Traveling After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis - Part 1: Planning and Packing
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or treatment. Always consult your healthcare team before beginning any new self-care activity or practice.
One of the first casualties of my cancer diagnosis was a two week trip to Croatia and Slovenia.
My husband and I love to travel - we go as far and as frequently as we can. Our summer plans for 2017 were no exception.
A breast cancer diagnosis takes so much more from us than just our hair and breasts. It can take our plans, our dreams, and often, our choices and independence.
As much as we tried to find a way to make it all work, there was just no way to safely fit a two week trip to Europe in between a double mastectomy with reconstruction and 8 rounds of chemotherapy.
My doctor’s were empathetic to my disappointment but we all knew I had to put my time, energy, and attention to more important things for a while.
Despite this I was determined not to let cancer ruin any more travel plans if I could help it.
My final chemotherapy, and the end of my active treatment, took place on November 1st and 8 days later I flew to Florida for several days of relaxation with some girlfriends.
Two weeks after that I started my anastrozole and boarded another flight to celebrate Thanksgiving and the end of a long year with my husband’s family in Aruba.
Cancer's impact on my ability to travel far and freely is one of the greatest concerns of my personal survivorship but, I have learned a lot through both my career and personal experience about how to make sure that traveling after a breast cancer diagnosis is not only doable but safe and enjoyable!
And while my trips may take me farther than some of you are inclined to go, there are a lot of lessons that can be relevant from your easiest day trip all the way to your grandest adventure.
Where to begin?
Let’s start at the very beginning (it’s a very good place to start 🎶).
It’s all about the planning.
You can make (almost) any trip safe and enjoyable after a breast cancer diagnosis but for me it starts with the preparation before I even book my plane ticket.
Start with yourself, as you are now.
The most critical (but not always the easiest step) is to be honest about where you are right now and where you might be in relation to your recovery and healing when it comes time for your trip.
I might have been a little rogue with that first trip to Florida - throwing caution to the wind when it came to my reduced immunity on a plane and being far from home - but this was pre-Covid and whether naive or determined, I was going.
Aside from the actual travel I knew that this was going to be a relaxing trip without many demands and that I would be able to take each day as it came, honoring my energy and interests in real time.
This was true of Aruba as well.
I put no expectations on myself other than to enjoy the house where we stayed and hopefully get to the beach with the rest of the family as much as I could.
Recovery and healing from cancer, or in some cases living with it, is individual to each of us so be thoughtful with yourself about what type of trip you want to go on and if your personal capacity matches up.
Once you can align your well-being with where you want to go and what you want to do you can get down to the logistics of making it happen!
Destination and Duration
Where you decide to go and for how long may be influenced by a number of factors:
Your general health and well-being aside from cancer
Your recovery and healing in relation to surgery or treatment
Any need for ongoing treatment and the frequency of your treatment cycles
The purpose of your trip - relaxation, adventure, sightseeing, etc…
Your own general desires of scenery, style, etc…
Every trip has the potential to be amazing but even more so if you plan accordingly.
Pick a destination that feels comfortable and easy to navigate based on your needs.
Those early trips were wonderful because I knew that where I was going, who I was traveling with, and how long I would be gone were well-matched to my energy and health needs.
With both trips I was with friends or family who knew what I had been through and were willing to watch out for me (like the time I walked too far on the beach and my friend Kristin had to sit with me patiently while I recovered and then grab food and water before I could start the walk back).
With both trips we had one destination so I didn’t have to navigate a ton of to and from or constantly get resettled in a new place.
And with both trips, the length of time was long enough for me to enjoy being away but also short enough to know that I would be home soon and back to my own comforts and routines.
Modify your adventures to meet you where you are.
In 2018 my husband and I made up for those original cancelled summer plans with an epic 4 week European adventure!
And while we did indeed travel far and wide, I still recognized my limitations and kept my adventures to easy walks, wonderful food and drink, and lots of fresh air and rest.
I remember watching the parasailers flying high over the French Alps and thinking “someday” because there was NO WAY I was ready for that with my fairly fresh new breasts (no matter what my docs said about “being good to go”).
Well, someday finally came last summer as I soared beneath a parachute circling the Swiss Alps and realizing that my time had come, even if it took several years.
