Traveling After Cancer Is Not as Simple as Packing a Suitcase
How Chronic Illness, Medication, Pain, and Limited Mobility Changed the Way I See the World
During the second and third years after my Stage IV uterine leiomyosarcoma diagnosis, I was learning how to live with chronic illness.
I was no longer in the earliest days of diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy. I was learning how cancer treatment had changed my body and how those changes would affect ordinary parts of life.
One of those ordinary parts was travel.
Before cancer, I could make a plan, pack my clothes, get into the car, or board a plane.
I did not have to build an entire medical and mobility plan around the trip.
After cancer, travel became different.
It did not become impossible.
I traveled to Puerto Rico.
I traveled to Ireland.
I made driving trips to Ohio to see my brother, sister, and other family members.
I traveled to West Virginia to see my children and grandchildren.
I continued enjoying my life.
But I could no longer travel as though my body had no limits.
Cancer Did Not Take Away My Desire to Travel
I still wanted to see places.
I still wanted to visit family.
I still wanted time with my grandchildren.
I still wanted the excitement of getting on a plane and arriving somewhere new.
Cancer changed my health.
It did not remove my curiosity, love for my family, or desire to enjoy the years I had fought to keep.
That became an important lesson.
Living with chronic illness does not mean a person stops wanting a life.
It means the life may require more preparation.
The Trips I Once Took Without Thinking Became Projects
Before cancer, a six-hour drive was a six-hour drive.
I might stop for gas, food, or a quick bathroom break.
Then I would get back on the road.
After cancer and long-term treatment, that same six-hour drive could become a nine-hour day.
I needed more frequent stops.
I needed time to get out of the car.
I sometimes needed to walk for twenty or thirty minutes before sitting again.
If I stayed in one position too long, my muscles and joints could become painfully stiff.
The extra time was not wasted.
It was part of what allowed me to arrive safely.
Sitting Too Long Makes My Body Lock Up
Exemestane has contributed to severe muscle and joint stiffness in my life.
The longer I sit, the harder it can be to move when I stand.
After hours in a car or airplane seat, my body may feel like stiff cardboard.
I may need a cane.
I may need to hold onto a seat, wall, or stable surface.
I may need several careful steps before my body begins moving more normally.
That changes the meaning of a travel schedule.
The fastest route is not always the safest route.
Aisle Seats Became Part of My Medical Planning
When I fly, I try to sit in an aisle seat.
I need the ability to stand periodically.
I may need to use the restroom more often because of my medicines and health conditions.
I do not want to climb over other passengers every time my body needs movement.
An aisle seat is not simply a seating preference for me.
It is part of managing pain, stiffness, mobility, and dignity during the flight.
Depending on the disability-related need, qualified passengers may be eligible for certain airline seating accommodations. Travelers should discuss their specific needs with the airline rather than assume a particular seat is guaranteed in every situation.
My Medicine Cabinet Has to Travel Too
Packing is no longer only about clothes, shoes, and toiletries.
I have morning medicines.
I have afternoon medicines and vitamins.
I have nighttime medicines.
My two cancer medicines are taken at different times.
I also manage prescriptions and supplements connected to blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid function, bone health, neuropathy, pain, and other conditions.
If I forget a shirt, I can usually buy another one.
Forgetting a cancer medicine or another important prescription may be far more complicated.
Medication Planning Begins Before the Trip
Before traveling, I need to think about:
How many doses I need
Whether I have enough for delays
Which medicines must stay with me
Which require refrigeration or special handling
Which are taken with food
Which are taken at a particular time
How a time-zone change affects the schedule
Whether a prescription can be replaced at my destination
Whether my insurance works where I am going
Which doctor should be called if something happens
Whether the medication is permitted in another country
For international travel, the CDC recommends bringing enough medication for the trip plus extra for unexpected delays. It also advises travelers to check destination-country restrictions and carry a list of their conditions and medicines.
I Cannot Assume Any Pharmacy Can Fill My Prescription
When traveling inside the United States, I need to know where an in-network pharmacy is located.
I need to understand whether my doctor can send a prescription there.
