WDW or Cruise for cancer patient?

[JennLen]

Hi All!

I am about to do a fundraiser for dear friends of mine and I don't have much experience with cancer and none with cancer and travel. What do you think would be more enjoyable for someone dealing with cancer (will likely be terminal) & chemotherapy treatments? The patient is a 40 year old male and he would be accompanied by his wife and their 5 & 7 year old boys.

On one hand I think a cruise would be relaxing and the boys can spend a lot of time in the kids club. However, I don't know how he would feel "on the sea" being as sick as he is.

WDW would be amazing but EXHAUSTING so I would have to factor in the additional cost of another caregiver to travel with them (probably myself).

On my last trip to WDW (just this past November) I broke my shoulder and was in immense pain. I guess because of that I have a little experience with disABILITIES at WDW. It was still a nice vacation even though I could do nothing but sit in my wheelchair because I was so loaded up on pain medication.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[SMD]

Chemotherapy basically kills the immune system. Can he travel at all?

I would check with the family, there may be treatment related reasons why he can't do one or the other.

 

[powellrj]

I doubt being at sea would be a great idea because if anything would happen, it would cost a small fortune to airlift him to a hospital. I would make sure he is able to travel at all.

 

[Pakey]

He needs to check with his oncologist. I had such a problem with my white counts while on chemotherapy and my immune system was crap; my oncologist wanted me limiting contact. I honestly didn't have the energy for a big vacation like WDW. Everyone handles it differently. Sun exposure is also something that has to be addressed.

There's no way in the world I would have done a cruise while on chemo. Not only the motion sickness but the reports of cruises with so much virus spreading would keep me from doing it.

 

[JennLen]

Oh thanks so much for the feedback you guys! I totally forgot about the immune system thing. He was recently offered tickets to a football game and had to turn them down due to that.

Good call on the whole being at sea in the event of an emergency thing.

Maybe, I wil stick to help with the medical bills for now.

 

[alizesmom]

Other things to do can be babysitting, running to the store and dropping off meals.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Check with his doctor. But you should all realize that medical treatment could be limited aboard ship. And you would need to find some trip insurance that covered pre-existing conditions. If he needed to be airlifted, it could cost quite a lot.

 

[LilyWDW]

If his treatment goes in any way like my mom's did, neither would be a good option. The cruise would be worse because you have a VERY small space with a large number of people and then you add in not having fast access to medical treatment if needed. However, Disney would be very bad too as you have a bunch of people from all over the world with all sorts of germs all over the place.

My mom ended up hospitalized multiple times during chemo treatments due to drops in her white blood counts. She often had to have transfusions. It was not fun.

 

[Talking Hands]

I suggest asking the patient himself which he would prefer as well as clearing it with his oncologist.

 

[DCDisney]

I had a family member go through this last year and though we really wanted her to be able to go to WDW with her little ones it just wasn't possible. With chemo and someone who is that ill things change hour by hour on if travel is or is not OK. Something more relaxing and driving distance like a beach cottage or mountain retreat type thing for a weekend might be nice. Where they can hang out on the couch with some nice scenery type thing and enjoy some quality family time away from the stresses at home.