trips after treatments over

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fredntan
fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I've been planning trip for when my treatments are over. and wondering what everyone elses plans are. where you've been, etc

I live on east coast. Am leaning towards going to Puerto Rico. I like the fact it has rain forest/ clear blue waters/ and really old city-San jan? and that its in US territory. I've heard its also easier on pocket book. planning trip for this summer.

I've been to St John a couple times. rented house. it was beautiful. nice snorkeling. groceries where expensive. flight wasn't bad.

I've also thought of Hawaii-went there 6 yrs ago. was absolutely gorgeous. flight nearly killed us. took 12 hrs. then the time change from east coast. groceries not as pricey as st John. went to Oahu and took day trip to the Big Island and saw lava field. was very nice

Has anyone else been to Puerto Rico? I want to try new things.

I've also been to grand canyon/zion park. loved the southwest. was so different from VA. was also thinking of going to Sedona Arizona. We were in Las Vegas/grand canyon in july. and I didn't find the heat that bad. was a dry heat. much different than this muggy heat in east.

wanted to do europe, but the flights are so much.

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  • shirleysangels22
    shirleysangels22 Member Posts: 36
    edited December 2011

    Hi fredntan, I hope all is well with you. Have you ever thought of a cruise? My husband and I have been on 5 of them before diagnosis. We are hoping to be able to go on one in 2012. We love them. You don't have to worry about finding food, getting lost, or a place to stay at night. The ship will take you to at least 4 different places. It is just a thought. I love to travel. I hope my onc will give me the go ahead in January to travel. God bless and happy traveling

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    Fran, I went to San Juan for work once and it was really nice. Like you said, you've got beach, exploring old San Juan, and the jungle. I was mostly stuck inside my hotel for meetings because I wasn't there on my dime, but I did go on a zipline tour of the jungle canopy one day and on a night-time kayak tour of a bioluminescent bay another. I am not sure there is as much to do as in Hawaii, but it will be a LOT cheaper, and there is plenty to keep you busy.

    I would love to visit Miami after my treatment is over but my partner has to travel every week for work in Jan and won't want to add extra travel on the weekends. But I would love to go there to sun myself and paddle a canoe in the ocean. I made some new friends the last time I was there and was impressed with the restaurants. We do already have plans for Mexico with another couple of friends in Feb, so that may be it for me. Not that I'm complaining! I can't wait to put all this BC BS behind me and just get on with my life. 

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  • hotandcold
    hotandcold Member Posts: 205
    edited December 2011

    Fredntan: I love planning trips and traveling.  I've been to all 50 states, traveled extensively in S. America, been on 2 cruises in the Carribbean and 3 times to Europe.  I think Puerto Rico is a great choice! Especially if you've already been to Hawaii.  It has a lot to offer and a wide variety and the people were all very kind to us when we were there.  I've been to Sedona, while I loved it I was done with the hiking after about 3 days.  But, if you want to just go somewhere and bake in the sun it could be the place to go.  We rented a timeshire for a whole week.  You can go on line and rent a timeshare even if you don't own one.  We loved renting for a whole week.  Good Luck !

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited December 2011

    We are planning to go in Paris the end of May.  My 30-year-old DD is graduating from college in a few days and this is a celebration for both of us. 

    I've been to Hawaii about 5 times, just love it!  I've also been to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, Mt. Rushmore, Crater Lake, and several other national parks. 

    I don't think a flight to Europe is any more expensive than a flight to Hawaii.  And the flight is shorter if you're leaving from the east coast. 

    But whatever you do, it will be wonderful!

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  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited December 2011

    After the bmx I did alot of reading about bc and one of the best tips I learned for getting through the first 6 months was to plan a special trip, somewhere you had always wanted to go, and let that be your goal. It helps to occupy your mind with "something good" instead of being consumed with worry and the day to day issues of bc. My husband and I had always wanted to see Yellowstone and the Tetons but there was always something else that seemed more urgent. Well guess what, we planned and took that trip after the last reconstruction surgery. It was awesome. Montana and Wyoming are amazing. 

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited December 2011

    I am 2 years out, but all I thought about during treatment was the travelling I had never really done with my family. I wanted my kids to see the world, and I wanted to be part of that. Fares to Europe dropped 3 days before they got out of school for the summer. I packed my ipad, kids, a train time table book and off we went. Ireland, Wales, London, Paris and Rome. It was absolutely a dream come true. I still have goosebumps. I found inexpensive hotels, we ate from the local grocery stores...did it cheap, but we did it all. Now, the kids cleaned out a mayonnaise jar and place allowance money in it for our next trip. They love going to bookstores and sitting in the travel section planning our next adventure. Nothing will ever compare to that last trip, I wanted to fit everything in, just in case I never got the opportunity again.

