Tamoxifen and Longhaul Flights

Public Archive
1

Hi All

I am going to Florida at the end of May and am worried about getting DVT because of tamoxifen.

Has anybody done any longhaul flights whilst on it or spoken to their oncs about this?

I am wondering whether to come off it for a week but not sure this would have any benefit.

Can anyone help?

Love to all

Alise x

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hi alise. i have just come back from barbados and am arimidex…all i was told was to take aspirin 3 days before flight and 2 days after , same coming back i had no problems the flight was about 8 and a half hours long ,i was just very tired when i got there caroleann

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Well you can’t get any more long haul than the one I did last Christmas 2007.!!!I flew to OZ for 3weeks after starting Tamoxifen in September 2007.

The onc, told me to take the low dose aspirin (I think it’s 30g , it’s cheap at Boots. I just told them what it was for).
7 days before I went, then 3 days after arriving on holiday , then when I was due to come home start again 7 days before, then again 3 days after when home.

Also drink LOADS of water, wear the DVT sock (or if you still have those white ones from when you had the op, same thing)
AND ABSOLUTLEY NO ALCOHOL, which I was upset about, as that usually starts the holiday off !!

They used to tell you to stop them, but not any more.

Hope this helps.

ps have a great time x

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Hi, All

I mentioned on another thread that my friend has just finished a year of Herceptin and she’s on Tamoxifen. The day after her chemo finished she flew off to Oz. I told her about wearing the flight socks due to her being on Tamoxifen, which she didn’t know about (the flight socks, not the Tamoxifen :-). She said she’d wear them. Haven’t heard anything since so I’m assuming everything’s okay. She should be back in a few weeks so I’ll let you know.

Good luck to us all.
xx

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Hi Alise

Our factsheet about Tamoxifen contains advice and information about longhaul flights when on tamoxifen:

breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/tamoxifen__november_06_0.pdf

If you need any further advice, please call our helpline on 0808 800 6000 which opens Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.

Best wishes
Lucy

6

Hi Girls,

I am on Tamoxifen, now over two years. I have taken several long distance flights - mexico, florida, india - ;ucky me :slight_smile: I always have Clexane injections. I get them from my GP and given them to myself. They are just prophylactic doses. Its a very short needle and very easy to do - just into my fat roll round my stomach!

Never had any problems and I wear flight socks as well and definitely enjoy a drink or two.

Happy travels, Grace

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Hi there

I flew to the US while on tamoxifen like the other ladies I was told by onc to take asprin, drink plenty of water on flight and walk around as much as possible I wasnt the only one who walked alot during the flight so this wasnt too embarassing wondering around!!! and of course flight socks

I was fine and had no problems