Holiday abroad while on herceptin

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louis1
louis1 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2017 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi i was just wondering if anyone had been abroad for a holiday while on herceptin. I have finished chemo, had surgery and awaiting radiation. i wanted to go to the canaries next march.

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  • Grimbol
    Grimbol Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2012

    Hi louis1,

    I have been to London and the Czech Republic while on Herceptin.  I flew to London the day I finished rads as my father had died, and then I went again just recently to see my mom and to visit my son and his family in Czech.  I had to delay my herceptin while I was gone first time, but the next one I did H the day before I left and the day after I got home. I never had any trouble at the airports with my port either.

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  • louis1
    louis1 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2012

    Hi Grimbol thanks for your reply.

    I have a picc line in arm to which has to be flushed every week. Is your port similar to a picc line. Also the insurance, did you declare you were still gettin treatment cos it wud be very expensive or might not insure me at all. 

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  • Grimbol
    Grimbol Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2012

    hmm, a picc line is different to the port, it is supposed to be used/flushed every 4 weeks but I was fine with mine, I think I actually went 6 weeks but it still worked ok.  I didn't worry about insurance.  I am British so going to London I'd have got treatment fine, and probably my insurance would have paid from here if I'd needed it.  How long are you going to be gone for?

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  • louis1
    louis1 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2012

    Just a week but would need holiday insurance and dont think ide get the cancer covered with it being a pre existing medical condition that requires ongoing treatment.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited July 2012

    A teacher friend of mine took a group of students to Germany while on Herception. As I recall, she had an infusion a day early before she left and the next one a day late when she got home. She didn't have any problems. She just had IV infusions. No port or picc line.

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2012

    I went on a business trip to Europe while on Herceptin. It shouldn't be any issue as normally Herceptin causes little or no symptoms. By the time you go on the trip, you will have been on Herceptin for months and will know how it affects you - it's not like Herecptin is something that would cause a sudden acute problem.

    Other than a slight tendency for a drippy nose and slower hair growth, I didn't notice any side effects from Herceptin. 

    I didn't take trip insurance - my medical insurance provides coverage for urgent care while outside the US. But when I have taken trip insurance in the past (expensive non-refundable trips) there wasn't any exclusion for pre-existing conditions. On a trip to China, someone in our group had his hip implant fail and that was covered. 

    My trip was two weeks and one of my every 3 week Herceptin infusions would have fallen in the middle of it. To work around that, my oncologist gave me a two-week dose two weeks before my trip instead of the usual 3-week dose. Then I got Herceptin again right before leaving on the trip.

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited August 2012

    I went to Mexico while on herceptin. No problems at all, but I also had a port so there was no worry of flushing or any care. Hope you can travel and enjoy !



    Christine

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2012

    I had a port. I'm not sure about traveling with a PICC line which has more risk of infection, I think. Perhaps the line could be removed and your remaining Herceptin infusions done with a regular IV? If you just finished chemo, by next March you should be close to done with the year of Herceptin.

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  • KeepingFaith69
    KeepingFaith69 Member Posts: 508
    edited September 2012

    Kia Ora,

    I live in New Zealand.  I visited Dubai, London, Paris, Rome, Milan and Venice whilst on Herceptin.  I have a port in my chest and was careful not to do anything that might damage it (like riding the super fast waterslides in Dubai).  That said, I loved every minute of my trip and hope to travel to the northern hemishphere on 2013.  If there is one thing I learned from this journey it is that LIFE IS FOR LIVING. Every opportunity I get, I 'live my dream' and create beautilful memories with the people I love.  Wishing you vitality and joy xo

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited September 2012

    Hi Louis

    I have a PICC line that has to be flushed every week so I'm only going for six days.

    The line will be flushed on the day I go and I will be flying back six days later to be ready for it to be flushed on day 7 again.

    It is inconvenient but I did not like the idea of having a port. The PICC line suits me much better as I can check that it is clean and any gunk is washed off every week.

    I've got a card for emergency healthcare in Europe (reciprocal agreement with the UK and Europe) but have not got insurance.

    This is because I have to have a repeat bone scan in October or November and that is considered to be on-going treatment and is not covered by the insurance companies I researched.

    A shame but...too bad. I'm going anyway.

    Alice

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  • bhd1
    bhd1 Member Posts: 3,874
    edited September 2012

    i went everywhere while on h.  and did anything i wanted.  just be home for next infusion

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  • DKD47
    DKD47 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2017

    I plan to vacation for 5 weeks in floridly in 2018 while I am on Herceptin. Will I be able to receive my weekly infusions there?


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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2017

    DKD - this this thread is from 2012 so you may not get an answer.

    I think this question should be one for your oncologist. They would have to refer to wherever you are going and insure that the insurance would travel.

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  • Kimm992
    Kimm992 Member Posts: 135
    edited June 2017

    I was in Grenada and Hawaii while on Herceptin!!

    Like bhd1 said, just be home for the next infusion!

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