    This can be done on a smaller scale too. We now go to our local chamber of commerce and get local brochures of attractions. We study them, then take off for the afternoon, enjoying and appreciating the history of our own backyard.

    I went to Puerto Rico several years ago. I did the coolest thing...a midnight canoe in Viecques bioluminescent bay. There are microorganisms that glow blue in the dark...they adhere to your paddle, your hand, anything in the water...and glow blue in the moonlight. Its incredibly beautiful and not to be missed!!

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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited December 2011

    my good friend just returned from a cruise

    and stopped off at Puerto Rico

    she enjoyed it muchly, but she did experience

    high seas she said :)

    Sierra

    Enjoy your trip whatever u decide

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited December 2011

    I just completed surgery and got clear margins and nodes.  We are taking a cruise leaving on New Year's Eve to celebrate!  Leaving from Miami and sailing to Puerto Rico, St. Martin and St. Kitts, a couple of days at sea, and return to Miami.  It's just going to be chill out and enjoy the warm sea breezes of the Caribbean.  I am soooo looking forward to it.  To avoid getting seasick, I always wear a patch behind my ear.  I cut a whole one in quarters and wear just a quarter so I don't get sleepy.  It works great!

    We are going to Mesquite Nevada in April where my boyfriend plays in a golf tournament with his cousin, then we'll probably drive over to Sedona for a week....love that place...it's so spiritual!

    In early May, some girlfriends are trying to plan a cruise to Alaska (been there/done that) which will just be a time to enjoy being with friends!  Then, it's off to NC to our summer home where we stay until the fall.

    After facing this bc challenge in 2011, I had a wake up call that life can give you some unexpected surprises.  I'll quote one of my friends who is living with stage IV bc..."Remember, we only have today...no one owns tomorrow". 

    geewhiz:   Enjoy your life!  That's what I'm talking about!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Well, we went to Paris during chemo, because I wanted to go and we had a friend who could host us. The break was really nice.

    But, when I am done-done, I plan to go "home," i.e. to Copenhagen and see family and old friends.

    Then I want to go to the US and see old friends there. It has been ages since I was there.

    We also plan to go to Israel for a couple of days to consult with a breast specialist there about follow-up care.

    I really hope they sort things out in Syria soon, because I have been wanting to go there for years. 

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited January 2012

    Just returned from our cruise.  It was great....just what was needed to get away from all of the stress of going through the dx and surgery, as well as facing treatments in the future.  I didn't think about my bc once the entire trip!  I can't recommend it highly enough...travel all you can...you won't be sorry.

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  • Jean0078
    Jean0078 Member Posts: 38
    edited February 2012

    I just got back from the Big Island Hawaii. Spent three weeks there between chemo and rads. Luckily I have a relative there to stay with. Even forgot about BC for periods of time while I was there. After Rads  March I have rented a condo in New Mexico for a month. A secure place with two pools etc. My sister lives a few miles away so she checked it out. I am lucky to have no financial troubles and my husband is deceased ( not lucky there) so plan on going as much as possible. Looking at a couple of Road Scholar trips to England and one of those river boat cruises thru Europe too. 

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited February 2012

    We decided on family trip to Maine in august. We can drive. There is lobster. I am sick of NC/SC beaches. Ready for some beautiful Acadia national park. Some hiking. And my mom and sister paying for house. Can't beat that.

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  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited February 2012

    We're going to Hawaii (Oahu) in a few months. That's another place we had always wanted to go. The flight will be a killer from the east coast, but, my dreaded 4 month onco appointment in the morning serves as a reminder to go, travel as often as we can, enjoy life, because it can change for us in a heartbeat.  

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  • ptdreamers
    ptdreamers Member Posts: 1,080
    edited February 2012

    Jean0078, If you want to river cruise in Europe I can highly reccommend Grand Circle. Their ships are small. Groups are also small and you really get good value for your money. emphasis is on the culture so you get to interact with local families.

    We are taking a fifeteen day cruis in April with Holland America. I love the unpacking once and leaisure of a cruise.

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  • englishrose
    englishrose Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2012

    This year we want to go back to Alaska on a cruise. We have been there before, and I find it absolutely amazing and peaceful. I know is chilly!!!! but is worth it.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2012

    These all sound like wonderful trips, and well deserved too! If you'd like to share pictures of your travel adventures, there are instructions for posting them in a very helpful illustrated tutorial put together by community member nowheregirl (formerly Timtam). There are also instructions in the Help section from the link at the top right of any page.

    Judith and the Mods

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