• Travelling

    It’s important to realise that cancer is not a single disease with a single cause and a single type of treatment. There are more than 100 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.



    Cancer may have specific effects on the body, and in some people may cause specific physical problems depending on the part of the body that is affected.

    Some examples are:

    • Lung cancer can cause a cough or breathlessness.
    • A cancer that has spread into the lymph glands may cause swelling of a part of the body by blocking the flow of lymph fluid through the affected lymph glands. This is known as lymphoedema.
    • Cancer in a bone may make the bone weak, and increase the chance of it breaking (a fracture).

    These physical problems or disabilities may make travelling difficult.

    Travelling when undergoing treatments

    Treatments that are commonly used for people with cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

    Treatment may be aimed at curing a cancer, or at controlling it for as long as possible to give the best quality of life.

    Cancer treatment may also have effects on the body and can cause short-term problems such as sickness, diarrhoea or sensitivity to the sun. Occasionally, treatments can cause long-term physical problems, such as swelling of a limb.

    Some treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause extreme tiredness (fatigue) both during and after treatment. The tiredness may limit the type of travel you can do, or the amount of activity you can manage while you are away.

    Some types of surgery for cancer may cause a permanent physical change to the body, for example:

    • Removal and creation of a colostomy or ileostomy
    • Removal of a breast (mastectomy)
    • Removal of another part of the body.

    Your stoma care nurse specialist can give you advice regarding travel insurance, certificates, supplies and dietary issues while you are away.

    Sometimes it’s possible to have a holiday while you are still in the middle of treatment – for example, between courses of treatment. In this situation it’s very important to discuss things with your doctor beforehand, so that you can plan the best time for your holiday.

    You can take this chance to talk through any possible problems and how to deal with them if they occur.

    Source: Macmillan UK 

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