Some medicines may be difficult to replace quickly.
Insurance rules may limit when a refill can be obtained.
VA prescriptions may have their own procedures.
Specialty cancer medicines can create even more complications.
A traveler with chronic illness needs an emergency plan before the emergency occurs.
My Medicines Belong in My Carry-On Plan
I do not want essential medicine traveling separately from me if a checked suitcase is lost or delayed.
TSA permits medications in carry-on and checked baggage, and medically necessary liquids may exceed the usual liquid limit when declared for screening. TSA recommends that medications be labeled to help the screening process, although its rules do not universally require prescription bottles. State and international rules may differ.
My safest routine is to keep important medicines organized, identifiable, and accessible.
A current medication list is also useful if I become sick or need emergency care.
Traveling Internationally Requires Another Level of Planning
Ireland and Puerto Rico were wonderful experiences.
They also required me to think about healthcare differently.
For international travel, I need to consider:
Whether my health insurance covers care abroad
Whether travel insurance is appropriate
Whether emergency evacuation coverage is needed
Whether my medicines are permitted at the destination
Whether I need a doctor’s letter
Whether vaccines are safe with my treatments
Where I could receive medical care
How far activities are from the hotel
Whether transportation is accessible
How much walking each day requires
Whether the schedule contains rest
The CDC advises travelers with chronic conditions to discuss travel plans with healthcare professionals, carry appropriate health information, plan for medication access, and consider insurance that includes emergency assistance or evacuation.
A Vacation Schedule Cannot Be Built Like a Race
Before my mobility changed, I might have filled every day.
See everything.
Walk everywhere.
Leave early.
Stay out late.
Get every possible experience from the money spent.
Now I have to consider what my body can realistically do.
A vacation that leaves me unable to move is not a successful vacation.
I need breaks.
I need time between activities.
I need days that are not overloaded.
I may need to choose the two things that matter most rather than trying to see ten things.
Rest Is Now Part of the Itinerary
Rest is not what happens only when the fun is finished.
Rest is one of the planned activities that allows the fun to happen.
After a long drive, I may need recovery time before visiting family.
After a flight, I may need time at the hotel rather than immediately joining an excursion.
After a walking tour, I may need a quieter next day.
When I ignore that need, my body usually collects the cost later.
I Took a Fall and Lost Much of My Mobility
During those years, I fell.
The recovery was difficult and took close to a year.
During the medical evaluation, I learned that my knees were bone on bone.
That phrase describes severe loss of joint space and cartilage associated with advanced knee damage, commonly from osteoarthritis. X-rays can show joint-space loss, bone changes, and bone spurs.
I began receiving knee injections about every six months as part of my individual orthopedic treatment plan.
Those injections became another appointment and another part of my chronic illness care.
Knee Injections Are Not the Same for Everyone
Different types of knee injections may be used for osteoarthritis and other joint problems.
The correct medicine, frequency, expected benefit, and risks depend on the patient and the type of injection.
NIAMS notes that corticosteroid or hyaluronic-acid injections may sometimes be used for knee osteoarthritis, with the physician determining whether and how often treatment is appropriate.
My six-month schedule belongs to my medical plan.
It should not be treated as a standard recommendation for every person with knee pain.
Losing Mobility Changed More Than Walking
Mobility affects almost everything.
It affects:
How quickly I get dressed
How far I can walk
Whether I can carry luggage
How long I can stand in a security line
Whether I can reach a departure gate
How I enter and leave a vehicle
How often I need to stop
Whether I can use stairs
How much energy remains after arrival
Whether I can enjoy the destination
A trip may look accessible on a map and still be exhausting in real life.
I Now Schedule Airport Wheelchair Assistance
Airports can require long walks.
The distance from check-in to security, from security to the gate, or between connecting flights may be greater than I can safely manage.
I now request wheelchair service.
Airlines are required to provide wheelchair or guided assistance to qualified passengers with disabilities who need help boarding, leaving the aircraft, or making connections. The service is meant to be provided safely and with dignity.
The first time I used it, I wanted to cry.
