Traveling After Cancer Is Possible, but It Takes a Different Kind of Planning
How Chronic Illness, Limited Mobility, and Cancer Medications Changed the Way I Travel
During the second and third years after my Stage IV uterine leiomyosarcoma diagnosis, I was learning how to live with chronic illness.
I was also trying to enjoy the life I had fought so hard to keep.
Those two goals sometimes seemed to work against each other.
Travel had once been simple. I could pack a bag, get in the car, board a plane, and focus mostly on where I was going. I did not need to calculate how long I could sit, where I would find a bathroom, how far I could walk, or how much recovery time I would need after arriving.
Cancer changed that.
The treatments, maintenance medications, joint pain, muscle stiffness, neuropathy, knee damage, and reduced mobility did not take away my desire to travel. They changed the way I had to prepare for it.
I could still go places.
I simply could no longer travel as though my body had no limits.
A Fall Revealed Another Chronic Problem
During this period, I took a serious fall.
Recovering took close to a year, and I lost much of my mobility during that time.
During the medical evaluation, I learned that the cartilage in my knees had worn down severely. My knees were described as bone on bone.
Knee osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced movement, and difficulty with everyday activities. Treatments may include physical activity adapted to the patient, medicines, assistive devices, therapy, and injections. The appropriate treatment and timing must be determined individually.
I began receiving knee injections approximately every six months as part of my personal treatment plan.
Those injections became one more appointment and one more part of my chronic illness care.
They did not erase every problem.
They became one of the tools my doctors used to help me keep moving.
I Was Still Trying to Enjoy My Life
It would be easy to describe years two and three only through pain, appointments, and limitations.
That would not tell the whole story.
I was still living.
I visited my grandchildren.
I traveled to see my children, brother, sister, and other family members.
I went to Ohio.
I traveled to West Virginia.
I flew to Puerto Rico.
I traveled to Ireland.
Those trips mattered because cancer had already taught me that time is not promised.
I did not want survival to mean staying home and watching life happen somewhere else.
Travel Was No Longer Spontaneous
Before cancer, traveling could begin with a quick decision.
I could pack, get into the car, and go.
After cancer, the preparation started days before I left.
I had to think about:
My medication schedule
Cancer medicines
Vitamins and supplements
Mobility equipment
Pain levels
Bathroom access
Rest stops
Airport assistance
Walking distances
Hotel accessibility
Transportation after arrival
Local pharmacies
Insurance coverage
Emergency medical care
Recovery time
Travel was no longer only about a destination and a budget.
It became a health plan.
A Six-Hour Drive Became a Nine-Hour Day
Before my mobility changed, a six-hour drive to visit family was usually a six-hour drive.
After cancer treatment and chronic illness, that same trip could require approximately nine hours.
I could not safely sit in the car for six continuous hours.
My muscles and joints would become painfully stiff.
I needed frequent stops.
I needed to get out, stand, walk, stretch, and let my body loosen before getting back into the car.
Sometimes I needed to move around for close to half an hour.
A person traveling with me might see those stops as delays.
My body saw them as part of the trip.
The Journey Now Includes Recovery Time
I also learned that arriving did not mean I was ready to begin activities.
A long drive or flight could use most of my available energy.
I needed time to recover.
That meant I could not always arrive and immediately go shopping, attend a gathering, care for grandchildren, or begin sightseeing.
I had to plan for rest before activities and sometimes after them.
My travel schedule needed breathing room.
A full day could no longer be treated as an empty container that I should fill from morning until night.
I Had to Choose an Aisle Seat
Flying changed too.
I learned that an aisle seat was often the best choice for me.
I needed to be able to get up when necessary.
I might need the bathroom more frequently because of medications, diabetes care, the amount of water I drink, or other health needs.
I also needed opportunities to move my body rather than remaining trapped in one position for the entire flight.
An aisle seat gave me more freedom to stand without climbing over other passengers.
Seat needs vary between travelers. United States airlines have responsibilities regarding disability-related seating accommodations, although safety rules and the type of accommodation affect what can be provided. Passengers should contact the airline and clearly describe the functional need rather than assuming a particular seat will automatically be available.
Sitting Still Has Consequences for Me
Long periods of sitting affect my body differently now.
Exemestane contributes to severe muscle and joint stiffness in my experience.
When I remain seated too long, standing can feel as though I am trying to bend a piece of stiff cardboard.
My knees may hurt.
My balance may be uncertain.
My muscles can feel locked.
I may need to hold onto something until my body begins moving more normally.
That is why movement breaks are not merely a preference during travel.
They are part of managing my mobility.
I Began Traveling With a Cane
Packing became more complicated when I needed a cane.
A cane is not just another item to place in a suitcase.
It needs to remain accessible.
I may need it in a parking lot, airport, rest area, hotel, restaurant, or unfamiliar building.
