For many individuals, touring is a crucial a part of life. It’s possible you’ll must journey for enterprise, for medical remedy or just for the pleasure of it. Regardless of the motive, don’t let remedy for urothelial bladder most cancers (UBC) preserve you from packing your luggage.
“With a little bit of planning, touring might be seamless,” mentioned Ed Pfueller, communications and outreach supervisor on the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). We requested Pfueller to share suggestions for touring throughout remedy and different necessary data you should know earlier than you go.
Discuss to Your Healthcare Supplier
Earlier than scheduling any journey, examine together with your healthcare supplier (HCP) to see if it’s secure so that you can journey. Should you not too long ago had surgical procedure, your physician could recommend you wait as you proceed to get higher. Flying and/or sitting for lengthy intervals could cause issues comparable to blood clots, so while you do get the go-ahead, transfer round as typically as you may. In case your remedy plan requires chemotherapy or immunotherapy, you could have unwanted effects comparable to fatigue, nausea, diarrhea or constipation.
Be ready by carrying a bag in case you should vomit, in addition to tissues, rest room paper or flushable rest room wipes. Ensure you discover close by loos earlier than you want one, so you’re ready in case you end up needing a toilet urgently. Convey alongside anti-nausea medicine, anti-diarrheal medicine or laxatives if permitted by your HCP.
Chemo may elevate your threat of infections, so:
- Wash your palms steadily.
- Use hand sanitizer.
- Drink bottled water.
- Put on a face masks.
Ask your HCP about present pointers for journey vaccines and the way they apply to you. Whereas the Covid vaccine continues to be instructed for most individuals and extra vaccines might also be advisable for visiting sure international locations, your HCP could desire that you just wait to get any vaccines till you’ve completed your remedy.
Plan Forward
Should you’re at the moment being handled, ask your HCP for a letter to let different medical professionals learn about your situation and medicines in case you want remedy when you’re away.
Earlier than touring, analysis the native medical care at your vacation spot. Discover out the place the closest hospitals are and whether or not your medical health insurance will cowl any wanted care when you’re touring. Should you’re touring outdoors the U.S., think about buying a journey insurance coverage coverage that not solely covers missed or canceled flights, but in addition hospitalizations, out-of-network care and medical evacuation.
Some girls should journey for remedy as a result of they reside in healthcare deserts. On this case, organizations just like the American Most cancers Society or the remedy facility could possibly assist arrange rides, a spot to remain and different journey particulars. It’s additionally a good suggestion to speak to the remedy facility earlier than you go about native sources that they could present or suggest.
Learn Life After Prognosis: Navigating the Factor You Love with Urothelial Bladder Most cancers >>
Be Ready
- Pack all of your medicines and ostomy provides in an accessible carry-on bag so you will get to them simply and also you received’t have to fret about checked baggage being misplaced or delayed.
- Carry twice as many provides as you usually use for the period of time you’ll be gone.
- Pack additional medicines and label them. If doable, use the unique prescription labels and authentic capsule bottles. In response to TSA rules, medicines and provides wouldn’t have to observe the standard liquids rule.
- Pre-cut all cut-to-fit limitations in your ostomy bag at dwelling. The TSA at the moment permits curved-point scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches to be carried on board, however packing your ostomy scissors in your checked baggage — or in no way — could assist keep away from delays and extra screening.
- Obtain a TSA Notification Card. The cardboard lets brokers know that you just’re touring with needed medical provides comparable to syringes, ice packs and sharps containers. The UOAA additionally gives a journey communication card that lets TSA brokers know that you’ve an ostomy bag. You aren’t required to indicate your ostomy bag to brokers, though they could ask you to pat your self down over your garments after which display screen your palms.
- You possibly can request a personal screening (and a journey companion) and a chair at any time.
- Should you’re touring to a overseas nation, convey all of your medical data, written within the applicable language(s) of your vacation spot(s). The European Ostomy Affiliation supplies a dictionary of ostomy phrases in 19 languages.
- In case your medicines want to remain chilly, use ice packs and a medicine journey bag. Should you’re staying in a resort, name forward to request a mini-fridge if the room doesn’t have already got one.
- Hold a set of fresh garments in your carry-on baggage or within the trunk of your automobile and carry plastic luggage and moist wipes for fast clean-up.
- Permit loads of time on the airport to empty your ostomy bag if wanted.
One final piece of recommendation from Pfueller. “Don’t let UBC maintain you again. Dwell the life you need to reside.”
This useful resource was created with help from Merck.
Sources
Air Journey Suggestions from UOAA and the TSA
Touring Throughout Most cancers Therapy
Life After Prognosis: Navigating the Issues You Love with Urothelial Bladder Most cancers
Ostomy Fundamentals
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