?? about radiation |
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Beth Anne 
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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 Topic: ?? about radiationPosted: Apr 28 2008 at 2:05pm |
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Hi Ladies,
I am new to the site... I have learned so much more in the last week since loging on, then I did in the last year! It is so wounderful for me to find a forum of women who understand my reality for the last year...
I just want to know if I am insane for planing a 6 week long family vacation to Europe one week after finishing 7 weeks of radiation???
 My doc's give me conflicting answers so I not sure just how crazy I might be... All I can think about after the last year is getting as far away from anything that says "cancer center" or"hospital" and spending quality time with my daughter,nice and sainted husband!
Just to give you some back ground on me I was diganosed 5/07 did 6x AC 16x Abrax, in the middle of 12x Navelbine... TNBC stageIII 8 lymph nods, bilateral mass, 2/08...
Thanks,
Beth Anne
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cg---
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Joined: Jul 20 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1379 |
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Posted: Apr 28 2008 at 2:22pm |
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Dear Beth Anne, How are you feeling now? When is your radiation ending and when do you leave (thinking weather - and where you will be going)
Describe the nature of your trip - 7 countries in 7 days, staying with family.....would you be on tour, strict schedule, we need a general idea what you plan on doing.
We need to give informed advice and opinions once we have all the facts.
As I was reading your question...I was mentally packing - but give us the facts and we will formulate some tips to help you physically be ready for the trip.
Connie |
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Beth Anne
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: Apr 28 2008 at 3:43pm |
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Hi Connie,
Okay here is the trip as planned...
First 3 days we will be in our home in Paris, then we will fly to Venice for 4 day were we will be staying at a friends apartment and I will be running around the islands doing buying for my retail store, then we will be driving to Tuscany for 5 days doing some buying and spending time with friends from Paris that are meeting up with us there.. then we are taking the girls down to Pompeii for 2 days(this will be a lot of walking).
After all of this we will be flying back in Paris for about 3 weeks. Now Paris I'm not worried about because for me this is my other home. Everything is easy to get to from where we live, and my husband is more then able to take my nice around and show her the sights and I can sit home resting???
Do you think the high heat will play a part in how well I do?? Tuscany can be brutal in the summer... Veinice just has lots of mosquitoes in the summer and some humidity that could be unpleasant.
So what do you think compleatly crazy or just a little insane?
Beth Anne
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Beth Anne
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: Apr 30 2008 at 7:57pm |
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Hi All,
is there anyone out there that can help me with this one...???
Beth Anne
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cg---
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Joined: Jul 20 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1379 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 1:40am |
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Dear Beth Anne,
It sounds like a wonderful trip. First, I think it is important to ask your doctors exactly what their concerns are if you take the trip.
Considerations:
Double mastectomy February 2008 - Would there be a problem with the long flights?
Chemotherapy - How are you feeling (side effects)? What are your blood counts like?
Radiation - You can have minimal reaction or a bad sunburn type feeling. Some women kept working every day during radiation...others suffered fatigue that required additional resting.
Desert Lily is a organically grown (refrigerated after picking to prevent bacteria) pure aloe to use for any radiation irritation. Can be purchased in the States and may be recommended by your cancer clinic.
You can plan for the worst and hope for the best. "Be prepared" motto.
The great news is that if medically you can be "cleared for take-off" - the other things can be dealt with. I am sure that seeing the beauty of all the places you mentioned and sharing the experience with your family would be therapeutic and be the "best medicine" you could give yourself!
Connie
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Wendy2
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Joined: Apr 10 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 213 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 1:46am |
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All I have to say is "Can I go"? If you feel good after rads., and I did - I'd go!
Wendy2
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dx 3/06 TN, taxotere/cytoxin x4; radiation x 40; mets. to lungs, lymph nodes 3/08 - to begin chemo 4/29/08 Abx/Avas., 9/08 Avastin maintenance, 1/09 - off meds to see if Avastin causing headaches
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CarynRose
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Joined: Aug 04 2007 Location: Robbinsville, NJ, USA Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 4:14am |
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Seconded here -- if you feel good enough after the rads to go, go for it. I went to Israel just a few weeks after finishing heavy duty chemo cocktails and was surprisingly fine. Just listen to your body and rest when you need to.
Bring your skin products with you to care for the irradiated areas that might be uncomfortable. Make sure you keep yourself hydrated on the flights over and back (make sure that you get up and walk around just to keep your blood flowing properly).
Oh, and have a great time!!
Caryn
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Orig dx 6/03 - St.2a, IDC
gr.3,0 nodes, TNBC/BRCA1+ 7/07 St 4 mets to nodes/lungs. PACA/Rads NED 11/07-10/08 Lepto mets 10/08 Rads for 4 brain tumors 4/10. Leptomets return 6/10 |
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Beth Anne
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 9:16am |
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Hi Connie and all others for your input!
