International travel at stage lV

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singlemom1
singlemom1 Member Posts: 434
edited February 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I am taking Letrazole and Ibrance for lung mets that is currently stable. I am looking into a trip to Italy with my 11 year old daughter. I am looking into tours, but I am nervous about traveling without another adult. I have never been to italy and have always wanted to go. The pace of the tour is described as fast and intense. I guess if I get tired and cant keep up i can stay back at the hotel but worry that my daughter will have to sit in a hotel room with me.I have asked many friends to go and no one is interested. I don't have much family. I am nervous and wonder if many of you have traveled internationally since your current diagnosis? Has anyone traveled alone with a child/preteen since being stage IV? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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  • Groovywilma
    Groovywilma Member Posts: 450
    edited February 2017

    Hi! Are you going with a tour group? I have done some traveling with a tour group and your daughter might be able to just stay with the group if you decide you need a break. However, I bet you'll somehow find the energy to push through and enjoy Italy! You might also find a tour that's more "leisurely" instead of fast and intense. Have an amazing time!

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited February 2017

    Yes! I have been to France, Italy, Spain and England since my Stage IV diagnosis and have had a wonderful time, every time. However, I have gone with my partner and not on a tour. The idea of a tour that is "fast and intense" would give me pause. I like going at our own pace. Must you go on a tour? Can't you plan something on your own so you and your daughter can do what you want to, when you want to? How about booking an apartment in Rome? It's a fabulous place in itself and you can take day trips to places like Pompeii. If you need the company of another adult, can you ask a girlfriend to come along? The three of you could have a lovely time!

    Tina

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  • leftfootforward
    leftfootforward Member Posts: 1,726
    edited February 2017

    I traveled through Ireland this past summer with my 4 children on my own. I won't lie, it was exhausting at times but I got through it. I did benefit from the fact they had each other. You can do it. If you aren't sure if the fast paced tour I would also suggest you look into other tours that aren't billed that way.


    Good luc

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2017

    I've traveled to Peru, Ireland, Spain, Paris & Italy since being diagnosed stage IV, and I plan to go to Iceland, England/Scotland, and Amsterdam in the next few months. I would look into tours that are not labeled as fast and intense. The Paris & Italy one that I went on was geared towards college students (it was with a college I teach at), and I left it saying I could never do one like that again. For example, we saw all the Roman ruins and Vatican in one day -- it was crazy. I would find a tour company that builds in some "at your leisure" time to see sights. That way if you were tired you could go back to the hotel but if not, you could see things at your pace. Gate1Travel has many of these types of tours. The Iceland one that I am going on is through them, and the England/Scotland initial part of the tour this May is through them as well. Now the England/Scotland still says it is fast paced and could have 2-3 hours of walking, but the at your leisure time almost every day helps make up for that. Just my thoughts!

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2017

    Another traveler here. New Zealand, Australia, Alaska ,Florida , Lake Tahoe, to name a few. I did some organized tours, some things on our own, but kept things flexible and never "intense" . I was often less fatigued than I thought I would be due to the excitement of travel and I always slept well. Do make sure you buy travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions and check in with yourself throughout the day. If you need to rest just stop and do so. Travel can be tiring but enriching and invigorating as well

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  • singlemom1
    singlemom1 Member Posts: 434
    edited February 2017

    Thank you everyone for your feedback. The tour I am looking at is geared for families. I think my daughter would enjoy this type of tour as it includes activities that kids are interested in and I think she would also enjoy being with other children. It appears all the family tours are described as fast paced and high activity. However, we will be in each area for 3 days so we will not be running from hotel to hotel. It just seems to have many activities scheduled each day with hours of walking. There is some free time scheduled in as well. Though I wish we were going with another adult, I do feel better after hearing your responses. Thank you everyone. I am going to book it on Monday.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited February 2017

    Go for it! Take a look at the tour days themselves. Often they are structured into "morning" and "afternoon". If it'a a group and you get too tired, you lie down in the afternoon and your daughter can go with the group. Someone will be happy to look after her. That's the advantage.

    I admit to usually going on with a small group or on my own, but I've had little trouble with fatigue. And I travel a lot for work so I'm accustomed.

    This year I'm headed to Spain in May, Toronto in July, the Ecuador in August and Denmark in October. The first and last are for work.

    Please, travel! Don't let this disease ground you until it really has to. Have a fabulous time.

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited February 2017

    I have done a lot of international travel since diagnosis. If you can coordinate it with the tour schedule, you can try to schedule your sightseeing to permit a mid-day break. I always do this which helps a lot for treatment-related fatigue, bone mets back pain, Xeloda-related foot pain, etc. I would schedule plans that would put me close to the hotel in the mid afternoon and would take a break. My DH likes it too because he gets tired and he is very active/healthy! I also balance out activities that involve a lot of walking/standing with some where sitting is permitted interspersed. Standing seems to be tougher for me than walking.

    Also, I always bring some good comfortable walking shoes with thick, cushiony cotton socks. I then wear those thick, super soft "fluffy" socks in the hotel room when I return to rest my feet.

    Have a great time! I always seem to do better than anticipated when I have big trips like that. Something about being on vacation and away from the responsibilities back home.

    I have an international trip coming up where I have to fly alone with my 2-yr old. A bit nervous about that!


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