Should I go on holiday?

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Hi, I am currently on Tamoxifen and Zoladex and have terrible sweats and flushes particularly at night. I have never been on holiday abroad but I have been invited to go with my sister to Spain or maybe Portugal in April/May next year and don’t know what to do, I’m worried it’s a nightmare with the heat.
I’d be interested to know if anyone who has had the sweats and flushes with Tamoxifen has gone anywhere like that on holiday and if so, how did you get on?
I’ve been told it’s not so bad beside the sea as there’s always a breeze and that there’s air con in all the apartments but I’d hate to go and find out that’s not the case.

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From one Anne to another

Hi. I’ve just come back from Spain (June), had a five day break inbetween chemo 2 and 3. It was marvellous!! The heat is totally different to over here, and in April May it is really nice. I would definitely check that aircon is available in the rooms, but other than that go for it. I managed to cope with sweats plus wig, actually had less sweats that when I came back to the UK! The sea is excellent, warm enough to swim in (ONC wouldn’t let me swim in public pool, but sea was OK) and the holiday will do you the power of good.

Roll on Octcober - I have a week booked to Portugal and I can’t wait!!

Hope this helps - any other questions, please ask.
Anne xx

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Thanks Anne that’s great, I had heard people say it was a different heat but wasn’t sure what was meant by it.

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You must definitely go. I went on holiday 3 times inbetween my chemo. I have a house in Spain and I go as often as I can. The heat is very different over there. I always felt so much better. Just be careful with the plane and catching viruses. I always sniffed First Defence before getting on a flight and also using the first defence hand wash.

Suzanne
xx

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Go and enjoy yourself - you deserve it.

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I lived in Southern Spain for 8 years and May can be the best month of the year. Warm enough to sunbathe and swim, but cool at night. I have only been to Portugal once - the Algarve - in April and I found it pretty windy and cold. Had to wear a jacket even during the day. If you have the option I would choose May.

Happy holiday!
Liz.

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Thanks to all who replied, you’ve made my mind up.

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Anne
I sort of live in Portugal but moved back for my treatment. April/May should not be too hot, as Liz says sometime that West coast can even be quite cool in April! But you’ll have a wonderful time, you should definitely go - your deserve it!

Pauine x

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Hi Anne61

Definitely go I would say. My sister has just finished travelling in South Amercia and she is currently menopausal, but she managed to enjoy herself despite the hot flushes! And you really deserve it.

Cecelia. x

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We have booked for Malta in May for a week. I don’t suppose there are any problems with taking my medication with me is there? I won’t take my Zoladex injection with me obviously, I will get it done first or when I return but I will have to take my Tamoxifen so hopefully there are no restrictions are there?

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Anne61
There is normally no problem taking the medication you need for your trip with you. If you are going for an extended time or taking lots with you, you can get a note from your doctor saying it is prescribed and essential. My dad does this when he visits the family in Oz as he has Crohns and has to take lots of meds for a month’s visit.

Have a fab holiday
Sharon x

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Hi Anne

I don’t know if you can access my thread from about 2 wks ago, it was about hot sweats in hot climates. Basically, I am not on Tamoxofen but do have regular hot flushes. We went to turkey for a wk and the temps were in the mid to high 40’s! I didn’t feel any hot flushes all wk until I was on the plane back to UK!

Asked if others had experienced this and some had. Can’t explain it. The holiday was the best thing I could have done, for moral but also I felt fitter after swimming every day in a warm sea or pool, eating healthy food, relaxing, and getting the sun on my body. My hair even started growing back quickly at the time, though it has slowed down again now back in cloudy UK!

So you must go for it, get something normal in your life. Just 1 word of warning, you may struggle to get affordable travel insurance, so start looking well in advance. I ended up getting normal insurance with exemptions for anything BC related, so a little worrying but I felt well in myself so just went for it.

Bon Voyage!

Irene

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Thanks Irene, that’s very encouraging