I have to think about surfaces, steps, long hallways, and how far I will be expected to walk.
An attraction that describes itself as accessible may still involve more distance than I can manage.
A short walk to another person may be the activity that uses the last of my energy.
Airport Wheelchair Assistance Became Necessary
Eventually, my children suggested that I request wheelchair assistance at the airport.
The first time, I wanted to cry.
I looked at other passengers and thought there were people who were worse off than I was.
I worried that I was taking assistance away from someone who needed it more.
Then I had to face a difficult truth.
I needed it too.
Airlines operating under United States disability rules are required to provide wheelchair or guided assistance to passengers with disabilities as they move through the airport, security, gates, connections, boarding, and deplaning. Assistance is supposed to be provided safely and with dignity.
Using the service did not mean another passenger lost the right to receive help.
It meant I was finally acknowledging my own need.
I Had to Stop Comparing My Disability to Someone Else’s
I used to think assistance should be reserved for someone who could not walk at all.
I could walk.
I simply could not walk through a large airport safely without paying a significant physical price.
By the time I reached the gate, I might already be exhausted, unsteady, and in pain.
Then I would still have a flight, another airport, baggage, ground transportation, and the rest of the day ahead of me.
A disability is not invalid because another person has greater limitations.
Help is not awarded only to the sickest person in the building.
Wheelchair Assistance Preserves Energy
The airport wheelchair does not prevent me from walking anywhere.
It helps me save my limited energy for the parts of the trip that matter.
Instead of using everything I have to cross terminals, I may have enough energy left to spend time with my family after arrival.
Instead of beginning a vacation in severe pain, I may begin it tired but functional.
The wheelchair is not the vacation.
It is one of the tools that helps me reach the vacation.
I Need More Time at the Airport
Wheelchair service also requires planning.
I need to request assistance, arrive early, identify where the service begins, and allow time for possible waits.
I cannot arrive at the last minute and expect every part of the assistance process to move instantly.
If I have a connection, I need enough time to be moved between gates.
If my flight changes, I may need to remind the airline that assistance is still required.
The United States Department of Transportation advises travelers with disabilities to communicate their needs clearly and to request a Complaint Resolution Official if an airline disability issue cannot be resolved.
My Medicine Cannot Be an Afterthought
My medication routine is complicated.
I have morning medicine.
I have afternoon medicine.
I have nighttime medicine.
I take my cancer medications at different times of day.
I also take medicines and supplements connected to diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid health, bone health, neuropathy, and other conditions.
When I travel, I cannot throw a few pills into an unmarked plastic bag and hope I remember what everything is.
I need a system.
I Pack Medicine in My Carry-On
For air travel, essential medication belongs with me rather than somewhere I cannot reach it.
Checked luggage can be delayed, misdirected, or inaccessible during travel.
The CDC recommends that travelers with chronic illnesses pack enough medicine for the trip plus extra for possible delays and keep essential medicines and medical information in carry-on baggage.
TSA permits pill and solid-form medications in carry-on bags, subject to screening. Medically necessary liquids may also be carried in amounts exceeding the normal liquid limit, although they should be declared for screening.
Policies and international laws can differ, especially when traveling outside the United States.
International Travel Requires Extra Medication Research
A medicine that is legal and commonly prescribed in the United States may be restricted in another country.
Before international travel, patients should check the rules for the destination and any countries where they will connect.
The CDC advises travelers to research destination rules, carry prescriptions or a clinician’s letter when appropriate, and keep medicines in properly labeled containers.
That becomes even more important when someone takes several prescriptions or controlled medicines.
Ireland and Puerto Rico were not just places on a map for me.
They required medical preparation.
I Carry a Current Medication List
I need a list that includes:
Each medication
Generic and brand names when available
Dose
Time taken
Reason for taking it
Prescribing doctor
Allergies
Important diagnoses
Emergency contact information
The CDC recommends that travelers with chronic illnesses carry information about their medical conditions and a current medication list. For complex health histories, helpful records may include recent laboratory findings, an ECG, imaging reports, or a healthcare professional’s letter.
A medication list helps if I become sick, lose a bottle, or need care from someone unfamiliar with my history.
I Plan for a Pharmacy at My Destination
Before traveling, I think about what would happen if medication were lost, damaged, forgotten, or delayed.
I look at whether there is a pharmacy near where I will stay.
I consider whether that pharmacy participates in my insurance plan.
I need to know how I would reach my doctors and whether a prescription could be sent across state lines or internationally.
Not every medicine can be easily replaced.
Cancer medications may involve specialty pharmacies, approval rules, limited supplies, or special handling.
The best plan is to bring what I need, plus extra when medically and legally appropriate.
The backup pharmacy is for an emergency, not the primary plan.
Insurance Does Not Travel Simply
Having insurance does not mean every doctor, hospital, urgent-care center, or pharmacy will be treated the same way.
