Travelling to Europe whilst on chemo
Travelling to Europe whilst on chemo Hi, hope someone can help with my questions!
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March and have just had second FEC, one more and then three Taxotere.
So far FEC has been fine, limited side-effects, if any. When I was diagnosed we were half-way moved to Portugal, sold house in England and bought house there! (which is only now just about habitable! - daughter started school in Portugal) Was still working here though so when found lump went to local hospital in UK where I had been seen with cysts/lumps in past. When got diagnosis had to bring everyone home, rent flat here, no furniture, bit of a nightmare on top of everything else!!
As I felt so good last month I went to Portugal for 6 days just with a EHIC. I sort of assumed that I would be covered for emergency treatment i.e. high temp, antibiotics etc. and I still think this is the case. I know quite a few people in Portugal and I know that theyve had friends who have been completely covered for things like ectopic pregnancies for instance. However, I believe it may be different with a known condition, I dont know what would happen if I needed hospitalisation etc. I dont want to put my life on hold for BC though either!
I realise Ive been lucky with side-effects so far and dont expect it to continue the same especially with dreaded Taxotere! But would like to get back to Portugal just once more in the 3rd week after this 2nd chemo. Has anybody got any experience of travelling whilst on chemo and the kinds of insurance policies they have/have not been able to get??
Thanks for all your help.
Pauline x
forgot to add! Forgot to add in my post above! (worse side-effect is forgetfulness Im finding!) Onc knows I went to Portugal and was okay with it as long as I knew risks, felt well, had EHIC, told me that Portugal had very high medical standards! So I wasnt completely mad! Onc is very much of the mind that you should get on with your life as much as possible as long as you dont put yourself under too much increased risk. However Macmillan Cancer made me feel like I was very naive for going without some supplementary insurance!!
Pauline x
Go for it! Hiya Pauline
Like you I am nearly finished my first kind of chemo and am following up with Taxotere. I am off to Spain this Thursday for a 5 day break as I am not sure how the Taxotere is going to affect me.
My ONC has said try to live life as normal as possible and that a holiday is fine, no restrictions, other than going in a public swimming pool, and hopefully by going during my last week I will be fine. I am taking sick tablets, and antibiotics with me (just in case).
Re. insurance, I had a nightmare trying to sort it out - the questions!! The one that really did my head in was “Is it terminal?” the first time I was so shocked I just hung up, but after the third time of asking I could cope - just!. I hope we can advertise on here (Freedom Travel Insurance 08707743760) this company were brilliant. Very understanding and charged me £65 for my 5 day break.
What a nightmare to happen just when you’re moving - Portugal is beautiful and I hope you manage to get a break away there again before starting Taxotere. I am home next Tuesday before chemo again on Friday, I will post on here how I got on.
All the best.
Anne
Anne
How good to get your reply, I was beginning to think it was just me who was mad! £65 sounds fantastic value compared to some of the figures Ive heard bandied about.
I really loved my trip to Portugal, the time went so fast, I really forgot about the whole BC thing, Im sure it will do you the world of good. Sounds like our oncs are quite similar! I was going to go to Portugal again this month but decided to put it off as I felt that maybe I shouldnt have gone the first time, now, hearing from you, I wish I was still going! Maybe I’ll do something last minute!
It would be really good to hear how you get on with Taxotere too, I’ll look out for your posts!
Pauline x
Good Luck Hi Pauline
Not able to offer advice on insurance and travelling, really just a quick message to say, good luck and great that you are getting on with your life and not letting the BC take over your life.
You may be OK with Taxotere, I know everybody is different, but my experience has not been too bad. Certainly not as bad as I was expecting. No sickness at all, mainly niggly side effects, aching joints etc, it hasn’t at any time stopped me doing anything. Speak to your doctor first and take antibiotics etc with you in case of emergency if that is possible. ( I had one case of a very high temp, which resulted in me having to go to the regional hospital but antibiotics brought it straight down and I didn’t have to stay overnight)
Wishing you lots of luck with the Taxotere - I am having my last one this afternoon! Have a wonderful time in Portugal
Nicky xx
thanks nicky Hi Nicky,
Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it!
Its good to hear somebody say that Taxotere is not always bad! Im doing my best to just to get on with things but as you’ll know its not always possible. On day 6 after FEC today which, like last month, is proving to be a tired day! Just been for lunch with a friend and had BBQ chicken which I just craved - when I tell you Ive been more or less vegetarian for 10 years you’ll realise that Im not quite going along as normal!
How many chemos do you have left? Do you have to have radiotherapy afterwards? I am expected some but have no idea how many: would really like to know as soon as possible so I can work out how restricted I am going to be over the Autumn!
Take care
Pauline x
Moving to Portugal/medical facilities Hi Polly,
so pleased you are coping so well with FEC, which I had some 4 yrs ago.
We lived permanently in Spain 1985 thru 1993, before and during Spain’s entry into the EC. We found the medical facilities out of the ark - I had Crohn’s then, had a severe rectal haemorrhage and went into a private clinic in Malaga. The gastro would come into my room with a cigarette dangling from his lips, couldn’t speak a word of English and drew cartoons on the back of an envelope. to try and explain my problem. We had private medical insurance in Spain (a branch of BUPA) but they refused to pay for my treatment as my Crohn’s was pre-existing. It cost us some £15,000 for treatment and they wouldn’t release me unless we paid in cash. A friend went to Gibraltar to get money out of his account and we paid him back as soon as we got home to the villa and could access our bank account. This was the major reason we repatriated back to England as my GP there said they could not treat my condition. I didn’t have bc then, and am just so glad we came back to England where I can understand the language and get excellent treatment for both diseases.
I don’t want to scare you, but you are only covered in the EC as a tourist for emergency treatment and then not for repatriation expenses. I am not sure what the situation is now vis a vis reciprocal health arrangements, but you need to get a residents’ permit to get health treatment on a permanent basis and pay the equivalent of our taxes and NHI. The Portugese speak more English than the Spanish, so that is a good factor.
I hope you continue to do well.
Liz.