Start with the purpose and practicalities
A quiet visit close to home is different from a long-haul flight or a trip to an area where healthcare is difficult to access. Think about:
- how you usually feel after each treatment;
- the journey time and how long you may be sitting;
- access to toilets, food, fluids and somewhere to rest;
- how quickly you could return or obtain medical care;
- the climate, altitude and infection risks at the destination;
- whether the trip can be changed if treatment dates move.
It may be possible to adapt the plan rather than abandon it. A shorter journey, flexible booking or travelling between treatment cycles may be more realistic.
Infection and blood counts
Some treatments reduce white blood cells and increase the risk of serious infection. The lowest count may occur on particular days after treatment, but the timing varies. Your team may advise avoiding travel during that period or checking a blood count first.
Seek urgent medical advice for a fever or other symptoms your team has told you to report. Do not rely on being able to wait until you return home.
Low platelets can increase bleeding risk. Anaemia can worsen tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness. These problems do not affect everybody, but they can change whether a journey is safe.
Flying and blood clots
Cancer and some cancer treatments increase the risk of a blood clot. Long periods sitting still, including during a flight, can add to that risk.
Your team can assess your individual situation. General measures such as moving regularly and staying appropriately hydrated may be advised, but they do not replace individual advice. Do not start aspirin or an anticoagulant for travel unless a clinician who knows your medical history recommends it.
Recent surgery, significant anaemia, breathlessness and some brain, chest, bowel or eye conditions can also affect fitness to fly.
Medicines and treatment equipment
Carry enough medicine for the trip, with some spare in case of delay. Keep essential medicines in hand luggage and retain the original packaging. Ask whether any medicine needs refrigeration or documentation.
If you have a stoma, drain, feeding tube, central line or other equipment, take the supplies and written information you may need. Airport security and airline assistance can often be arranged in advance.
Vaccinations and destinations
Live vaccines may be unsuitable during or soon after some cancer treatments. Other vaccines may not work as well when the immune system is suppressed. Ask your cancer team or a travel-health professional early, because the answer depends on the treatment and destination.
Travel insurance
Tell the insurer accurately about the cancer, treatment and relevant medical conditions. Check what is covered if treatment dates change, you become unwell abroad or you need to cancel. A standard policy may exclude cancer-related care unless it has been declared.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a safer point in my treatment cycle to travel?
- Do I need a blood test before I go?
- Are there symptoms that should make me cancel or seek urgent help?
- Could flying or a long journey increase my clot risk?
- Do my medicines or equipment need documents or special storage?
- Who should I contact if I become unwell away from home?
Travel can support quality of life, but the plan should fit the treatment rather than compete with it. Your own team can help you decide what is reasonable for this journey and this stage of care.
