I was wondering if anyone has experience of going abroad while on ribociclib?
I have recently started taking it for early breast cancer and my daughter has suggested we do a self-catering holiday somewhere in Europe. My white blood cell count is low because I am on this drug and my concern is that I might get an infection while away and how I would get the right medical help. Worry about this is making me think I shouldn’t go.
Anyone got any advice or experiences of managing this concern?
@helenback Hello, I’m about to start abemaclibib so very similar & I haven’t yet made peace with travelling overseas at all for the next 2 years while I’m taking it given the impact on immunity. I’m keen to hear others experience like you on how they’ve managed-this odd thing of wanting to go do all the things as we know the future isn’t promised but also wanting to stay safe to get out the other side of this phase of treatment without incident x
The only comment I can add is that my husband’s colleague did do this whilst stage 4 on palliative care.
They chose to travel by car and ferry to avoid busy airports and planes. It also meant that if she became ill they would just drive home (or at least into the UK).
Hi. I’m due to start taking ribociclib in July but might delay - partly because I want to go on holiday in September. My oncologist said that she wouldn’t want me to travel abroad in the first 3 months of taking ribociclib so worth checking with yours. You may also want to listen to the Breast Cancer Now podcast episode on travel insurance with the founder of insirancewith. I found this really useful. There’s lots to take into consideration but travel is possible!
It’s hard to balance the desire to have a break with the fear of something going wrong while away.
Hope you get on ok with abemaciclib, whataloadof, and with ribociclib, shed.
I think this stage of treatment after all the main ones is like learning to ride a bike - you pedal forward a bit but there are lots of wobbles. The lovely people on this forum are always here to offer their hands to steady you. Thank you!
H @helenback and all. I went for a week to Greece whilst on my last ribo cycle (now on cycle 4). Have been tolerating it well so wasn’t concerned. However- sod’s law - I got tonsillitis on day 3. Called my onco helpline for advice and they said get a doc to look at it as might need antibiotics. Two hours later an English speaking doc arrived at the hotel, gave me a prescription for amoxicillin and we carried on with our holiday. Claimed the 200 euro call out fee and cost of antibiotics thru my insurance company when home and all was good.
I think we’re all so battered after surgery, chemo etc that we lose our confidence to do the normal stuff we did before this shitshow.
My view is yes be sensible but also have the holiday you need. I might be a lunatic but me and my partner still went on a pre-booked 3 week trip to Malaysia and Vietnam 5 days after I finished my radio (& 6 weeks after finishing 5 months of chemo which followed 3 x separate operations). Both my onco and radiology consultants were supportive so long as I was sensible, wrapped up like a mummy, lathered self in factor 50/mozzie spray and wore a wide brimmed hat. I did all those things and we had the most fabulous, relaxing holiday. Was the best thing we could’ve done after such a horrible 18 months, and I didn’t get even one mosquito bite!
That big trip was pre-ribo (I started that when we got back) but it gave me a bit more confidence to just go for it….cos, unless you’re holidaying somewhere remote, there is medical support if you need it and your onco team is still at the end of the phone.
That does help, pollypox, thank you! Useful to hear how you were able to deal with it.
You’re absolutely right about the loss of confidence after the battering of all the treatment.
I love that you went on such a mega trip straight after radiotherapy and all the rubbish that had come before that. You’re a strong woman! Hope you have some more adventures planned.
Hi all, I am new here, diagnosed in November and just started ribociclib (started letrozole in March) we have a holiday booked in September to Mexico and really want to go but scared of how long the flight is as I know planes breed germs ! Also if my oncologist will say I am ok to go. I have read a few people have a 2 week break from ribociclib to be able to go away but this is something else that scares me
I will ask my oncologist next week, but wondered what people experience is with taking breaks so early on (I will be on cycle 4)
Welcome to the forum livelife! Hope you are getting on ok with letrozole and ribo.
I have now spoken to someone at the hospital and they seem really willing to let me take a break from ribo if I want to while I’m away and to work around travel plans. They looked at past blood tests to make sure they have been ok too. I will be on cycle 7 I think when I plan to go.
The plane travel bit is what scares me too but think will wear a mask, drink plenty of water and bring sanitizer. The worry about infection has absolutely been the worst thing about ribo for me.
I hope you get the go ahead from your oncologist. Mexico will be a really interesting place to visit.
A misconception, planes don’t breed germs: it’s the airport & boarding process that’s the risk area! And travel to the airport. If you’re worried wear a mask when you’re on the train/bus to the airport and in the departure lounge but take it off on the plane once engines are on as the air in the plane is completely refreshed every 2-3 minutes, which is significantly more than any other indoor environment you’ll be in!
I went to Portugal to see my daughter. on my third cycle of Ribociclib.
I was really worried about the infection risk but my oncologist was happy for me to go and I tried to be as fit and well as possible beforehand with diet, exercise and lots of water. Travel insurance was time- consuming though, some online sites were more straightforward and cheaper than others, some involved phone calls.
I wore a mask on the train to the airport, then on the plane. I had a hand sanitiser in my bag and I took a small cool box with ice packs (actually an insulin carrier) for my Ribociclib tablets, as I was told to keep them refrigerated. (Interestingly, my last pack of Ribociclib did not need refrigeration, which would be easier for travel…so I will ask for these next time).
I took the usual stuff.. insect spray, a big sunhat and sunscreen. I was absolutely fine during and after my holiday.
Oh this a great conversation! I’m on Ribo , just finished 4. Going to south france in September. Going to up date my European health card, a friend said they still work. I was thinking I could bring an extra set of antibiotics if the GP will prescribe them. But hard to know what can happen! Thank you for starting this thread . X
I asked my bcn about the possibility of taking antibiotics with me but she said they wouldn’t do that because I would need to be assessed properly if I became ill. Makes sense, I guess.
Just feels like there is a lot more to consider now than in pre-cancer times!
Hi, I’m on ribociclib and letrozole and have been abroad about 7 times this year since starting the drugs last December. My blood counts are a bit on the low side but I think it’s all about being sensible e.g I book an aisle seat to protect the side I had surgery but also one less person I’m sitting next to, board last etc. Travelling is more tiring I find so rest up before starting. My consultant is fairly relaxed to be fair- his advice is “I saved your life now go live it!” And that’s what I do. Oh and make sure you have insurance. Hope that helps!!
Hi, I started on Ribociclib in Sept last year and have been abroad on holiday 3 times since then, in Europe and N America. I’d had a couple of UTIs since starting the ribo so managed to get some antibiotics from the hospital to take with me for that but not for anything else. Was a bit more aware of trying to avoid mosquito bites but found flying/airports were fine. We’re off to France next week, with travel insurance and the GHIC in case anything comes up. Hope you have a good Summer wherever you decide to go.
I’m deep in the trenches of chemo currently so this thread on travel has really brightened my day!
My consultant has suggested I’m likely to be prescribed ribociclib, I’d be interested to understand what the implications are on travel insurance? Does it have huge implications on cost?
diagnosed in November and just started ribociclib (started letrozole in March) we have a holiday booked in September to Mexico 
and really want to go but scared of how long the flight is as I know planes breed germs ! Also if my oncologist will say I am ok to go. I have read a few people have a 2 week break from ribociclib to be able to go away but this is something else that scares me 