I have just had a full week of checkups and tests. You girls know the drill - pap test,blood tests galore,hip xray(cos it's been aching for months) and finishing with the oncologist"s visit today. I am soooo relieved that everything came back normal. My oncologist is keeping me on Tamoxifen and doesn't want to see me now for 12mths - which is always a good sign! Hubby and I fly off to Europe in March for 5 weeks so I asked my oncologist if I should stop Tamoxifen prior the long flight. I was abit surprised when he said no.He reckons there shouldn't be DVT problems if I move around the plane etc. So girls,I was wondering, have any of you been told otherwise or better still,been on a long flight whilst on Tamoxifen??
Tonya xx
Comments
Something else to ask my GP next week
Hi Tonya, Never even gave this a thought - I actually saw another GP who wrote a letter stating all of my medications. He never said anything. I will ask my own GP next week. We are supposed to fly out on 14th Feb - depending on my husband's INR's being up. Thanks for the info. What made you think that there might be a problem? I actually have a blood disorder where the clotting factor is deficient so I should be okay. I bought the stockings though. XLeonie
Hi Leonie
Well one of the side effects of Tamoxifen is a slight increased risk of developing a DVT. You have to stop it a few weeks prior surgery because of that.Some doctors recommend low dose aspirin before flying.There seems to be different opinions amongst the doctors.Anyway,I have plenty of time to decide -just thought I'd "put it out there". I hope your hubby is improving and that trip to Thailand looking promising.
Tonya xx
Travel
Hi Tonya
I had 3 weeks in Europe in October and had no problems with Tamoxifen other than the pre existing side effects.
I went to a physio and ordered the pressure garments for my arms and just got my GP to give me a letter recording all the drugs I was carrying.
None of the doctors said anything other than doing the exercises recommended by the physio and taking regular walks around the plane.
I hope you have a wonderful time!
Regards
Kay
Woo hoo on the clear check up and the upcoming trip - have a wonderful time.
Amanda xx
Yes absolutely woohoo on the clear results! that's great news Tonya. I flew to china in dec and my breast surgeon advised me to stop tamoxifen 10 days before I flew & cause I was only away 8 days, said to stay off it till a week after I got back. A friend who has the same doc was told the same thing when she flew to south africa in dec also, but I guess each doctor has their own info and if you wear stockings( which I did too) and walk around a lot, then obviously your doctor isn't too worried about it. I think it's probably 6 of one answer and half a dozen of the other (is that the saying lol).
I hope you have an amazing trip too.
Love sam xo
Thanks Sam
I think you are right - it's 50/50.
Tonya xx
We went to Italy when I was on Tamoxifen and I had no problems. I just had to wear my pressure sleeve and glove to prevent the lymphodema. x Jane
congratulations!
well done you! AND a trip to look forward to. It's so encouraging to read a positive story - you've been so supportive to me and now it's time for you to have some fun.
I spoke with each of my doctors about long haul flights and they all said that as long as I moved regularly and wore pressure stockings there would not be anything more than a minor increase in risk. They each actually encouraged me to get back to London and to do the travel I want. Say hi to Europe for me, you lucky thing! xx
congratulations!
well done you! AND a trip to look forward to. It's so encouraging to read a positive story - you've been so supportive to me and now it's time for you to have some fun.
I spoke with each of my doctors about long haul flights and they all said that as long as I moved regularly and wore pressure stockings there would not be anything more than a minor increase in risk. They each actually encouraged me to get back to London and to do the travel I want. Say hi to Europe for me, you lucky thing! xx
Thanks
Thanks for the info you collected Susie.I'm sure it won't be long before you are flying off too.We won't be going to London this time.Flying straight to Vienna and touring Germany,train to Paris,plane to Athens to do a Greek island cruise,fly to Istanbul(5 days there)then onto Dubai for 3 days then home.We are revisiting a few favourites (from 30 years ago!)and then seeing some new places.My husband has done all the organizing and I'm afraid I haven't been very enthusiastic.But now I am getting excited since all my tests came back clear.I was really starting to worry I had cancer of the hip but now I can forget about it .Hope all is well with you.