I have asked the Doctors and I only hear "I don't know, its hard to say" this of course is not a trip that can be clx and the last min... I guess I will just have to go for it and hope for the best...
I am doing okay right now adjusting to the Navelbine and have not been in the hospital for over a week so I am keeping my fingers crossed for this last month of chemo... I guess as long as the 11 pills I take every morning and evening keep me out of the hospital, then it's all good
 Any one that wants to be pack in my suitcase is welcome but I think Air France weight limit is 66 lbs so..... I know I lost 25lb with the chemo but 66lb's???
Take care,
And thanks again
 Beth Anne
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CarynRose
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Joined: Aug 04 2007 Location: Robbinsville, NJ, USA Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 11:40am |
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Beth Anne,
One other thing -- you should, from now on, make trip insurance part of your new trip budgets. In addition to covering you if you have to cancel, it can come in handy if you need to use a hotel doctor or pharmacy while you are abroad.
From years of traveling abroad for years, I am an expert packer, BTW. I'd be happy to help you out with your 66 pound limit. Just PM me and I'll give you some hints.
Cheers,
Caryn
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Orig dx 6/03 - St.2a, IDC
gr.3,0 nodes, TNBC/BRCA1+ 7/07 St 4 mets to nodes/lungs. PACA/Rads NED 11/07-10/08 Lepto mets 10/08 Rads for 4 brain tumors 4/10. Leptomets return 6/10 |
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EWKSeattle
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Joined: Oct 25 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 218 |
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Posted: May 02 2008 at 9:56am |
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Hi Beth Anne,
I took a 4-week trip to the UK last summer. It wasn't right after rads, but close. I did rads Jan-March, then chemo (Navelbine and Avastin) for 4 months right before we left. I switched to Xeloda and away we went. It was almost like not having cancer.
I also did a 10-day trip to Italy in December in the middle of chemo.Before you buy trip insurance, read the fine print carefully. Lots of policies have exclusions for pre-existing conditions. No point paying the premium if it won't cover what you might need!
Bon voyage,
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Dx 05/06 Stage IIIC
Local Recurrence 01/07 Mets in opposite side axilla nodes 12/07 Mets to mediastinal nodes confirmed 11/08 NED March 2009-March 2010 Brain met March 2010. |
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Beth Anne
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: May 04 2008 at 8:11am |
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Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for the information and I am so happy to hear that you had some trips to Europe as well.
I am not so worried about trip insurance as we are flying on free tickets from FFMiles, and the place we are staying for all but 6 days are either our apartment in Paris, or our friends apartment in Venice so not so worried about that. Its more a matter of having to do this trip to keep my business going.
Did you have any problems with Lymphedema and the flying? My onc has recomened that I get a Lymph. sleve to where durring the flight and I have to say this is one of my bigest fears... Any advice???
By the way Elizabeth are you in Seattle? It was so funny when my sister was looking at this site with me and it just so happened that she was reading a number of your posts she kept looking at me and saying "is this you?" "are you sure this isn't you" our stories and treatment is has been the same so far??? Also my real name is Elizabeth
Funny huh!Best regards,
Beth Anne
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neicybroomer
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Joined: Apr 17 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Posted: May 04 2008 at 3:36pm |
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Hi Beth
Well, I had double mastectomy in July 2006 after immediate chemo, which was followed by 36 treatments of radiation. I finished in November. I went to Disney in March of 2007. I was very excited, but I needed rest periods and I mean a lot of them. At the end of the day I was tired, but it was great because I went straight to sleep. Now, when I mean rest periods, I sent places where I could sit and look or enjoy. I wasn't on my feet all the time. Remember during radiation you have a tiredness that rest won't help. I would just take it east, enjoy because believe me.....getting away is "the boomb" after going through what we go through. Enjoy and take it easy. |
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stage IIIC with mets to subclavicular nodes. dx 2006 at age 41. chemo:act, bilateral mast. and radiation.
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neicybroomer
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Joined: Apr 17 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Posted: May 04 2008 at 3:40pm |
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Oh, sorry beth
As far as lymphedema I put my sleeve on and wore it like usual when I got there. Drink fluids and get up every hour if the flight is long and walk. I did not have any problem. Just make sure you wear your sleeve. I recently went to welcome my daughter home from Iraq and flew from Delaware to Seattle washington. Now you are talking long approx 9 hours to and 6 hours back. I wore my sleeve, got up a few times. Did not have a problem. Good luck and have fun. |
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stage IIIC with mets to subclavicular nodes. dx 2006 at age 41. chemo:act, bilateral mast. and radiation.
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