Before a trip, I may need to check:
Emergency-care coverage
Out-of-network rules
Prescription coverage
Prior authorization requirements
International coverage
Travel insurance
Medical evacuation coverage
VA rules for emergency care
Whether my specialists can advise me remotely
International travelers with complicated medical needs may need insurance that includes medical treatment and evacuation. The CDC recommends identifying possible medical resources before traveling rather than waiting for an emergency.
I Cannot Schedule Every Minute
Before disability, I might have wanted to see and do everything.
Now I know that an overloaded schedule can ruin the rest of the trip.
If I push too hard on the first day, I may lose the second and third days to pain and exhaustion.
I have learned to choose what matters most.
One meaningful activity may be better than five rushed activities that leave me unable to enjoy any of them.
Rest is now part of the itinerary.
Hotels Require More Questions
A hotel room described as accessible may not meet every person’s needs.
I may need to ask:
How far is the room from the elevator?
Is there a walk-in or roll-in shower?
Are grab bars installed?
Is the bed too high or too low?
Is there space for a mobility aid?
Are there steps at the entrance?
Is accessible parking nearby?
Is there a refrigerator for medicine if needed?
Is there a chair I can rise from safely?
How far is breakfast, the lobby, or the parking area?
Accessibility is not one feature.
It is the relationship between the environment and the individual body using it.
Vacations Still Require Ordinary Health Care
Cancer does not pause because I am in Puerto Rico.
Diabetes does not take a vacation because I am in Ireland.
My thyroid medicine, blood pressure medicine, cancer treatments, pain, stiffness, and neuropathy travel with me.
I still have to eat in a way that works with medications.
I still need water.
I still need rest.
I still need to notice symptoms.
I still need to avoid doing something unsafe because I want to keep up with everyone else.
Family Travel Requires Honest Communication
When traveling with family, I need to explain what I can and cannot do.
That may include saying:
I need another bathroom stop.
I need to walk before we continue driving.
I need to rest after we arrive.
I cannot stand in that line.
I need a wheelchair.
I cannot carry that bag.
I need an aisle seat.
I need to return to the hotel.
I need help.
Those words can feel like disappointments.
They are actually instructions for helping me participate safely.
I Cannot Build a Trip Around My Old Body
One of my hardest lessons was that I could not plan for the body I used to have.
My old body might have walked through the airport, rushed to a connection, carried luggage, toured all day, and stayed out late.
My current body may need assistance before reaching the gate.
It may need a rest day after an international flight.
It may need a cane, wheelchair, scooter, frequent breaks, and a slower pace.
Planning for my old abilities would set me up to fail.
Planning for my current abilities gives me a chance to enjoy myself.
Mobility Devices Are Travel Tools
A cane, rollator, wheelchair, or mobility scooter is not evidence that the trip should be canceled.
It may be the reason the trip becomes possible.
I have used carts or scooters in large stores when the pain was too severe to walk the entire distance.
The same principle applies to travel.
The device helps bridge the gap between what my body can do alone and what I want to experience.
Travel Can Still Be Joyful
The planning is more complicated.
The packing is heavier.
The pace is slower.
The body may hurt.
None of that means the trip has no joy.
I have seen places I wanted to see.
I have spent time with my grandchildren.
I have gone to family gatherings.
I have visited my children.
I have experienced Puerto Rico and Ireland.
I have made memories that cancer could have prevented me from ever having.
The trip does not have to look like my old vacations to be valuable.
The Goal Is Not to Prove I Can Travel Normally
I no longer need to prove that I can travel without help.
That kind of pride can leave me stranded, injured, or unable to enjoy the destination.
My goal is not to look able-bodied.
My goal is to arrive safely, protect my health, enjoy what I can, and return home without creating an unnecessary medical crisis.
Needing assistance does not make the trip less real.
A Chronic-Illness Travel Checklist
Several Weeks Before Travel
Discuss major travel plans with the appropriate medical team.
Confirm that prescriptions and refills will cover the trip.
Review destination medication rules for international travel.
Check insurance and emergency-care coverage.
Identify pharmacies and medical facilities.
Request wheelchair assistance and seating accommodations.
Review hotel accessibility.
Schedule enough recovery time.
Consider travel insurance when appropriate.
Before Leaving Home
Pack all essential medicines in carry-on luggage.
Bring extra medicine for reasonable delays.
Carry a medication and diagnosis list.
Bring physician letters or prescription copies when needed.
Pack mobility aids and chargers.
Bring diabetes or other monitoring supplies.
Pack snacks appropriate for medical needs.
Bring supportive shoes.
Confirm transportation at the destination.
Share the itinerary with a trusted person.
During the Trip
Follow prescribed medication timing.
Drink water as medically appropriate.
Move or change position according to professional guidance.
Use the restroom before urgency becomes a problem.