Tonya xx
Thanks girls
Thanks all for your good wishes and travel info.It seems like there are different opinions from doctors about this topic. I'll have a good think about it and go with my gut feeling.
Tonya xx
absolute magic
Tonya - what a brilliant trip your husband has planned for you both - he's a winner! Go with a clear heads (and bodies!), free from the worries and enjoy yourselves. Travel safe. xx
Great News, Tonya!
Yeah for some great news at last. What a great reward - a trip to Europe! Enjoy every moment and thanks so much for being such a wonderful source of information and support. Let us know how you go with Tamoxifen and flights. It was also something I've never considered either. I knew the hospital stockings may come in handy again one day - LOL!!!
Take care and congrats again on your results.
Love Alison xxx
Congratulations on the clear results. Have a great holiday.
Dot xxx
Congrats Tonya
Hi Tonya
Congratulations on your "all clear" results. What a relief for you.
Your holiday sounds wonderful, enjoy!!!!!
Love Ann-Marie xoxo
Thanks Ann-Marie,I am now looking forward to it. I hope you have recovered and are still pleased with your new boobs.Hope 2012 is a good year for you.
love Tonya xx
Thanks Tonya
I am feeling really good. Just spent a month in Lorne, which was great, and am now busy settling my kids back into school. My eldest has just started secondary school which is very exciting. I am also sporting a funky new hairdo - will update my profile pic soon. It's nice to have ditched the wig, especially with the summer heat.
Love Ann-Marie xoxo
Look forward to seeing the new "do" XLeonie
Yay for clear results
Congrats on getting clear results for all your tests Tonya. I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Loretta xx
Anti Embolism Socks
Hi Tonya
I have just got home from an appt with my on and specifically asked about considerations for long haul flight. I was concerned about the lymphoedema risk and asked whether I needed to think about one of those compression sleeves. He said he wasn't worried about that but that yes Tamoxifen increased the risk of DVT and to wear anti emolism socks (the ones you have in hospital) during the flight
Hope you have a great trip!
Yes I wore the sleeve and those lovely socks when I went to Cairns.
Thanks girls- I appreciate your comments. I think I have a few pairs of those stockings and I might see about getting a comp, sleeve.
Tonya xx
Hello
Well done on the all clear test results. It must be a relief to get them out of the way for another year. You must be doing well for them to move you to yearly checks after your second bout. I don't think it will change the worrying though. That will take time.... I am due for my 6mth check up (even though it is longer than 6 months) on 24th February. I am worried over a couple of things and quite anxious which i think is normal. I wish it was all done with though because it does mess with your head hey. It seems to be constantly on my mind again.
To a lighter story, Hows life with " the cat", and daughter and her partner and those beautiful sweaty gym socks going ? ... Hope that cat is not causing to much trouble, if it is still alive that is...I would think all the paving and gardens are all finished now and you've settled right back into a relaxed home life.
If i don't speak to you before you leave, i hope you have a great holiday..... You really deserved some time out from all the stress and crap that has happened over the past year. Have fun ok. take care.
Cheers Jo xx
Thanks Jo
I wish there was some way around getting anxious about tests and results. I think we have this worry forever. I just try to keep extra busy which sometimes blocks it out.Hey,that's my oncologist letting me go for 12mths- still seeing my breast surgeon every 3mths! I'm hoping to go to 6mthly when I hit my 2 year anniversary in May.All the best for 24th Feb.-you'll most likely be fine but I know how you feel(keep cleaning the cupboards!). It's abit chaotic here-"kids" and cats have taken over the place.The cats don't get on so have to keep them seperated.My poor husband had to retrieve one from the roof the other day cos she got stuck.Antway,let's not go there! We'll be off in 4 weeks time.I think I'll send my other daughter's cat to go live with her for awhile(the one that got on the roof).Some progress in the garden-got the water feature in but no plants yet. I won't plant too much now cos we'll be away and the plants would probably die.Luckily,my clothes line is up now so it's getting a good workout.
