trip during chemo

[dez1978]

Hello. Several months ago I realized my kids had a random 5 day weekend in Sept where they wouldn't miss much sports wise, and decided to plan a trip to WDW for MNSSHP. Then in June I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 1, caught early) . I've had a lumpectomy, that all went well, and now I've started chemo. 12 weekly rounds of taxol/herceptin. So my trip will fall after my 6th treatment. I'd be due for the 7th on the day we are flying out, so will skip that week. I've already talked to the dr and he's on board with this and says "Live as much as you feel up to". So as long as I am not sick, we plan to go. Really all I have planned is the party on Friday, sleep in, hang out at the resort/DS on Saturday, and Epic universe on Sunday, then we fly home Mon am.

For any of you who have done chemo and done a trip like this, do you have any suggestions? I have been looking into renting a scooter if I need to, thinking that maybe energy might be the biggest hurdle for me. I have planned to wear masks when in a crowd/plane etc. Lots of hand sanitizer, electrolytes etc. Anything else I might be missing?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

So you are just beginning chemo now? How are you feeling so far?

I just finished chemo in early summer. (Second time, first 22 yrs ago. Had taxol first time and taxotere this time, along with cytoxan and adriamycin first time.) I hate to be a Debbie Downer but I remember thinking this time I would not be up to a trip right now when I was in the midst of it. (Was very fatigued to the point I had to sit if in a store; low level nausea/anorexia; and bad, frequent diarrhea!) You might be different, especially if it’s a quieter trip. (I am going next month as I feel a lot better now, though surgery was rough in July and I just got out of the hospital for something unexpected, so I am hoping I actually get to go.) You, if I recall, are younger than me, also. (My younger self seemed to tolerate it a little better.)

With chemo, effects are cumulative. So each week it gets harder and harder as your blood levels take a beating. My red blood cells being low made me really fatigued, and even when I was in the hospital, from their taking so much blood, it happened again to me. When my red blood cell levels are up, I feel much better.

OK, with all that said, I think it’s great to do something fun - and live again - if you think you’re up to it. I think the ECV or a wheelchair may be a must. Be sure to wear a hat as the sun may be too much. Plan frequent rests, even if it’s in the parks in an attraction. Be careful when you’re indoors with people coughing and sneezing - consider eating outdoors if possible. Wishing you a great time with your family!

 

[dez1978]

So you are just beginning chemo now? How are you feeling so far?

I just finished chemo in early summer. (Second time, first 22 yrs ago. Had taxol first time and taxotere this time, along with cytoxan and adriamycin first time.) I hate to be a Debbie Downer but I remember thinking this time I would not be up to a trip right now when I was in the midst of it. (Was very fatigued to the point I had to sit if in a store; low level nausea/anorexia; and bad, frequent diarrhea!) You might be different, especially if it’s a quieter trip. (I am going next month as I feel a lot better now, though surgery was rough in July and I just got out of the hospital for something unexpected, so I am hoping I actually get to go.) You, if I recall, are younger than me, also. (My younger self seemed to tolerate it a little better.)

With chemo, effects are cumulative. So each week it gets harder and harder as your blood levels take a beating. My red blood cells being low made me really fatigued, and even when I was in the hospital, from their taking so much blood, it happened again to me. When my red blood cell levels are up, I feel much better.

OK, with all that said, I think it’s great to do something fun - and live again - if you think you’re up to it. I think the ECV or a wheelchair may be a must. Be sure to wear a hat as the sun may be too much. Plan frequent rests, even if it’s in the parks in an attraction. Be careful when you’re indoors with people coughing and sneezing - consider eating outdoors if possible. Wishing you a great time with your family!

I've had 1 treatment so far. Other than feeling like I am 100, so far it's ok. My whole body just aches. I had it Thursday. Friday I was ok, just really tired. Sat and Sun I wasn't as tired, just so sore. Like my hips and back, and cramps.. omg. But I think that could probably be managed with meds. I called and left a message for the nurse this morning about that, but will def be asking before my treatment this week.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Chemo is accumulative so if you're feeling it after the first round imagine after the 6th...
I'd say if possible change your dates. If not possible and the doctor says its safe for you to go then go knowing you'll likely not be up for doing much.

