I want to book flights to Greece for next june. We’ve been going to the same apartments for the last 9 years and have provisionally booked them for next june but we dont pay for them till we get there.
However the flights have come down in price this week and obviously when seats have all gone it’ll be too late. My daughter and her boyfriend are coming with us and because of my secondary dx she’s keen for us all to holiday together.
She’s already booked the 2 weeks leave from work…as she’s a police officer it has to be booked well in advance.
Question is…will it be safe for me to fly a 3.5 hour flight as I’ve read it can affect your oxygen sats levels.
Im due to start 3 cycles of docetaxel on friday which will finish end of december then I’ll be scanned.
If i book it and then find i have to cancel its not much money to lose but checking my policy i think I’m covered for cancellation anyway.
Have any other ladies flown with lung mets and particularly breathlessness. …and if you did, was your breathing compromised?
My Onc advised against flying to Dubai which i was going to do this month because of the duration of the flight (6.5 hours) and the higher altitude. He did say however that short haul would be ok…but that was last month before we knew of the progression.
Looking for encouraging advice please ladies xxxxxx
Bev,I flew to USA with lung mets on a 9 1/2 hour flight. My breathing was okay. But I’d check with your doctor. Mine said I was okay to do it.
Hugs Helen xx
Ah Bev you must book it! Get the seats, then make some wonderful holiday plans with daughter. I know we don’t have the luxury of knowing how we will feel months ahead but I think, well just my thoughts, let’s make plans, it helps lift our spirits, mind, heart.
It’s not just our bodies that take such a bashing with this and the resulting treatment is it? We need to make plans, look forward, to keep our spirits up, build up a little stash of things to look forward to. X
Thank you…thankyou. …thankyou belinda and helen! I really want to book it today as I’ve been feeling really low. I want to look forward to things again and by putting it off all the time my Laura is getting more anxious and frightened.
I completely relax when I’m there with my other family and strangely dont get as many symptoms!
Have reflexology this morning followed by a lovely lunch with about 6 other lovely “secondary” ladies.
Lovd and hugz…bev xxxxx
Angelina…thats frightened me now. I flew to greece this june with no problems and i was dx in may.
I know I’ve had progression since end of august 20-30% but hoping the docetaxel will do the trick now …starting 3 cycles this friday and ending week after xmas.
Still unsure what to do …but my daughter is sitting next to me and just booked her seats on the flight!
Waiting for me to do the same…?
Hi Bev. You must book you flights. I have flown a few times in the last 4 years since secondary diagnosis. My mets are in my lungs and lung pleura. Go and enjoy your holiday xxx
Thanks izzy…still havent done it…I’m such a coward! Will def do it this weekend. Starting the docetaxol friday…onc originally said 3 cycles but today said its likely I’ll have 6…boohoo! Also my third one will be on boxing day…how cruel is that??
And…the dreaded dexamethasone again! Double the amount that caused me all the awful se’s in august!
Wish they could have given me different ones.
Can anyone tell me how long it takes to administer the docetaxol?
Thanks ladies xxxxx
I’m just so superstitious. …afraid to book because something bad happens each time i book a holiday in advance! Ive previously booked 3 September holidays in the last 5 years - all to Lake garda in Italy and had to cancel them all beforehand due to impending surgery. …twice because of a new bc and once last year because of gallbladder surgery!
Prior to booking them I was fit and healthy.
Will have to bite the bullet this weekend and book.
Your comments have been so encouraging xxxxx
Thanks nicky. Yes was easier than i imagined today. Coldcap for 30 mins before chemo then an hour infusion then kept cap on for further 45 mins. Felt a bit tired after so had a sleep for an hour when i got home. Nurses were very concerned about my rasping cough though and said they didnt think i should be coughing like that and if it worsened over the week to see my gp or onc again. Bit worrying. This is whats putting me off flying.
Im having the neulaster injection tomorrow and wondered about a reducing dose of roids coz they say you come down with a bump if you stop suddenly but dont have anymore to take after tomorrow.
Thanks porkie. Only just logging on and nurse has been and gone. Forgot to ask about reducing dose so will just have to manage. Took my last ones lunchtime. Do you know what i should expect for stopping them abruptly? Only been taking since Thursday. Xxx
Thanks…day 3 no se’s yet but expecting tonight or tomorrow! I used the new Paxman Scalp Cooling treatment. Only been in use a few months but found to be much more successful than old style cap. Much softer to wear and more comfortable. Made of soft silicone. So… we’ll be see! I could only bear the old type for 2 treatments on fec 9 years ago. . My hair still came out so didnt wear it for the remaining 4. Xxxxx
Eurotunnel are good pam. Covered me and hubby for annual travel in europe for £71.50. Think it was £90 for worldwide. £10m cover for secondary bc. Xxxx
I was diagnosed with lung and pluera Mets in February. Due to various things I didn’t start taxol til May. This didn’t work particularly well and I had been pretty ill since Feb with terrible breathlessness, I wasn’t very hopeful about the future. I was put on Letrozole in July and felt well within a few weeks. I flew to Italy in September with no problems whatsoever.
I was only away for 4 days so I took my chances with the basic insurance I have with my husbands bank. Obviously it wouldn’t have covered any cancer related problems. They would cover me for extra cost if I was more than 12 weeks out of surgery. I missed it by 2 days. I don’t know what it would have cost. I will keep MIA in mind. Hope the letrozole works for you. I have no se other than one painful knee. I don’t even know if that is related. I think it can take a while to kick in for some, 2/3 months. I was lucky to feel the effects so quick.take care xx
Yes Pam…even though we’re insured with eurotunnel i admit I’ve been a bit twitchy about that clause.
They told me the same about being terminal to mean you have less than 6 months and my Onc said that wasnt the case and gave me a letter to say i was fit to fly at the time of booking. (However Eurotunnel stated on phone that they didn’t need the letter unless a claim was made).
I suppose we wont know for sure until someone makes a claim? And could be the same for most insurance companies these days…you hear of so many trying to wriggle out of paying out!
Has anyone asked Eurotunnel if a claim will be settled when an Onc has stated that his patient wasnt considered terminal (less than 6 months life expectancy) at time of booking? May be an idea.
Maybe next year I’ll look at renewing with MIA…god willing. xxxxx
Ive booked flights to greece in june. Do you have to tell the airline that you have lung mets? Does the altitude actually affect your lungs?
How many of you have flown regularly with lung mets with no problems?
My first scan after 3 docetaxol is today…and looks like I’ll be having another 3 so last one will be march 27th. Will i be feeling “normal” do you think by mid June for my hol?
Of course all depends what scan shows today but not due in clinic for results till 21st.
Love bev xxx