fly to Europe will go up a lot and we would not have enough points for premium economy seats we can book now.
Treatment is every 3 weeks so of course I count out the 3 week interval to see when I am "off". I worry that something like getting a bad cold o flu will throw the schedule off, delay treatment one round which will throw my whole 3 week forecast into next year off.
Should I just book it?
Thanks
Update- Decided to go for it!!! I appreciate all the replies and encouragement. Flight and first 3 nights in Rome are booked. Now to research, plan and book the rest of the trip!! We booked premium economy because....I am worth it!!!
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sounds like an amazing trip! I say go for it! No one knows what the future holds, anything could happen! Can you get cancellation insurance just in case?
Thanks for the reply, true, anything can happen. I am not sure how Aeroplan works - or if you get the points back if you cancel, but good point, I will check. We have enough points for premium economy, while not a lie flat seat, still an upgrade from economy.
Most of the Airbnbs we are looking at do not have a very forgiving cancellation policy- which I understand, it is their livelihood, it is Europe and busy season. The one in Rome is spectacular (we stayed in 2019 (before COVID and Cancer complicated my life) and is booked completely for most of he summer, but the days we are looking at are not booked at the movement!
But you are right - I will just go for it. Onc has said in the past, if my treatment got off schedule due to a cold/ flue etc. and I had a trip booked we could work around it, delay for a week or whatever. I am a worrier by nature, even more so with the added complication of cancer in the mix
I think there is power in focusing on the joy of times ahead and in visualising yourself in Europe, smiling. It sounds like a special trip to take. Yes to above - get some travel cover in case you need to cancel flight x sending warmth to you x
Go for it , book the flight . Hopefully you can reschedule (get the points back ) if something comes up.
My husband and I planned a trip 18 months in advance to travel with friends to France Sept 2023 for World Cup Rugby. My oncologist was supportive. We were gone for 3 weeks and it worked out with my fulvestrant injection / Ibrance meds . We had to buy the game tickets as soon as they were available (very early ). Planned hotels and booked flights closer to our travel dates but still 10 months in advance .
Go for it! Try to get insurance if you can. I backed out of a Delta flight while we were in the passenger lounge, just couldn’t get on that plane. Our tickets were non-refundable, but I wrote to Delta and told them about my cancer and how my emotions were all over the place and in that moment I just couldn’t get on the plane. They gave me a full refund. Anything is worth a try, and you’ll have something wonderful to look forward to! Good luck 🍀!
I travel all the time. Wherever and wherever I want. I enjoy it and don't worry about the future. I wouldn't hesitate as it sounds to me like you really want to go.
Do it. I’ve traveled several times since my MBC diagnosis. Often you have to book trips far in advance and even if you didn’t have cancer other things can pop up to derail your plans. Just be sure to get travel insurance. With some companies, if you buy the insurance within a set time (usually two weeks) of putting your deposit down on the trip, you can get a “cancel for any reason” waiver and a pre-existing medical conditions waiver.
Thanks for letting me know your 10+ years - always love hearing that..... can I ask, have you been on same treatment since beginning? The Onc fellow I saw last time in clinic told me some women from early trials 20+ years ago are thriving.
Go for it! You can get airline points back for a small fee, at least that’s been the case in the recent past. If you get travel insurance you need to get it within two weeks of booking your trip in order to get preexisting conditions covered. A week or two off from treatment should be fine. The benefits from the joy of taking a trip will outweigh missing treatment!
I think it sounds like a wonderful trip and you should do this for yourself. None of us know what the future holds, even people who have no health issues. But having something like this trip to look forward to can keep you moving forward positively in your health journey. Hoping you continue to do well on your treatments. Sending hugs and prayers.
I appreciate your dilemma as I was going to travel to Europe but seem to attract respiratory infections with fevers too easily (Ibrance) so staying local. From my research and talking to doctors, even getting advice on this forum my response would be not to worry about your 3 weeks on , 1 week off. But it depends if you are able to put a hold on your treatment.
Many oncologists are more than willing to hold Ibrance for 1-2 or more weeks to meet your needs and assured me it would cause no harm. However, I don't know about Herceptin/Perjeta so you'd have to check. The one thing people advised was to buy travel insurance and read the print carefully to ensure it covers the reasons you might not travel. My oncologist felt I should make the plans and it will all fit in . I don't know if with your medical plan of care a treatment "holiday" would be appropriate.
Good luck with planning your trip, I hope you are able to go!
Just booked but decided not use miles so we could travel same airline as friends. Flight is expensive as it is Premium Economy but can still cancel with a $300 penalty - so I am good with that!
Go for it!Just be very careful not to allow anyone sick to come in contact.Wear a mask whenever close to others.I have put my life into almost total quarantine to avoid any germs,and then I read in Scripture "he who would save his life will lose it"! God has a plan ,so whatever we do His plan shall prevail👍
I have NOT been doing things, even like using my own campervan, out of fear!!!!! All those things you described, and some different reasons. I am sick of it. I’m getting in my van this arvo and just going. I don’t know where I’m going. Maybe down the beach was, and do some “stealth camping” Camping in a residential street. and hope my little doggy doesn’t bark in the night!😆
But we have been given this chance. And I’m sick of being worried about what its. Let’s just go for it. I’ve booked two holidays now too. One for June and one for August. that seemed like such a long way away when I booked a fe months ago. We have to do what we can do while we can do it!!! I say go for it sista.
I agree with you TimTam. We’ve been alerted to our shortened lifespan and we should enjoy it while we can for as long as we can. Truly that applies to everyone, not just those of us who have cancer. I’m not planning much for this year because I’ve got so many projects that are keeping me busy but next year I intend to seek far horizons.
I look forward to some of your stories. I travelled to a city 1 hour from my home today. I’m laying in my bed in my van with my little pupper beside me as I write! I feel so happy that I left home. Will travel to another town (where I used to live for 7 years) tomorrow, going cross country. Pretty country. Hilly. Hopefully a little green. There’s been a lack of rain here. And I’ll take in that country air and thank the great cosmic jester I’m still able to drive this huge truck! And walk. And laugh! And read all of your posts dear women of the MBC kind!
We of the MBC group can always get a "doctor's note" that releases us of a booked trip because of our illness. Unfortunately, I have had to take advantage of that a few times in the past three years. I always book rather than dreaming about it. Right now, I am having an absolutely terrible time it whilst I am being treated with the strongest of chemo infusions to reduce cancerous lesions in the liver to combat acute liver failure. I am booked on the Queen Mary 2 on June 15th. I so hope to go. Good luck with your trip. You will most likely be on your way!
Sounds like a fabulous trip to plan. Buy travel insurance now in case something comes up in the meantime. Generali has a plan that covers us without extra money but should be booked within 24 hrs of final bookings. Give them a call to get it right! We just booked a trip but left the insurance too late to cover me
oh, do it! Reading this on the plane flying back to the states from a weekend in Amsterdam! So worth it! Exhilarating! My husband and I rode bikes all over the city. We CAN live with stage 4!
So glad you had a great time in Amsterdam! We just returned a couple of weeks ago from 2 weeks in the Caribbean. Walked everywhere , various beach bars, hikes up to old forts, beach walks. Did at least 5 to 7 km a day, one day did 12k. You are right - we can live and enjoy life
Go on the trip! On my way back from Paris! I am on Ibrance and Anastrozole so different drugs by no issues at all. My second international trip in a year.
When I was first diagnosed with liver mets my husband asked what I wanted most. My reply was to hear our daughters laugh. I cashed in my pension and we went to Germany, London, Rome and finally Africa! It was amazing. Pension may be gone but I’m still here and the memories are really worth it.
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