When in doubt start simple.
We love to explore new countries and have been across the world at least once so far. But I also know that these bigger trips require a lot more planning and create the opportunity for greater risk as well as reward.
If you haven’t done a lot of international travel before then get comfortable traveling domestically, or even locally, before you take on your first epic voyage.
There is a lot of joy and wonder to be found everywhere in this big beautiful world, often even in your own backyard.
Prescriptions and Medications
Regardless of where you are going and for how long you want to be prepared and packing after a breast cancer diagnosis might well mean bringing more than your favorite flip flops.
Regular or Daily Medications
If you are on regular medications like tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole, Anastrozole, Exemestane) make sure to plan to have enough of your prescription to take with you. This is true for any other daily meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, anxiety, etc…
I like to get my meds by mail order whenever I can because they are often delivered in 90 day doses but no matter how often you get yours filled it may not line up with your travel plans.
I usually check my meds about 3-4 weeks out from my trip so I have an idea of how much I have versus how much I will need while I’m gone.
If your prescription won’t be filled in time but you fear you may run out then check in with your pharmacist 1-2 weeks before your trip to ask for a “travel dose”. They can usually contact your insurance provider to make sure you have the coverage you need without having to pay out of pocket.
If you are traveling within your home country this may not be as much of an issue because, at least in the U.S., you can typically find a branch of your pharmacy chain and get a last minute refill if needed.
Which reminds me, always check your available refills at least a few weeks before you leave in case you or the pharmacy needs time to reach out to your doctor!
Occasional or Proactive Meds
Aside from any regular prescriptions you take it’s never a bad idea to do a little forward thinking about what else you might need.
While I have been able to find ibuprofen in several countries, access is not always easy depending on the size of the town or city or days of the week we are there, so I usually pack stuff like Tylenol, Advil, and any other “just in case” meds with me as well.
Having my cold-sore medication on hand in London this spring when I got really sick would have been super helpful. Lesson learned!
A more extreme example is when we went to New Zealand and Australia for a month in the winter of 2019-2020.
In July of 2019 I had an unexpected and severe case of cellulitis that hospitalized me briefly and put me on IV antibiotics at home for several weeks. While this appeared to be a fluke, my doctor very kindly wrote me a proactive prescription for antibiotics to get filled and take with me on our adventure across the world.
Thankfully I never needed it but having it in my suitcase made me feel much more relaxed about the possibility of infection because I knew what to look for and had what I needed just in case.
Other Health & Wellness Items
There are times when you can’t take what you need with you and may need to get it once you arrive.
In the last year I have added a CPAP machine to my self-care and it uses distilled water but of course traveling with more than a few ounces of water isn’t allowed or realistic.
At home I get it refilled in a glass jug from Whole Foods but it has now tagged along to a few countries including Italy, France, and Switzerland, as well as a tiny island off Puerto Rico, and that has been an adventure.
Depending on the town or country distilled water is not readily available in every drug or grocery store like it is in Buffalo. Even in a city as large as London I had to go to FIVE different stores trying to find it and ended up paying £15 for a 5 litre jug which was wayyyyy more than I needed (I wouldn’t even have gone through a gallon!).
In Puerto Rico the pharmacy was only open certain days and without planning ahead I had to go a few days without it until I could match my schedule with the pharmacist’s.
Taking stock of what you might need to buy once you’ve arrived is worth a little forethought and research so that you don’t spend time, energy, or worry once you’re there.
Another potential scenario is if you have to give yourself injections and keep “sharps” or needles on hand. Finding out in advance how to travel with and dispose of them if you are leaving your home country is always a great idea!
Garments and Accessories
Just like with medications or other health and wellness items, you might have more to pack if you are living with breast cancer-related lymphedema.
Breast Forms and Swimwear
If you are heading somewhere where you might be spending some time on the beach or in the water and your shape has changed since your diagnosis try to find items that are going to be comfortable and help you feel your best.
Some people are perfectly comfortable with a flat or unilateral chest while others want to wear breast forms to give them a shape they may have been more familiar with in the past.
Not all breast forms are created equal when it comes to things like heat, humidity, and aquatic activities so if you wear a traditional breast form at home, think about switching it up for something like the Boost form.