Also sounds like maybe you could benefit from Claritin as its recommended due to bone pain from chemo. So I'd ask your doctor if that would be okay to take.

Personally I'd be worried about febrile neutropenia and infection and going to Disney...

 

[dez1978]

Chemo is accumulative so if you're feeling it after the first round imagine after the 6th...
I'd say if possible change your dates. If not possible and the doctor says its safe for you to go then go knowing you'll likely not be up for doing much.

Also sounds like maybe you could benefit from Claritin as its recommended due to bone pain from chemo. So I'd ask your doctor if that would be okay to take.

Personally I'd be worried about febrile neutropenia and infection and going to Disney...

My stay is booked on points, so I'd have to use them by the end of the year or lose them bc I have a dec uy.

I've been taking claritin, but it hasn't helped at all. Thank you for the tip though.

 

[Counting Stars]

Chemo is accumulative so if you're feeling it after the first round imagine after the 6th...
I'd say if possible change your dates. If not possible and the doctor says its safe for you to go then go knowing you'll likely not be up for doing much.

This is so true... I would not recommend traveling at the mid point of chemo. Disney is a physically challenging vacation and Chemo is very hard on the body. If you can't bank your points perhaps you can rent them. My best thoughts for your speedy recuperation and recovery.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

"Chemo" encompasses such a wide range of treatments, some much more intense than others. And, even within any treatment protocol, people respond differently. For my lymphoma, chemo was six months. It was a 4 drug cocktail for the first 2 and then we were able to knock it down to 3 drugs for the remaining 4 months.

That said, I was neutropenic throughout my chemo treatment: a fever would have meant a guaranteed hospitalization. I definitely wouldn't want to then be stuck hospitalized in Florida, away from my care team.

Also, because effects are cumulative, things get much harder the further into the treatment you are. My infusions were every other week and, at the beginning, that meant 1-2 bad days before things started to turn around. By the middle, it was more like 3-4 days, and the rough days were a lot harder. That's all coming from someone who actually tolerated chemo extremely well: on my *good* weeks, I would run a couple of 5ks, including the morning of each infusion. But, by the time I was getting back up out of that chair that same afternoon, I felt like I got hit by a ton of bricks.

I know you mentioned dealing with a points issue here, too. Is there any way you can push it out from a MNSSHP to a MVMCP and let it be an end of chemo celebration? The later the better so that you give your body as much time as possible to heal and you let the temperature cool, too.

 

[SkyGuy]

My husband did 16 weeks of chemo, and he was wiped out most days. After three or four sessions, he would fall asleep at his desk, have me drive him places, and was generally low-functioning. He also experienced neuropathy in his feet and hands, making him unsteady at times and unable to grasp things firmly. He put on a happy (ish) face for lots of things, but I’m not sure he could have done so for a Disney trip. He def would have masked on the plane and parks. (The rest of us masked in crowded areas to protect him.)

 

[cedricandsophie]

10 years ago I was undergoing chemo treatment, 6 treatments over 4 months. Every 6 weeks or so. Between one of my treatments we decided to go to vero beach for a few days. I remember being tired and achy. Hand hairless although I had wigs. I just laid by pool although I couldn’t go into pool on Dr orders. I was tired too. I couldn’t imagine trying to do a park but maybe just going to lay by pool, have a few good meals and just relax.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I am so sorry you are going through this but I am happy things were caught early and everything seems positive.

I did 12 weeks of chemo followed by 5 weeks of radiation. Chemo builds in your body. Each week I would expect it to take longer to recover and to be more tired each week. By week 6 I had to use an ECV to grocery shop (I was 29 and otherwise healthy).

I would also ask if there are any consequences to skipping chemo. I was told under no circumstances to break my chemo cycle and miss a treatment. I am sure that varies by type of cancer and treatment.

If you think you want to go I would absolutely rent an ECV. I would set really low expectations. I would also be cautious of germs.

Knowing what I know now I would cancel. I know that would have been too much for me.