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I always check with my hematologist before planning a trip and am usually guided by them. Mine make a special effort to accommodate life, and will generally avoid changing or introducing medication before a planned trip. And they have advised me in the past to cancel trips when, in their view, there was a need for immediate treatment (but promised me, and delivered, another window for the trip).
So talk to him or her, and follow their advice.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the advice. My oncologist said it was okay to travel the day he told me I had CML but I'm just wondering whether I should or I shouldn't travel.
Visiting my home country in South East Asia is always a treat to me, however, this time is different. Though, I'm trying to be the same person and remain positive, some of my family members or in-laws might not understand why I would be so tired (side effects from taking meds.). But I'm not going to worry about that much. I'm excited to go see my mom and my siblings whom I haven't seen in two years.
Sup
Have a wonderful trip! One of the things I have learned on my journey is not to postpone important things like trips, moving one's kids to college etc, when you are able and the doctors say 'go'.
Andrew
Don't cancel. My husband was diagnosed with CML over 6 years' ago and we have traveled constantly since his initial diagnosis. We actually had travel plans for the Caribbean at the time of his initial tests, and his hematologist encouraged us to keep our plans and we have kept going ever since. From Gleevec to Sprycel to Tasigna we've kept flying and have been to China, Russia, Europe, and the Caribbean many times. My husband is PCR undetectable now but we've never canceled a trip no matter what his numbers are. . The only preparation we do is to take double the number of pills needed for the trip, each of us taking a trip's worth in our carry-on, so if one bag is lost there is an equal amount in another bag that will cover the trip. Good luck..
If it was me, knowing what I know now (diagnosed three years ago), I would start on a half dose and stay there until you return from your trip. It could lessen the impact of any side effects you might have, and you may find that the half dose is plenty effective against the cml. If you're in the chronic phase (not sure if you are) the cml moves rather slowly, so I personally wouldn't worry about a few weeks.
