Navigating Travel and Brain Cancer

A year and a half after my craniotomy, I’m back to travel for both work and vacation. It’s been a long time in planning, and I am thrilled that I’ve just completed two short international trips. With all of the ups and downs and uncertainties around COVID, I wasn’t sure that either of the recent trips would actually happen, but they did! If you’re dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis or have gone through treatment and are considering traveling again, I hope that sharing my own experiences might be helpful (recognizing that of course, we each have our own unique circumstances). Here are a few thoughts on how thus far, I've prepared for and stayed well while traveling -

1. Talk to your healthcare team. I talked to my neuro-oncologist quite far in advance of travel - at least six months ago. We discussed the destinations and the timing. I planned both of my international trips knowing that I’d be two months out of active chemotherap and discussed that timing during my regular check-ups. It was extremely helpful and reassuring to talk through health-related questions. While still in treatment, I took a short weekend trip to my cousin’s wedding. I spoke to my neuro-oncologist about that trip in advance as well and was glad to do so. I can't stress the importance of this tip enough!

2. Consider your treatments when scheduling travel. In my case, I made a conscious choice to wait until done with chemotherapy to return to any international travel. I knew that I didn’t want to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy while on airplanes, in transit, or even in different destinations where there’d be new food, different sleep schedules, and different routines. I also planned travel around regular check-ups and scans.

3. Plan your medication management strategy. I’ve blogged previously about tips for taking medicine on time. When traveling, it may involve a little math to figure out changes across time zones. For me, I have to take medication twice a day at 12-hour intervals. My best way to ensure that I do so is to set two alarms on my phone within five minutes of each other, both morning and night. Remember to take your medication with you in original bottles in carry-on luggage when going to and from your destination. During travel, you never know how long you’ll be out during the day. I keep some extra medicine in my backpack when out and about during the day, and in my pocket in a small bag when on a long plane ride. Make it as easy as possible for yourself to access your medicine during travel, and be sure to keep a water bottle with you at all times as well.

4. Get plenty of rest and hydrate during travel. I’m still not that far out from treatment, and have been pacing myself accordingly. It’s hard - when traveling, I have the urge to pack in and do as much as possible. I also know that I’m better off when I take a short rest here and there, even if for 10-20 minutes. No matter what, I try to stick to at least 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep a night when on the road. At least in my case, that really helps! I also try to drink lots of water throughout - from take-off to landing - to stay very well hydrated.

5. Enjoy your time! If you’ve faced a cancer diagnosis, you’ve probably gone through (and may still be going through) a whole sea of emotions. Cancer plus the COVID pandemic has made for a very tough past few years. If you have the chance and ability to travel - whether it’s for personal or professional reasons - I hope that you can enjoy it. Take in new experiences, sights, and cuisine. Even if you’ve been somewhere before, it’ll probably feel different this time around. And if you’re not ready for a long haul, a day trip to a local destination can be enormously uplifting. If you’re at the point where you feel comfortable, enjoy reconnecting with people in person - it’s such a refreshing feeling! As my cousin said to me recently, it’s these experiences that are so meaningful in life.

Whether you’re meeting new people or reuniting with colleagues, friends or family, I hope you have a safe, fun, and healthy time. Safe travels!

September 25, 2022

Picture: Stanley in Riga, Latvia, September 2022