Kicking Cancer to the Curb: A Necessary Vacation

Many people think that it is poor timing to go on vacation when you have cancer and actively receiving chemotherapy treatment. Yet, sometimes, this is exactly what is needed to get out of the doldrums and monotony of “counting the days”. It’s so easy to categorize each day by your treatment or side effects: mouth sore Mondays, infusion Fridays, sleepless Saturdays, and the list goes on. Each day in my two week treatment plan is characterized by either a symptom or a treatment. Infusion Fridays are like a mile marker in a marathon, I look forward to passing them on my way to the finish line. Fortunately, everything has been fairly predictable and proceeding like clockwork. But, that finish line still seems miles away, which is why a getaway and change in scenery is immensely beneficial.

This vacation (which we had planned and paid for back in September, i.e. prior to diagnosis), gave all of us (Chris, Peter and I) a break from the familiar. It provided a chance to reunite with family and friends, share in some much warmer, sunnier weather and play outside in the fresh air.

Air is the sustenance of life. However, on an airplane, re-circulated air can pose an infection risk, which is why so many people are anxious about travelling with neutropenia (low white blood cell counts). To minimize this risk, I wore a mask throughout the flight and closed all the nearby ceiling air vents (as advised by the chemotherapy RN) to avoid the re-circulated air from blowing directly on my face. Since we flew Southwest (SW) airlines, we were lucky to be sitting next to familiar people (some patients of mine and a family from Peter’s high school) on the way down to California, which made this request easy to fulfill. On the return flight, the couple next to me were cold and wanting to sleep, so they too, closed the vents without my asking. One advantage to flying SW and choosing our seats last (aka cheap seats), we could purposely look around and avoid sitting near coughing people or young children (who tend to always be carrying some active infection).

After dropping our bags off at the hotel, we immediately proceeded to dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins (one of whom I hadn’t seen since our wedding over 22 years ago). Just like old times, we reminisced about all the summers we spent together, laughed a lot (particularly when on the phone with another cousin) and shared in a terrific meal. Fortunately, we were able to get an early start on the evening, because, as expected, by 8 pm, the fatigue settled in and suddenly I find myself a silent observer rather than an active participant. I was thankful that the drive to our hotel was only 45 minutes and that we had nothing planned the following day except to soak up some sun at the beach prior to enjoying dinner with friends in Huntington Beach.

A relaxing, sunny day at Huntington Beach

Without boring you with arduous vacation details, I must include the essentials for taking a trip while neutropenic. Prior to leaving, a trek to the store was needed to obtain disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and snacks to decrease nausea or stomach issues (for me, it was Good and Plenty licorice bites). The disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer remained in my purse for easy access. When sitting at a public bench or table (even at restaurants), I always cleaned them first. Masks were used in public, enclosed, indoor settings (which in my case, was only on the airplane). As instructed, I had my thermometer handy (also in my purse) and continued to monitor temperatures twice daily. Although it was February, sunscreen was still necessary given the 80 degree temperatures and closer proximity to the sun. Unfortunately, my son didn’t apply generously enough and suffered the consequences. Many medications can increase sun sensitivity which makes sunscreen application even more crucial.

Returning to Washington without any infection or ill effects is testimony to continued precautions while vacationing. The key to success is good hydration, frequent breaks, sleeping in, monitoring fatigue levels and varying the days between active and inactive. Keeping away from public, enclosed areas, eating healthy snacks and homemade meals were also very helpful. Staying active, which consisted mostly of walking, kept my appetite alive, resulting in greater energy levels. With our non-refundable airline tickets and hotel reservations, I was determined to make this vacation happen, even if it was just Peter and Chris attending. Thankfully, with God’s great intercession, we were all able to vacation together, making more joyous memories to help us forget the unpleasant ones.

The best things about MEMORIES…is making them. We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.