hello there , I have been taking tamoxifen for 2 months now and I booked flights to Singapore to see family and friends via Dubai . So it’s two
seven hour flights or so with and hours break at Dubai airport . I actually didn’t think about DVT and tamoxifen, I was too concerned in how to prevent Lymphoedema and flying . Now I’m worried as we were also then going to do a 3 hour flight to Vietnam . I know I perhaps should of done research beforehand. Is there any advice or any new news for holiday makers on tamoxifen. Many thanks to anyone who reads and responds . June .xx
Hi , June
I'm on Anastrozole and have been on them for 2 years now and was worried about lymphoedema. I've done some REALLY long haul flights and had no issues. After 5 months on the tablets/ 2-3 months after finishing radiotherapy I went to Sri Lanka - nearly 11 hours and flew over to Dubia for the New Year and then back to the UK from Dubai. A year later I flew to Argentina (nearly 14 hours) and then to Brazil, then onto Peru. I flew back from Peru - 16 hours and this Christmas I have booked to fly to Borneo - nearly 18 hour flight time.
I've not had any issues on ANY of the flights I've done. (hopefully I'm not speaking too soon - lol).
Although, Anastrozole doesn't have the same issues with DVT as Tamoxifen, I have got a damaged leg from a road accident with poorer circulation / blood vessels in different places from where they should be due to the injuries and reconstruction it's had, so it's at a definite risk of DVT - especially as I'm a smoker too! I also had MRSA in a cut in my leg when I went to Sri Lanka.
So, to avoid any circulatory issues in my legs I've adopted the following: (My doctor agreed that it was a very good thing to do when I asked him if it was beneficial). I just 'walk my legs' in the seat - backwards and forwards for 5 minutes every hour or two. If I fall asleep, I just do it when I wake up. You can obviously get up for a wander to the toilet/in the corridor as well. I don't use DVT socks because my bad leg wouldn't cope with the pressure, so it isn't an option for me, but you can get some of those.
For my arm, I use this arm (rather than my dominant one which I would normally have used) to play games on the monitor in front of me, so that it is kept moving around.
The one thing that having the cancer taught me was to just do everything I want to do and not delay! So, I figured that I was going to see all the countries that I would never have visited before and enjoying every minute - despite the long haul flights. So, take precautions, try doing these exercises on the plane and enjoy your lovely holiday!
Kindest wishes,