Additionally choosing a swimsuit that is both flattering and comfortable, regardless of breast cancer, is always a good idea.
My reconstructed breasts with implants ended up needing a very different style of swimwear than my original breasts so buying new suits proved necessary before our first warm weather trip and I’m so glad I took the time to try things on and find ones I liked. It meant our time by the pool was truly relaxing and fun!
Lymphedema Risk and Management
Even though I haven’t been diagnosed with lymphedema, I am at risk since I have had a sentinel node biopsy which is why I choose to wear a compression sleeve when I fly to help reduce the chance of triggering a flare up.
Since I only wear mine a few times a year I don’t have to replace it that often or have a back up, but if you wear compression sleeves, gloves, or bras regularly, make sure it’s meeting your current needs and that you have at least one back up set with you.
Some people I know have traveled with pneumatic pumps if they are managing more advanced lymphedema but these can be very cumbersome to lug around, especially if flying or taking trains.
If you need to manage lymphedema (or risk!) and are looking for a simple way to do so on the go, I highly recommend learning how to dry brush!
Dry brushing is an affordable, easy way to support your lymphatic system and almost every brush can slip right into your suitcase or carry on.
You can learn all about dry brushing after a breast cancer diagnosis in my online workshop!
My Lymphedivas compression sleeve that I wear when I fly to reduce any risk of triggering lymphedema.
A Note About Travel Health Insurance
If you are traveling out of your home country it is a good idea to check with your primary medical insurance provider to see what type of coverage you have before you go.
It is unlikely that you need top buy any special travel health insurance as most major U.S. insurance carriers offer emergency coverage while abroad.
It is also our personal experience that in the event of emergency many foreign countries will not turn you away based on insurance (and you may not even end up having to pay anything!).
In Summary (TL:DR):
Destination & Duration:
Pick a place that feels reasonable to get to and will have the amenities you need to be comfortable.
Plan to stay in one place if needed until you feel ready to get more adventurous.
Let your energy and well-being have a say in the types of activities you plan for or save bigger adventures for when you are ready.
Recognize that the further and longer you go, the more preparation you will need and the greater the potential for risks or challenges along the way.
Prescriptions and Medications:
Check your available refills and make sure you will have enough of your meds with you while away or ask for a travel dose 1-2 weeks out.
Consider if you have any occasional or “just in case” meds you should bring along.
Plan ahead for things you can only get once you’ve arrived and things that may require a bit more effort.
Garments and Accessories:
Make sure you have breast forms and swimwear that is going to help you enjoy a different climate or water activities.
Give yourself time to shop for them and try them on in advance so you can feel good about them during your trip!
Travel Health Insurance:
Check with your insurance carrier before your trip to make sure you are covered for basic emergency care and any other levels of care you may need while away so you don’t have any unexpected surprises.
Traveling is truly one of my great loves and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to do it often.
I am also grateful that I have learned how to make travel work for me in the 7 years since my diagnosis and treatment.
My needs and abilities continue to evolve and if I’m honest, traveling is even richer and more exciting than it was before because I’m a bit braver since my diagnosis and I’ve got a bit more “YOLO” attitude in me 😍
Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll be sharing all about the actual traveling portion of travel - planes, trains, and automobiles - and how to make them meet your needs!
I hope this post has been helpful!
Any questions? Comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram and don’t forget to check out my previous posts here on The Sunday Self-Care Chronicles!
NOTE: The Sunday Self-Care Chronicles and all content written for Amy Hartl, LMT and As We Are Now LLC is written from my perspective as a cis-gendered white woman. Because this is my lived experience and what I know and can speak to, and because MOST people diagnosed with breast cancer are assigned female at birth (AFAB), I often use terms like “she, her, woman, etc..” However I recognize that breast cancer does not discriminate by race, by gender assignment or expression, or any other label or identifier that we use in our society. Therefore, this space, my free content, and my online services are all available to you, whoever you are, if you are living with a breast cancer experience.
I am also well aware that many people who are diagnosed with breast cancer will never see an end to treatment. For those still living with breast cancer, especially metastatic breast cancer, life “after” or “beyond” breast cancer may refer to diagnosis vs. an end to treatment but I use this language interchangeably and invite you to apply it how you will to your personal experience.
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