Mesothelioma can be disruptive, to say the least. Symptoms like pain, exhaustion and shortness of breath can be hard to deal with. And while treatment can help, its side effects can be challenging in their own respect. For example, chemo can cause fatigue and nausea and leave you more prone to infections. Immunotherapy can also cause fatigue, nausea and skin problems.
But having a mesothelioma diagnosis doesn’t mean you want to stop enjoying your life. Travel can be a wonderful way to rejuvenate yourself, expand your perspective and connect with others.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to travel, the following precautions can help keep you safe while you’re away from home. Many of these tips are also applicable when you travel to see a specialist for medical advice and treatment.
1: Talk to Your Doctor First
First and foremost, talk to your oncologist. They should know the specifics of your health and can provide helpful considerations tailored to you. They can also tell you if a trip isn’t wise right now, depending on your condition, treatment plan and travel plans. Some modes of transportation and kinds of travel may be too risky.
If travel is possible, you can ask about how to time it around your treatments. For instance, experts say that you’re most susceptible to infection about 7 to 19 days after your last chemo dose.
2: Vaccinate, Vaccinate, Vaccinate
Since cancer and treatments can make you more susceptible to infection, vaccines can help provide certain protections while you travel. Make sure to plan ahead when it comes to vaccines, as some need time to work.
Depending on your travel destination, you may need specific vaccinations. International travel can expose you to new viruses, so it’s best to protect yourself in advance. Experts also recommend staying on top of general vaccinations that aren’t location-specific, like COVID-19, the flu and tuberculosis.
3: Look Into Travel Insurance
Going abroad? Read up on your health insurance plan to see what coverage it provides. Travel insurance can be used to fill in gaps in coverage. Insurance through the U.S. government does not cover medical expenses abroad. Private plans may not cover any overseas expenses either.
Traveling domestically? Medicaid is state-specific. Apart from emergency health care, one state’s plan won’t work in another state. Private insurance can vary regarding out-of-state coverage, depending on what kind of plan it is. Some plan types, like Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), may give you more access while traveling than other types.
Getting travel insurance ahead of your departure can help cover medical care you may need on your trip. Travel insurance plans may cover a range of surprise expenses, including medical ones. They tend to rate cancer as a pre-existing condition, which can limit related coverage. But some plans allow you to apply for a waiver to guarantee some cancer-related coverage. Be sure to read through plans carefully before deciding.
“I tell anyone who’s traveling as a cancer patient to get travel insurance and spring for the refundable airfare. It’s also important to know what’s medically available at your destination. Where are the hospitals and emergency rooms? And don’t bother with urgent care centers because they often don’t have the resources to handle emergencies with cancer patients.”
19-Year Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor
What if I’m Traveling to a Place With Limited Healthcare?
You can look into medical evacuation insurance if you’re traveling somewhere more remote or far from high-quality healthcare. This type of insurance can help pay for emergency transportation to a high-quality hospital. It may be available as an add-on to your travel health insurance or as its own separate policy.
4: Make Emergency Plans at Your Destination
Travel doesn’t prevent needing healthcare. Whether you need to continue treatment at your destination or you want to have an option in case your health takes a turn for the worse, planning ahead can help. Research cancer centers where you can receive medical care at your destination. That way, you already know what to do in a pinch.
5: Consider the Method of Transportation
Traveling by car may be safer than flying or taking a cruise. It comes back to reducing the risk of infections. Being in close quarters with a lot of strangers bears a higher risk than a road trip with a couple of trusted friends or family members. It may also be easier to access quality health care in an emergency if you are traveling by car.
What if I Need to Travel by Plane to Reach My Destination?
If you travel by plane, you can take steps to protect yourself. Experts note that wearing a mask and using disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer can help reduce the risk of infection.
Support options are also available. TSA Cares is a program that helps make the security process smoother for people with medical conditions. You need to arrange assistance through TSA Cares at least 72 hours in advance. You can also contact your airline ahead of time to arrange airport wheelchair service.
6: Pack More Meds Than You Need
In case of travel delays or other unexpected issues, it’s a good idea to bring extra medications with you. That way, you won’t have to worry about finding a last-minute refill or missing a dose. And be sure to bring them in their original packaging, in case you need the information on the label. This is also important if you’re going through airport security because unlabeled pills can trigger additional screening.
7: Bring Your Medical Documentation
Going through cancer treatment creates a lot of documentation. If issues arise on your travels, you’ll be safer having everything on hand. For example, you may need to bring a note from your doctor if you’re traveling with certain medications or if you have an implant that could show up in a security screening.
If you need medical care away from home, having your up-to-date medical history on hand can help local doctors better treat you. Scans can be especially helpful: doctors can use them to see if your condition has changed.
It’s also important to document and bring healthcare instructions about what to do if you become incapacitated. This can include information about:
- A medical power of attorney to designate who can make care decisions if you become unable to
- What medications you need, and when you need to take them
- Where to transport you
- Whom to call in case of an emergency
You can share these instructions with a traveling companion or even someone like a flight attendant or tour guide. If you’re traveling abroad, you may even want to translate this documentation into the local native language ahead of time. Whether you keep them printed out or stored on a device, make sure you and a trusted companion have easy access to them.
8: Move Around During Travel
Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, experts say it’s important to get up and move around to prevent blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious kind of blood clot that can trigger blockages in lung arteries. When people sit for a long time, blood can build up in the legs and lead to DVT. People receiving certain cancer treatments are at greater risk of DVT.
However you’re traveling, experts suggest getting up and walking around every couple hours. You can also wear compression socks and stretch your legs even while sitting.
9: Practice Safety Precautions
Wherever you’re going and however you’re getting there, experts recommend following these basic safety precautions:
- Keep a face mask and hand sanitizer handy for crowded and unclean areas.
- Make sure to only consume clean food and water.
- Protect yourself from sun exposure. Wear hats, sunscreen and clothes with full-body coverage.
- Use insect repellent.
Bon Voyage!
It can be a lot of legwork to prepare for a trip while you have mesothelioma. Hopefully, you won’t need to use all of these precautions once you’re actually traveling. But if you do, you’ll be well prepared. Check out these patient resources for more mesothelioma support information.
