Airline travel after radiation

stephincanada

Hi all,

I am planning on flying two weeks after completing radiation (whole breast and supraclavicular &axillary nodes). I had three nodes removed during the biopsy. Has anyone been told not to fly that soon after radiation? Do I need to wear a compression sleeve? I am not seeing my RO until next week, and thought I should figure this out sooner rather than later.

Thank you!

MinusTwo

steph - I would make sure you see a LE PT before you go and at least get measured for at least a 'stock' sleeve & glove. I put mine on before take off and leave it on for at least an hour after landing. I don't know the answer to your radiation question, but radiation changed the characteristics of my LE.

You will likely find some useful information in the site below that some of our BCO sisters helped write.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

meg2016

I actually flew every week during radiation, I had it at a treatment center not near my home and went home on the weekends after treatment every week. I started flying a few weeks after surgery and flew every week after. I was fitted for a sleeve and did use it for flying. No one (breast surgeon, radiation oncologist or lymphedema specialist) were concerned with me flying as long as I wore my sleeve.

stephincanada

thanks for the info

ChiSandy

My BS' NP measured me for a sleeve & gauntlet set a few days before my surgery and urged me to go out and buy it ASAP because I told her I was flying to Rome to take a Mediterranean cruise less than 3 months post-op. She said to wear it on any flight over 4 hrs, to put it on an hour before takeoff and remove it an hour after landing. I ended up having 4 nodes removed. My radiation was Nov. 2-23; and my flight was Dec. 14. No problem. You'll be fine.