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08-11-2006, 01:32 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 148
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FLYING after mastectomy
Hi all,
First of all I will like to thank each one of you who has always stood with me and I have recieved answers on this board for any and every thing.
I come back now with another question.
I had my right breast mastectomy done in December 2004 and it was accompanied by sentinel node bipsy and they removed 24 nodes out of which 11 were positive. I went thru the regular treatment of chemo, rads and now I am in my second year of Herceptin.
During all this time I have been scared to go in an airplane because I just fear the Lymphedemea. When I mentioned to my surgeon, she said that you will be fine without a sleeve to go in an airplane. When I talked to the Physical Therapist she said the same thing. My arm movement is fine and I can swim and do all activities with my right hand.
We are planning a vacation to India which will be like a 8 hour flight to Europe and then another 8 hours flight to India.
I want to know if you all wear a sleeve when you fly and if there is anyone who has not worn a sleeve and also about your experiences.
Regards,
Rupali
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08-11-2006, 01:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Rupali
I was told that to prevent lymphedema in my mastectomy arm I SHOULD wear a sleeve when flying....its a simple thing, I was measured at the local pharmacy and they ordered it and I use it....especially on long flights....I was also told to wear TED Hose to prevent blood clots on any flight or car ride over 4 hours. It makes sense to me if I can do something this simple to prevent something serious! I guess its up to the individual on risks you are willing to take.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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08-11-2006, 03:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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I was told the same thing...to always wear a sleeve if flying.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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08-11-2006, 03:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Posts: 35
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no problems on a flight to Paris
Hi Friend!
My husband surprised me with a trip to Paris for my 40th birthday/one year of treatment. I had had a double mastectomy and node dissection. I did not wear a sleeve and had no problems.
Love, Kathy H
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08-11-2006, 04:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Dear Rupali
I travel extensively for business and always wear a cuff (measured by a specialist). I recently also got a glove because I walk and jog alot and in the heat my pointer finger on my affected side can swell (it goes right back down but no chances anymore).
I am a firm believer in using the glove while flying (I had a girlfriend who got lymphedema this way). You should put the cuff on before the flight, wear it during the flight and wear it for as many hours after the flight that you were in the air (wear 5 hours after a 5 hr flight) but never go to sleep on the ground with it on. The lymphedema network website will give you the details.
Once you get full blown lymphedema, its for life so try to prevent it. I get a swollen finger and only had 10 nodes removed.
Kindest regards
Becky
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08-11-2006, 04:42 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Rupali,
I have been flying for my vaccine trial and office work now and then since my mastectomy. I have a sleeve but some times I forget to wear it while flying. Fortunatley no lymphdema so far.
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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08-11-2006, 04:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31
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I was fitted for a flying sleeve after my surgery. I won't fly without one. When we went to maui 2 years ago (8 hr flight) I wore my sleeve and still had some swelling...it resolved after a day or so. Many do fly without but I would rather not take that chance...
Good luck with your decision
Judie
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08-11-2006, 05:30 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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Since my mastectomy, I have flown to Mexico (Pacific side/5 hours) twice without a sleeve or problem. I have since seen what a bad case of lymphodema looks like and won't take the chance ever again. My friend Liz and I both wore sleeves and gloves yesterday. We kept them on all day. We flew small unpressurized planes and it was tough on my lungs, but my arm looks fine. If your flying that long, I say why take a chance???? Wear the sleeve and you will have one less worry...Have a nice trip!!!
__________________
Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
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08-11-2006, 08:43 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Rupali,
I think it is best to be safe than sorry. It doesn't matter if the surgeon only remove 1 lymph node, the chance of getting lymphodema is there. I wore a sleeve in June on our trip to Florida and it wasn't a big deal at all. I put it on about 1 hour before boarding the plane and removed it about an hour after landing.
Have a wonderful trip.
