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TRAVEL

Hi,

I was diagnosed with CML late May when I went for usual INR for Warfarin levels. The nurse noticed I had not had full bloods for a year & effecively saved my life by taking them. Phone call that night as white cells 130. Bone marrow test proved definately CML & reassurred that I will live my full life span.

I take Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation, have pacemaker & had Cryo Ablation in 2011.

Now not yet in remission but want to travel to Australia in Dec ember to see my children & grandchildren. Does anyone know what affect flying has ? I am on Imatinbid 400 mgm a day.

Might add I have already, prior to diagnosis flown to/ from Australia at least twice, and driven hours when over there (no wonder I was exhausted)

So interested in hearing what affect, if any, flying has had

Louise

(PS Australian  living in Wales after meeting my husband in 2013-

Louise,

 

I was diagnosed with CML around Christmas time 2015. My husband and I had been trying for baby number 2 for about 1 and a half years then I got pregnant and miscarried in October of 2015. When my doctor took blood to see if my pregnancy levels were going down like they were supposed to they seen that my white blood count was high. My Ob sent me to an oncologist and they did a bone marrow biopsy on 12-23-16 then they sent me to a hospital about 2 hours away from where I live. On Christmas Eve 2015 I was admitted into a cancer hospital and on Dec. 27th 2015 I had a second bone marrow biopsy done and within 2 days I was diagnosed with CML. Lucky for me I did not need aggressive treatment I was able to leave the hospital with a 100mg chemo pill called Dasatinib. About mid January of 2016 I started to feel very sick. A friend of mine suggested I take a home pregnancy test and to my surprise I was pregnant. Thrilled and scared at the same time I called my oncologist and my OB and we came up with a plan. I was no longer to take Dasatinib. My oncologist said I needed to be taking Intrferon injections and I am happy to say that I have a beautiful baby girl who is 2 weeks old and she is perfectly healthy and I am back on my Dasatinib. I wish you the best.

 

Lalanna B.

Hi Louise. When I was originally diagnoses back in 2011 we booked a holiday to Thailand, we are in the UK. We travelled 6 months after diagnosis, and had no issue at all with the journey etc. My levels were falling slowly, and steadily but I was not at MMR or CyCR at that point. I do not know of any issue with flying and TKI treatment.

Personally so long as my bloods were normal, jabs upto date ( no live vaccinations )  and felt well then I would travel. Given the distance I would also make sure you have CML travel insurance, particularly as still fairly recently diagnosed. I personally tend not to now pay extra for CML cover after 5 years if off to Europe.

Clearly you must also take in to account your other health issues, and advice from medical team. Have a great time.

Hi Louise

Travelling is my great passion in life, and I have already taken two long(ish) trips overseas not even a year after being diagnosed.  I recently returned from Azerbaijan to my home in South Africa and there were no problems during the flight, but one strange occurrence was that I had a very swollen face, swollen feet and puffy eyes for about a week after the flight.  I don't know if one's circulation is somehow affected by the TKIs, but I checked this with my doctor and she said that it was nothing to worry about.

On the other hand, my main fear was that my TKIs would be confiscated at the airports - I flew via Doha, Qatar, which is notoriously strict on substances, and I made sure to take copies of all prescriptions with me as well as keeping my dasatinib in its original packaging (with the insert) so that customs officials could easily identify it if necessary.  Although all my bags were scanned, nobody stopped me at all - they were far more interested in the small bottle of duty-free vodka in the bag of the passenger in front of me - and I have never had any problems.  

However, I have heard that Australian officials are exceptionally careful, even unreasonably so, with imported medication.  My advice is to take extra precautions when travelling there - keep your treating doctor's number on hand in case they have to phone and verify that you are indeed a CML patient, keep a letter detailing your condition, keep the original prescription (not a copy) and another letter stating that the medication is for your own personal use; it might even be worth getting some type of clearance letter from the embassy before you go to avoid the medication being confiscated.  

Best wishes

Martin

Thank you for informative replies-think as I am fretting so for my family I will go. Wont have trouble with Australia as I am Australian with Medicare still. I have dual citizenship.

Warm Regards

Louise

How lovely to have a beautiful baby Lavanna. Pleased all is working for you for your information

Warm Regards

Louise

Thanks Nigel,

Definitely reassures me. I wants so much to go & don't see Specialist until late October by which time fares will have risen.

Will get health insurance, but because of cost when in Australia I will book separate flights for going to and back. I am Australian & have Medicare there-only need cover to fly.

Warm Regards

Louise

 

PS I love to travel as well