Ask for help before becoming exhausted.
Inspect feet when diabetes or neuropathy reduces sensation.
Leave room for rest.
Report serious or unusual symptoms.
This checklist is general education, not an individual medical plan.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
I wish someone had told me that traveling after cancer would still be possible.
I also wish someone had told me it would require more planning than I ever imagined.
I wish I had known that a six-hour drive could become a nine-hour journey.
I wish someone had told me to add recovery time after arriving.
I wish I had understood that wheelchair service was not reserved for someone “more disabled” than me.
I wish I had known that an aisle seat could become a medical need rather than a simple preference.
I wish someone had taught me how to travel with a complicated medication schedule.
Most of all, I wish someone had said:
“You do not have to travel the way you used to in order for the trip to count.”
Hope for Today
Cancer changed the way I travel.
It did not erase my ability to go anywhere.
I cannot rush through an airport like I once did.
I request wheelchair assistance.
I choose an aisle seat when possible.
I carry a cane.
I plan bathroom breaks.
I stretch long drives into longer days.
I stop and walk.
I rest after arriving.
I carefully organize my morning, afternoon, and nighttime pills.
I identify pharmacies.
I study insurance rules.
I think about accessibility before I reserve a room or activity.
Travel now takes more time, more preparation, and more honesty.
It also teaches me to appreciate where I am.
I have traveled to Puerto Rico.
I have traveled to Ireland.
I have driven to Ohio and West Virginia to see the people I love.
I may not move through those trips the way I did before cancer.
I am still the person having the experience.
My cane does not cancel the view.
A wheelchair does not take away the adventure.
A rest day does not make the vacation a failure.
The additional planning is not proof that I should remain home.
It is how I make leaving home possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person with chronic illness still travel?
Often, yes, but the trip may require medical guidance, accessibility planning, medication preparation, additional rest, insurance review, and a flexible schedule.
Should medications go in checked luggage?
Essential medication is generally safer in carry-on baggage where it remains accessible. Travelers should bring enough for the trip and reasonable delays, subject to destination laws and medical guidance.
Can medication go through TSA screening?
TSA permits pills and solid medicines in carry-on and checked bags. Medically necessary liquids may exceed the ordinary liquid limit but should be declared during screening.
Can an airline provide wheelchair assistance?
United States airlines are required to provide wheelchair or guided assistance to passengers with disabilities under applicable federal rules.
Does requesting wheelchair assistance mean I cannot walk?
No. People may use airport assistance because they cannot safely manage long distances, standing, connections, pain, fatigue, balance problems, or other disability-related limitations.
Should I take movement breaks during a long drive or flight?
Movement advice should be personalized, especially for people with blood-clot risks, bone disease, recent surgery, heart conditions, or severe mobility limitations. Ask the medical team what is safe.
Should I locate a pharmacy before traveling?
It may be helpful, particularly with a complex medication schedule. However, some cancer and specialty medicines cannot be replaced quickly through an ordinary pharmacy.
Do United States prescriptions automatically remain legal overseas?
No. Medication laws differ by country. Travelers should check destination and transit-country requirements before leaving.
Should I plan a rest day after traveling?
That depends on the individual. For me, recovery time is essential after a long drive or flight.
Support on Your Journey
Travel after cancer can bring excitement, fear, grief, and frustration at the same time.
Surviving Life Lessons Community Groups are being formed so people can discuss chronic illness, disability, travel, mobility, medication management, and the emotional adjustment involved in doing familiar things differently.
The trip may require a different route.
Your life can still contain destinations worth reaching.
Find Your Community
No one should have to face life's challenges alone. At Surviving Life Lessons, we believe in life survivors helping life strugglers. Explore our growing Community Groups to connect with others who understand your journey, share encouragement, and find hope through meaningful conversations. You'll also have the opportunity to introduce yourself and share your own story of overcoming. Your story matters. It may be the encouragement someone else needs to keep moving forward, reminding them that they are not alone and that hope is always possible.
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Travelers With Chronic Illnesses.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Travelers With Chronic Illnesses.” CDC Yellow Book.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Traveling Abroad With Medicine.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Traveling With Prohibited or Restricted Medications.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What to Do When Sick Abroad.”
Transportation Security Administration. “Medications: Pills.”
Transportation Security Administration. “Medications: Liquid.”
United States Department of Transportation. “Airline Passengers With Disabilities Bill of Rights.”
United States Department of Transportation. “Wheelchair and Guided Assistance.”
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take.”
About the Author:
Deborah Ann Martin is the founder of Surviving Life Lessons, a published author, poet, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of management experience across multiple industries. An MBA graduate, U.S. veteran, single mother, and rare cancer survivor, Deborah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her writing on resilience, leadership, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Her mission is to empower others with practical wisdom and real-life insight to navigate life’s challenges with strength and purpose.
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