Lexi
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08-11-2006, 09:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Rupali, I have mild lymphedema on the side of primary bc/modified radical mast/rads, so when we went to Hawaii earlier this summer (5 hour flight) I wore a sleeve and still had some slight additional swelling in that arm. I DIDN'T wear the sleeve on the flight home and my arm was fine, so go figure!
<3 Lolly
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08-11-2006, 09:59 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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Lolly
I have a strange suspicion that those lovely salty peanuts they serve on the airplane and how much you drink or don't drink may have something to do with it. But it is just a theory...
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08-12-2006, 05:29 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Lani
They dont serve peanuts on airplains anymore due to the high incidence of allergy...peanut allergies is one of the worse and can be deadly in kids...now they serve sun chips or pretzles
I am a conisourre (sp) of airline cuisine!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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08-12-2006, 06:46 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: East Texas
Posts: 40
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I had my mastectomy in November and flew to London and Paris over Christmas. I had planned to get and wear a sleeve, but we live in a small town and I forgot so traveled without it. I had no swelling or problems with 8 hour flight...however, when we go to Japan this fall, I plan to wear one. It is one thing I can do that might make a positive difference...and my insurance will pay for it with a prescription from the doctor.
Peggy
__________________
Stage IIIC
Diagnosed 5/05
FEC100 x4, Taxotere/Xeloda X4 (both with Herceptin)
Mastectomy, Rads x33 Herceptin X 9
3 Years NED!
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08-13-2006, 04:32 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 57
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Flying with Sleeve
Oh my gosh, I am so glad I read this post. I am getting ready to fly to Puerto Rico in Sept. (going on a celebratory cruise for having gotten through all treatements etc.). I never even thought about the implications of flying after having my mastectomy and lymph nodes removed.
I had a left mastectomy and 9 lymph nodes removed in April of last year. In Jan this year I had my right mastectomy but no lymph nodes beyond the sentinal node. Do you think I will need a sleeve for both arms or only the one? I have not had any lymphedema problems to this point.
I am going to call my breast surgeon Monday and talk about this for sure. Thanks for posting about this. Hugs to all Kool
__________________
Kool
DX 3/05
Stage IIB 1.3cm w/ lymph node involvement
ER+++PR+, HER2+++ G3
Surgery - Left mastectomy 4/05, Lymph node removal 5/05, breast expander removal 6/05, partial thyroidectomy 7/05, Right mastectomy 1/06
Post Menopausal due to hyserectomy 2/03 (took hormone replacement)
Treatment - A/C, Taxol and Herceptin, Herceptin only (finish 10/06), Arimidex daily.
Age 50
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08-13-2006, 01:41 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 943
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I was never informed by my surgeon either to wear a cuff for flying. However, I believe that an ounze of prevention goes a long way, wether your doctor suggests it or not. So I would wear the cuff.
__________________
Robin
2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo
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08-13-2006, 02:24 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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Sheila
you obviously don't fly Southwest Air!
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08-14-2006, 07:05 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 57
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Thanks for the post
I called both my docs today to check on their opinion on a sleeve. My onc doc's nurse said only the left arm where I had lymph nodes removed. My breast surgeon asked me to call a lymphedema treatment physical therapist. They recommended that I wear a sleeve on both arms since I have had a mastectomy in both even though only lymph nodes on the left side.
I checked into it and my insurance will cover at 100% so I am definitely going to get a sleeve for both arms and use them. I want to prevent the lymphedema even though there is a chance I would not have a problem without them.
Thanks again for posting on this topic. It helped me out. Kool
__________________
Kool
DX 3/05
Stage IIB 1.3cm w/ lymph node involvement
ER+++PR+, HER2+++ G3
Surgery - Left mastectomy 4/05, Lymph node removal 5/05, breast expander removal 6/05, partial thyroidectomy 7/05, Right mastectomy 1/06
Post Menopausal due to hyserectomy 2/03 (took hormone replacement)
Treatment - A/C, Taxol and Herceptin, Herceptin only (finish 10/06), Arimidex daily.
Age 50
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