i have asked onc about this but still as clear as mud i looked on dvla site and i think i should have surrendered my licence and should now be able to ask for its return but it sounds like they will need medical proof . also in the more detailed bit
it says high grade ependymomas other primary malignant brain tumours and SECONDARY DEPOSITS if this means any secondary breast cancer itsays normally 2 years off driving any one had experience of this thanks
Just read your posts and not sure understood it right. Does it mean that if have secondary bc I should not be driving … no way giving up my licence, it is my lifeline!!!
Anyone know anything about this? Gonna go and have a look on website.
Thanks
Dawn
x
Hi Girls,
Yes if you have brain mets you are supposed to advise DVLA Medical and they withdrawal your license until further notice usually 2 - 3 years. Even if you feel ok and would like to drive not supposed to.
IF you decide to drive and not advised DVLA and you have any accident your insurance will be invalid and you are liable for ALL costs involved.
I know as I have brain mets and have found this the hardest part as I feel ok had eye test and vision fine. It is however in case you have a seizure due to the mets.
Hope this is some help
Treakle xx
Oh - thought you northerngirl meant secondaries of any sort. Not just brain mets. I have secondary liver, so suppose this means I am OK still. Bit of a dope I know, think my brain has upped and left me. Apologies to all. Being blonde probably doesn’t help either!!!
Thanks
Dawn
x
Hi Dawn and Northerngirl
I have checked with our nursing team about this issue for you.
They say that if you have brain mets you will be assessed however it is likely that your license will be withdrawn. If you want more information on this northerngirl they suggest you phone the helpline. It is a fairly common inquiry and they have all the most up to date info (and it sounds easier than wading through the DVLA site!)
Dawn the nursing team tells me there is no reason for you not to drive in your situation. Again if you want any more details just give the helpline a ring.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes
Joe
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Thanks Joe for your input was getting confused and worried. My car is my lifeline taking the children out and about.
Dawn
x
Hi,
Interested in the assessment you mention. As according to onc and MacMillan nurse there is no assessment it is a fact that Brain mets are unpredicatable in nature so your licence has to be relinquished, although it is up to the patient to do so.
If there is a way I can keep my licence I would loe to know because it is a life line to me and I am not happy about giving it up hence the fact I have not contacted the DVLA yet but am not driving. I did have eye test that said my vision was very good but that is not enough I was told.
Treakle.
Hi Treakle
Please do feel free to contact the helpline for further clarification on 0808 800 6000, it opens Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Lucy
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Hi,
Did ring help line and 4 nurses on duty there said they believe that brain tumors or mets cannot drive for several years and you are treated like people who have epileptic fits. Have to have several years clear after treatment before you can drive.
Treakle.
My late twin brother had an inoperable malignant brain tumour, and his Oncologist notified the DVLA directly. His licence was taken away and he never got it back before he died. I have a male friend who has a non-malignant brain tumour, and his licence was taken away also, and he is in a different part of the country. Did you ask the helpline whether the hospital has a legal responsibility to inform DVLA? Sounds tough, but better than having a serious accident through a seizure.
Hope all goes well for you.
Liz.
The DVLA essentially carries out delay tactics.
They say you can have a review in a couple of years time (which sounds so much more compassionate that saying you will never get your licence back). However, there is no relevant medical questionnaire on their website, while there is for many other conditions. Basically, they are hoping you will die or be otherwise unable to drive by the time your review is due.
Many people with treated brain mets who have never had a seizure, are probably a lower risk than epileptics but the latter have a good chance of getting their license back after being fit-free for a year. The difference in procedures may in part be down to the efforts made by Charities to challenge DVLA procedures. Has Breast Cancer Care ever queried the rules?
Any investigations made regarding the procedures in the EU? It would be nice to know if we were out of line. No easy comparisons available with the USA because each of the fifty states has their own rules.
I don’t have brain mets, but having my license taken away is one of my worst nightmares and I really don’t know how I’d cope, so I’d really like to see something useful achieved here.
Hi treakle and Northergirl, I had a siezure due to brain mets in Nov last year. Had it surgically removed and then WBR, I was finally allowed to drive again, 8 months later after the Neurosurgeon signed off on it, she also wanted the Rad oncl. to do the same. I live in Australia. dont have epilepsiy and no signs of any growth in my head. I have scans every six months. Nothing is easy and they never want to commit to anything, Keep on their case is all I can suggest. It is so worth fighting for, independance that is. Love Suzy
Hi Girls,
It really does seem as if here in England Brain Mets are treated as if you will pop your clogs in a few weeks. I feel upset my license is supposed to be surrendered and I have yet to inform DVLA although I am not driving, as I feel my independence will be lost too and as some say never returned.
Love Tracey xx
Hi tracey, it would be interesting to find out the rules in other countries about driving after brain mets, Does the EU have a different sort of policy that the uk? I cant tell you how good it feels to be able to drive again (I know you know) Maybe its time to start rattleing a few cages, getting some opinions from nuerologists.? if you have any energy ofcourse.
take care
love suzy
So will Breast Cancer Care do anything to find out what happens in other countries and to fight for new guidelines in the UK? The lack of review questionnaires on the DVLA website is all the proof I need that at present, nobody gets their licence back - ever.
Surely this is something that the Secondaries Taskforce should be looking into?
Being without a driving licence is clearly causing hardship for many with brain mets. Those of us with mets, but not as yet spread to the brain, worry if it hits us too. It is an important issue and surely very satisfying if you can help?
Hi Holeybones
I will pass your comments on to the Secondary Taskforce today.
Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
At Breast Cancer Care, we are sorry to read that some of you have had problems with the DVLA about whether it is possible to drive after a diagnosis of brain metastases. We appreciate what a difference being able to drive can make to your everyday life and how distressing it could be to have your license revoked. The DVLA regulations state that it is the duty of each driving license holder to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions which might affect safe driving, either now or in the future. Doctors are also able to inform the DVLA of any of their patients whom they might consider not fit to drive.
The DVLA have a legal responsibility to decide who is medically fit to drive and they do this by consulting with the license-holder’s doctor and making the decision based on the individual circumstances. Because breast cancer that has spread to the brain can sometimes cause symptoms that would interfere with being able to drive, such as visual problems, unfortunately there is the potential that your license might be suspended. The DVLA have issued guidelines about driving in this situation but they focus more on people who have primary brain tumours rather than cancer that has spread from the breast to the brain. For this reason we are currently contacting the DVLA to request a statement from them to clarify their position on breast cancer that has spread to the brain. In the meantime, if you would like more information, I include a link to the DVLA’s website. If you would like to discuss this further, you would be very welcome to ring our helpline on 0808 800 6000. We are open Monday to Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Breast Cancer Care
Any more up to date info on this Moderator?
Still not driving and scared to ask after over a year.
Kitkat
Hi KitKat
We are still awaiting a response from the DVLA on this subject, I will forward your request for an update to the Clinical Nurse Specialist on Monday and perhaps we can prompt the DVLA again for an answer.
Kind regards
Katie
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Thanks Katie