Forum Discussion
Tingy
10 years agoMember
Holiday after treatment finishes?
Hi ladies,
It's still a long road until I finish my treatment, looking at early February 2017 (chemo & radiotherapy) ...and I need something to look forward to.
Some friends and family have suggested how about a holiday after all the treatments have finished. I wonder how realistic it is? Has anyone planned a holiday afterwards and thoroughly enjoyed it? I'm bit concerned about whether I'll feel very fatigued or what if I need medical attention while I'm on holidays?
My husband is thinking about an overseas a destination eg Hawaii and just stay at a resort. We have 2 young kids though (will be 1 and 3 by then) so not sure how relaxing it would be. Is it worth even contemplating an overseas trip shortly afterwards? Or would a closer holiday destination is better such as somewhere with a few hours of drive or within Australia but take a domestic flight?
Any experiences or advice is welcome, thanks a lot!
Tingy
19 Replies
- Cate64Member
Hi Tingy,
I went on a 2 week cruise to PNG between Chemo cycles 4 & 5, was the best thing for me I thoroughly enjoyed it......
Cate
- SoldierCrabMember
Tingy,
One of the otis properties I stayed at Slept 10.... (Pearl Beach NSW)
so check them out you might be able to take some support people who could deal with your children and let you get some R & R ....
It will depend on where you are based also as I wouldnt of wanted to travel lots just after my treatment finished it was 3mths after I finished with treatment when I did the Bendigo trip that was an 11hr drive for us.
- Ann-MarieMember
Hi Tingy,
I just wanted to jump in and share this with you. Primek had mentioned about the search function we have - click here to see travel insurance blogs I found.
- SophollieMember
I finished my chemo (Surgery and rads still to come) and two weeks later we did a 4 hour drive north to Cairns just hubby and me. We left our kids with friends for 2 nights.
All we did is stay in a hotel and find great restaurants to eat at. What should have been a 10 minute walk down the wharf took me over a half hour with all the rest stops i had to make lol. We had a great time though. It was nice to just reconnect with no pressure on us about treatment and kids etc. We did basically nothing but really there was no way I could have done more. No regrets though. It was a great escape from the world which we definitely needed.
- primekMember
network/members/Marlee/blog/holiday-insurance
- primekMember
Just sharing that thete are blog and comnents about travel insurance which is possible after breast cancer treatment. So you have the info when ready. Just go into blogs and choose topic insurance and several blogs will come up.
- Cook65Member
Hi Tingy,
we booked a holiday for 2 weeks at Port Macquarie two weeks before I was diagnosed. It was shear fluke that it fell between chemo and radiotherapy. I had to take things easy and it took us longer to drive there and back, as I couldn't travel too far in one day, but it was a wonderful, relaxing and gave me something to look forward to. My 2nd last herceptin was on my 50th birthday so as part of the celebration of that as well as the end of treatment (6 months chemo, 33 radiotherapy and 12 months of 3 weekly herceptin) we booked a week away in Airlie Beach. Again, I took things relatively easy, had sleeps when I needed them and made sure that I had rest time planned in. They were both truly wonderful holidays, gave me something to look forward to and gave both my husband and I some downtime so that we could digest what we had been going through. I would highly recommend going somewhere in Australia so that you have medical support if required and it is easier to get home if you need to. Plus you may have trouble getting travel insurance if you are going overseas. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Karen xox
- melclarityMember
Jane Elizabeth,
I have to agree with you, a shorter break and closer to home and save the bigger one til later. I desperately wanted to get away at the end of Chemo but I was so incredibly ill for 4.5 months of it and the side effects continued for many many more months thereafter. I never got to go away at the end of it all in December, now Im 8 months post chemo I have a holiday booked to the Cook Islands end of October. I finally feel well enough though am bit scared as Ive had 2 viruses in a month and i cannot seem to get over it. I didnt have much support through my whole ordeal, thankfully my Dad helped me with my kids as was in hospital after each FEC infusion, I had 4 and 8 taxol. They are 16 & 18, sadly this is the 2nd time theyve been through this with me in 5yrs. My Mum passed away 7yrs ago. Being a single parent has had its challenges for 6yrs and I work full time as well.
I really like the sound of the Otis and I think I may revisit that again, after reading the reviews from others.
Melinda xo
My oncologist said not to book an overseas holiday until well after active treatment because I wouldn't be able to enjoy it fully. We have booked a short 6 day break to QLD to fit in between end of chemo and start of radio.
The trouble with booking something for after treatment is that you won't know how far after treatment it is that you will be feeling well enough to go, although it is tempting to book just to have something pleasant to look forward to. I had a five day Otis stay in between surgery and chemo, which was fantastic. I don't have young children any more, but from their point of view it is irrelevant whether their holiday is in another country or half an hour down the road, as long as there is something different to see, touch, taste, pat, play in. So I guess what I found was: slot in smaller rewards along the way to keep you going and to mark the end of each stage, and then think about "the big one" when you know how you feel.
You are a champ to be going through this with young children, all power to you.
- LITHGOW1950Member
Hello, some good feed back the ladies have given you. I finished treatment (chemo & radio) about seven weeks ago. Hubby & I really wanted to get away in our caravan. Got the ok from all the specialists. We have been staying at Nambucca heads for one month now. Although all my treatment went well ( except for shingles I got) I have had stomach pain and have had to visit the Drs here. Still waiting on some results.
So I guess somewhere in Australia is a good idea.
Just a thought, we are staying at a lovely caravan park ( white albatross) it has beautiful cabins and a small play area for children. Food shopping minutes away and there are some excellent walks.
Such a good idea to have something to look forward to.
good luck with your decision and I hope all your treatment goes well......hard to believe but it'll be over before you know it.
Anne-Mare ??