Travel

Some cancer treatments can affect your immune system and increase your risk of infection. These include cancer drug treatments such as chemotherapy, and some types of targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

If you want to travel while having treatment, talk to your cancer doctor, specialist nurse or a travel health professional. They will advise you if and when it is safe to travel.

Your risk of serious problems from an infection may be higher at certain times. For example, you may have a higher risk:

• during treatment
• for a few weeks after finishing treatment
• for up to a year after high-dose chemotherapy for a stem cell or a bone marrow transplant.

Your risk of infection also depends on where you plan to travel. If you want to travel abroad, ask your cancer doctor for advice about your risk of malaria and other diseases that may be common in that area. You may be able to have vaccinations to help protect you from some types of infections in other parts of the world.

If you are travelling while you are still at a higher risk of getting an infection, your doctor may give you antibiotics to take with you.

Always follow the advice you have been given to reduce your risk of an infection.

Fatigue does not have to stop you travelling. But it is important to think about how much activity you can manage and how to pace yourself. Try to plan when you will rest between activities.

You can usually arrange help at airports, train stations and on ships. For example, you could arrange to have a wheelchair, so you do not need to walk as much.

If you are flying across different time zones, your normal sleep pattern may be affected. This is called jet lag. It can make you feel even more tired. There is no treatment for jet lag. It should improve in a few days as your body adjusts.

For information and tips about managing jet lag, visit nhs.uk/conditions/jet-lag

Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and many other cancer drugs can make your skin and eyes more sensitive to the sun.

It is important to know how to protect yourself in the sun. We have more information about taking care in the sun.

Cancer and some cancer treatments increase your risk of developing a blood clot. Travelling also increases the risk of developing a blood clot. Particularly if you sit still for long periods of time during a journey.

Find out more about possible symptoms of a blood clot and how your risk can be managed during travel.

If you have recently had surgery, your doctor will advise you whether it is safe to travel, or how long you should wait before travelling. They can also tell you if there is a type of travel you should avoid.

Remember to tell your travel insurance provider that you have had surgery. Ask them whether this affects your insurance cover.

After some operations, you are advised not to fly for a while. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice.

If you have recently had surgery, you are more at risk of a blood clot. You may have to delay your travel for a few weeks and follow advice to reduce this risk.

If you have had a breast removed (mastectomy), you may be concerned about what to wear on holiday. Organisations such as Breast Cancer Now have information about suitable holiday wear, such as post-surgery swimsuits.