Im probably getting ahead of myself with the overthinking already, but we have booked a holiday for May next year once all my treatments are finished. Im starting to have second thoughts though…I’ll be on tamoxifen and apparently you have to be super careful in the sun, I won’t be able to go in the pool as six months won’t have passed since radiotherapy, and everything I’ve read about tamoxifen and alcohol seems to say it should basically be avoided. I’m not a huge drinker but we do tend to like a few cocktails each night when we’re away.
I’m now just feeling like what is the point in going? I thought it would really give me something to look forward to but now I just feel glum about it. I know I’m being silly and probably just having a petulant ‘what’s the point in anything’ day, but I can’t seem to help feeling sulky about the whole thing.
Would a few cocktails on holiday be doable? Or would it just make me feel ill and miserable?
Hi, I would check with the BCN about the alcohol, it does advise to limit or stop drinking as the side effects can be increased on Tamoxifen. I think you’re advised to use factor 50, but stay covered up as much as possible. I think you can swim as long as you don’t have any skin problems after treatment. Best to get professional advice on this one so you can enjoy your holiday.
I don’t know about the side effects of Tamoxifen as I’m not on it - alcohol is generally not recommended when you’ve had BC anyway but a lot of us do have it. I rarely drink but on holiday in Ireland this year I had a few every day and I would suggest checking with your BCN re the Tamoxifen. . I’m just wondering who has told you not to swim for six months after radiotherapy ? I only had the 5 treatments admittedly but I’m an open water swimmer and I was back in after about 2 months . Just make sure you put factor 50 on and cover that side .
All this can affect the fun factor of a holiday a tiny bit but not enough to cancel . You might have to change your habits a bit but you learn to adapt and find a new normal . Xx
It might help if have a little think about all the things that make your holiday “your holiday”, by which I mean not just the chance to lie in the sun and a few cheeky cocktails.
I’d suggest there’s more that goes into your holiday than you realise, like change of scenery, no housework, no cooking, no washing up, time for you and your family to spend time together and all the chance to spend some time apart(!) buying some new holiday clothes, etc etc none of these things change because you have had breast cancer.
There maybe some small changes you need to make, like spending more time in the shade, and a higher SPF, but there are lots of other reasons why anyone would maybe choose to do this bit a little differently
On the alcohol front, again there are lots of reasons why overindulging in alcohol isn’t always a good idea: personally since being on Tamoxifen I still drink alcohol but I find my tolerance levels much reduced, I’m on holiday at the moment and a couple of nights ago my husband wanted more wine, I chose to indulge in an ice cream instead as that is what I really wanted at that point
Personally I’d book plan and look forward to it, but accept it may not necessarily follow my usual “holiday formula”
I was on tamoxifen and was no more careful than usual. I drank in moderation, was as sun safe as normal and had no problems with my skin post radiotherapy , so I swam. If you have sore skin, chloride wont help, but you could also be fine. You have to get on with life, be sensible and you will have a fabulous holiday. I booked a holiday at the end of my treatment, it gave me something to focus on and look forward to. Best wishes and hope your treatment whizzes by.
Hello
Definitely talk to your team
I swam in the sea off cape verde 4 weeks after finishing radiotherapy but didnt go in any pools in case of infection from urine etc
I used factor 50 and covered my boob with a crop top over my bikini and was fine
I did the exact same as @edp go and enjoy yourself and never heard that about swimming; I was under impression it was just when you are in treatment. And mainly because chlorine aggravates the skin. I had no symptoms on Tamoxifen and I think going on hol recharges your batteries and the change of scene will do a world of good!
I can’t comment on Tamoxifen as I have TNBC. However, I am a keen swimmer and was told I could swim so long as I didn’t have broken skin and that the chlorine didn’t irritate. I waited about 2 weeks after treatment and all was ok. Later on, I had some peeling and again waited for that to resolve.
Thank you everyone for your replies, I feel a lot more positive!
I have another condition which has skin implications so I read that I should avoid chlorine for some considerable time after radtiotherapy. I’ll definitely get some concrete advice about it though.
If I can manage a couple of cocktails on a couple of the nights we are away that would make me feel better I think. I’m not much of a drinker anyway (migraine sufferer = horrific hangovers after only even a couple of drinks). But there’s something about being away and sipping a mojito with my evening meal that I would intrinsically miss Again, I’ll make sure to get some advice from the doctor before I go.
Hi @sharlou
I was nervous like you about holiday swimming / having a drink
Spoke to my consultant said go do you good as long as no open wounds swimming fine used facto 50’and bought swimwear that came up higher covered most of chest it’s nice to get away makes you feel normal again
Hi @sharlou I’m an overthinker too so I get it. I’d say to focus on the exciting things about your holiday, about what you definitely can do - and use that as a motivator to get you through the next few months.
After radiotherapy I used a UV t-shirt as I thought SPF cream alone might not give the right coverage only a couple of months after RT. There are some nice designs out there, I got one on Amazon.
Personally, other than feeling a bit more tired generally, I did not have many side effects with TX, so maybe see how you get on and then decide what adjustments (if any) need to be made to your holiday routine. Might not be “the same” as what you used to do, but it doesn’t have to be. You might have a different perspective on things and take in with more joy sights and experiences that we all took for granted before the BC.
Hope this helps & sending lots of good thoughts for you
I’m on Letrozole not Tamoxifen, but similarly i was told to keep my surgery areas out of the sun (I had a mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction) - I went on holiday 3 weeks after my radiotherapy finished and bought a couple of Factor 50 T-shirts that I could wear over a swimsuit on the beach and also swim in.
Hi, my radiotherapy finished mid June and I am taking Letrozole. My BC team told me to go and enjoy myself just use factor 50 on scar area. They didn’t mention not swimming or drinking.
We had a lovely holiday in Bulgaria 10-18th August. It was so needed as I lost my Dad in May too.
I think if in moderation having a few drinks is fine. We have all been through so much, we must try and enjoy holidays/life where we can.
I had 5 lots of radiotherapy in the February but was told it was fine for me to go to centre park and use the pools at the end of march. I was told to be careful in the sun. Use factor 50, cover the breast and not to expose the skin of that area sunbathing. Enjoy your holiday you need a break. XX
Life is for living too. Im also on Tamoxifen and going on holiday. If i want a few drinks i will be having them. Enjoy yourself. Dont let cancer control your life.
Just go for it, the holiday will be just what you need. I’ve just returned from holiday, on tamoxifen and it was just what I needed. I slept a lot! But that’s what made the holiday wonderful and relaxing. Had the odd drink and was sensible about sitting in the sun but better than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself and doing the same routine.
Again, I’ll make sure to get some advice from the doctor before I go.
as long as no open wounds swimming fine used facto 50’and bought swimwear that came up higher covered most of chest it’s nice to get away makes you feel normal again