What should cancer patients pay attention to when traveling?

My father has liver cancer and has to get IVs every three weeks. This Tet, I want to take him on a vacation to relax. What should I pay attention to to ensure his health? (Thanh Chuong, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Traveling is a way for cancer patients to stabilize their mental state after a long period of stress. However, patients undergoing drug or radiation therapy may find it difficult or risky to travel long distances. You need to pay attention to the following factors to help your father have a safe and comfortable vacation.

If you are traveling by plane, you should contact your father's doctor to see if he is eligible to fly. Some risks that may occur during the flight include low blood oxygen levels in people with anemia. The doctor will make some recommendations to reduce the risk of blood clots (also known as thrombosis) when a cancer patient travels by plane.

Cancer treatments can reduce blood cell types (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets), causing risks to patients (red blood cell deficiency causes hypoxia, white blood cell deficiency increases the risk of infection, platelet deficiency increases the risk of bleeding...).

The doctor may order the patient to do the necessary blood tests before traveling and provide corresponding safety instructions, depending on the test results and the time interval between treatment and travel.

Cancer patients should consult their doctors before traveling long distances. Photo: Freepik — Cancer patients should consult their doctors before traveling long distances. Photo: *Freepik*

You should find out in advance about some medical centers and hospitals in the area where you plan to go. If there are any unexpected unsafe situations, you can quickly take your father to the nearest hospital for appropriate treatment.

Treatments (medications, radiation therapy, etc.) can make the patient more sensitive to light. Therefore, your father needs to apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and cover up carefully when going out (wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats) to avoid sunburn.

Cancer patients' immune systems are often weaker than normal people. Not to mention, tourist destinations sometimes have the potential risk of infectious diseases such as flu... Therefore, patients should consider getting vaccinated before traveling during Tet to protect their health.

While traveling, patients should pay attention to eating well-cooked food and drinking boiled water. They should eat soft, easy-to-digest foods and limit fried, grilled, and dry foods to help stabilize the digestive system.

Cancer patients have poor physical condition, so they easily get tired when going sightseeing, entertaining, or even walking. You need to support your father when moving around and let him rest when he feels tired. Careful preparation before going will help the patient's Tet holiday trip be smooth, fun, and safe.

MSc.MD.CKII Vuong Thi Nguyen Thao
Oncology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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