Vacation and Chemotheraphy- Can They Work Together?

Going through cancer treatment and need a vacation? Here is some insight on taking care of oneself during treatment

If a person has an early stage cancer and is getting chemotherapy to prevent a recurrence, oncologists usually follow established treatment protocols closely because there are clear data to support those protocols. Dr. Shyamali Singhal encourages patients with more advanced cancers to talk with their oncologists about what they want in the months and years ahead. The goal of treatment is to make patients lives better.

Vacations are intended to be a time for self-care, not just a time to pack up and head to the beach. While vacations may actually be fun and relaxing, the reverse is often too true, and the longed-for escape turns into extra expenses and stress.

What do we mean when we say self-care? Self-care is responsible attention to meeting our needs and some of our wants. Self-care became a basic need for us when our mothers stopped changing our diapers; we learned to walk and talk and we found that we have to do things for ourselves. Selfishness promotes one's own welfare without regard for others, often resulting in direct or indirect harm to other people. I don't advocate selfishness. Self-care, on the other hand, will allow us to become altruistic toward ourselves and others without depleting our resources. Stress depletes our inner resources and creates all kinds of mental and physical dysfunction. One vacation per year won't protect us from stress. 

What Is Self Care?

Self-care is the most loving, selfish, and kind thing you can do for yourself. It is all about you, and what's best for you. And it's just as important to maintain a self-care routine on vacation as it is during your usual, everyday life. This is even more so true if we try to go on a vacation while undergoing any type of cancer treatment. Self-care is a daily practice, so whether you're traveling or not, a wellness ritual should always be an integral part of your life.

The words “routine” and “ritual” may sound a bit forced, but as Dr. Singhal said, it really doesn't have to be. A simple, special thing that you do for yourself while on the road involves a lot less hassle than you think.

It's all about bringing things along on a vacation that brings a sense of calm to cancer patients but are still easy to travel with.

Self Care In Early Stages Of Cancer

If a person has an early stage cancer and is getting chemotherapy to prevent a recurrence, oncologists usually follow established treatment protocols closely because there are clear data to support those protocols.

It is well known that clinicians experience distress and grief in response to their patients' suffering. Oncologists and palliative care specialists are no exception since they commonly experience patient loss and are often affected by unprocessed grief. These emotions can compromise clinicians' personal well-being, since unexamined emotions may lead to burnout, moral distress, compassion fatigue, and poor clinical decisions which adversely affect patient care. One approach to mitigate this harm is self-care, defined as a cadre of activities performed independently by an individual to promote and maintain personal well-being throughout life. This article emphasizes the importance of having a self-care and self-awareness plan when caring for patients with life-limiting cancer and discusses validated methods to increase self-care, enhance self-awareness and improve patient care.

Accommodating A Patient While Scheduling

Accommodations in the treatment schedule are sometimes possible and appropriate. If a specific patient is, say, having a type of cancer that isn’t curable but is treatable, she or he will be on chemotherapy for the rest of their life. Sometimes their life schedule and their chemo schedule will be in conflict, but chemotherapy should not be the focus of their life. Instead, chemotherapy should be seen as a tool — medicine — to help you live as long and as well as possible. Taking a family vacation when a parent has cancer is a special event. A good oncologist recognizes its importance and can help make it happen. Just because you are going through cancer treatment doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a vacation. With a little bit of homework and planning, a vacation can be rejuvenating and help relieve stress. Dr. Singhal recommends using Hope & Beauty products, specially selected for cancer patients.

Prioritize Yourself

Cancer can feel like a whirlwind. And like a carousel ride, sometimes the cancer journey can make you feel out of control. Equally, cancer is full of ups and downs. There are moments of real fear, stress, and worry. And there are moments of joy, happiness, and gratitude. Sometimes, you can feel both at once: a pit in your stomach, and a smile on your face.

In the middle of this cancer journey, it’s important to take a little bit of time to focus on yourself. Self-care is an important part of managing your stress levels and your overall well-being. When we manage stress, we help our bodies to feel better physically, and we are better able to cope with what’s in front of us.

In words of Dr. Singhal: take this as your invitation to prioritize yourself.