Well,nice to hear from you Jo -let me know how the 24th goes.
love Tonya xx
It's worth it!
Hi Tonya,
Last year I headed off to Russia and China, didn't even think about not taking the Tamoxifen, just headed off and took it whenever it I woke up wherever I was, I would have taken it at all different times of the day but never mind. I had a pressure sleeve measured up by a physio and wore it conscientously on every flight but still managed to come home with slight lymphodema. When I came home I saw a lymphodema OT who said the sleeve I was given by the physio was too small for me. Nice one! Anyway, I've got the right size now and I wore it every night for a few months (unless I felt too hot....) and it settled right down. Don't stress if you get lymphodema, it really is manageable. And have a wonderful time - I did!
I am having more chemo for secondaries now but am determined to still take trips o/s whenever I am well enough.
All the best,
Cathy X
Thanks Cathy
Wow,that must have been an interesting trip. I travelled through Russia(across Siberia on the train)back in 1978. Thanks for your travel tips.I had my aux clearance back in 2003 and so far haven't had any problems.However, this is a long flight and instead of getting a compression sleeve I'm improvising and wearing a length of tubi grip up my arm.I'm abit worried about hot flushes on the plane and wanting to rip off an expensive comp.sleeve! So I'll trial it and let you know- maybe a good $8 investment! I did a long flight to USA in 2009 and didn't bother with a sleeve and was ok. How are you going,did you have the bone scan?The thought of doing chemo again would do my head in -you are so brave.After having breast cancer twice,7 years apart,I worry about getting secondaries. I just can't begin to imagine how I would deal with it.Will be thinking of you and let us know how you go with chemo.
Tonya xx
I had a 7 1/2 hr flight while I've been on the Tamoxifen Tonya and I didn't have any problems....I wore Flight Stockings that I bought at the chemist but other than that I didn't take any other precautions and was fine. Buy yourself a cheap fan to keep in your bag to combat those pesky hot flushes on the plane :)
My next appointment with my oncologist is next Friday - hopefully just a checkup and no tests! I can feel a small lump in my neck but it hasn't changed over the past few weeks so I think it's just a lymph node (will def get it checked though - paranoia is setting in!).
Have a fantastic holiday,
Louise xx
Hi Louise
Yes,fan in the handbag already! I have an array of dvt stockings and now some tubi grip for my arm(probably won't need it).Good luck with your oncology appointment next Friday.I know how you feel.I saw mine in January and he doesn't want to see me for another year now-yay! However,I was paranoid leading up to the visit.I've had this painful hip so went to my GP beforehand and got the full works!-paptest,blood tests,hip xray.Everything came back clear apart from my blood pressure being up-I wonder why!! So I plan to ignore my hip whilst on holidays and just have fun.Let me know how you get on at the oncologist.
Tonya xx
Back from my trip
Hi girls, My trip went marvellously. I wore my arm sleeve and hand compression on the long haul flight (I always wear my sleeve even on short flights and long car trips). I even wore compression stockings on the way over - not on the way back as I found them too tight and uncomfortable even though they were "made to measure". I suffer with lymphodema and have regular massages etc and really look after my arm. However whilst away I was a bit more relaxed. I walked and walked and walked every day and I think that this was really helpful for my arm (even with all the shopping bags hanging off it!!!!) I took my Arimidex every day - just before going to bed. I didn't care what time it was. I was very mindful though, being in Thailand, to cover my arm in sunscreen. Just relax and enjoy your trip. XLeonie
Have a wonderful trip!
Hi Tonya,
Just wishing you a fabulous trip and enjoy every moment. Your itinerary sounds wonderful! I love Paris! Very envious! Sounds as if you are very well organised. I'm sure everything will be fine.
Looking forward to the news when you get back!
Relax and enjoy
Love Alison
Thanks Alison and Leonie
Not very organized yet- haven't even got my suitcase down. I'm so glad you had a lovely holiday Leonie.It's good to have you back online though. Thanks for your well wishes girls.
Tonya xx