I Thought Someone Else Needed the Wheelchair More
My children suggested that I request wheelchair assistance.
My first reaction was guilt.
I looked at other people and thought:
“They are worse off than I am.”
I worried that I was taking a wheelchair from someone who needed it more.
I felt embarrassed.
I felt exposed.
I felt as though using the service meant I was claiming a disability I had not earned.
Then I had to face a difficult truth.
I was one of the people the service was created to help.
Disability Services Are Not a Prize for the Sickest Person
Wheelchair assistance is not awarded only to the passenger with the most visible or severe disability.
A person may need it because she cannot walk long airport distances, cannot stand for extended periods, is at risk of falling, becomes dangerously fatigued, or cannot safely reach the gate.
Using an accommodation does not mean another passenger loses the right to request one.
Airlines have a duty to provide assistance to passengers who qualify and request it.
I was not stealing care.
I was using a service that helped me travel safely.
Accepting the Wheelchair Allowed Me to Keep Traveling
Had I refused assistance every time, I might have reached the gate in severe pain.
I might have fallen.
I might have been too exhausted to enjoy the trip.
I might eventually have stopped flying altogether.
The wheelchair did not take travel away from me.
It helped give some of it back.
That changed how I viewed accommodations.
They are not always symbols of what I have lost.
Sometimes they are tools that help me continue participating in life.
The Handicap Parking Permit Was Another Emotional Battle
My doctor suggested that I obtain a disability parking permit because I was losing mobility.
I agreed to get it.
Then I told myself I would not use it unless things became really bad.
I planned to park farther away as I always had.
That plan did not last.
I began to understand that the distance from the parking lot was not separate from everything I needed to do once I entered the building.
A Grocery Trip Uses More Energy Than People Realize
Walking through a grocery store or Walmart takes energy.
Pushing a cart takes strength.
As items are added, the cart becomes heavier.
I still have to stand, reach, bend, turn, wait in line, load the car, unload the car, and put everything away.
Parking far away uses part of the energy I need inside the store.
By the time I reached the entrance, I had already spent some of my limited physical ability proving that I did not need help.
That was not exercise.
Sometimes it was simply making the rest of the trip harder.
Some Days I Use a Store Scooter
I often try to walk with a cart because movement matters to me.
There are days when my pain and stiffness make that unrealistic.
On those days, I may use a mobility scooter.
That decision can still be emotionally difficult.
My disabilities are not always obvious.
People may see me stand briefly and assume I do not need the scooter.
They do not see what happens after several minutes of walking.
They do not feel the pain in my knees, joints, muscles, back, or feet.
They do not know how much strength I have left that day.
Mobility Can Change From Day to Day
Disability is not always identical every morning.
One day I may be able to walk through a store with a cart.
Another day I may need a scooter.
One day I may use my cane only after sitting.
Another day I may depend on it from the moment I leave the car.
A person does not have to be completely unable to walk to need mobility assistance.
Many people can walk short distances but cannot safely or comfortably walk long ones.
I Pack More Than Clothing
My packing list may now include:
Cancer medicines
Other prescriptions
Vitamins and supplements
A current medication list
A cane
Comfortable and supportive shoes
Compression items if medically recommended
Blood-sugar supplies
Emergency contact information
Insurance information
Pain-relief supplies approved by my doctors
A small health summary
Extra medication for delays
Mobility-service confirmations
Travel feels less spontaneous because the consequences of forgetting something are greater.
I Need to Know the Physical Layout
Before booking, I may need to ask:
How far is the hotel room from the elevator?
Are there stairs?
Is there a walk-in shower?
Are grab bars available?
How far is the parking area?
Is the tour mostly standing or walking?
Are seats available?
Is transportation accessible?
How close is the restroom?
Can a cane or mobility device be stored safely?
Is there time to rest?
These questions are not complaints.
They are part of determining whether I can participate.
“Accessible” Does Not Always Mean Accessible to Me
A location may meet technical accessibility requirements and still be difficult.
The route may be long.
The floor may be uneven.
The available ramp may be far from the entrance.
The elevator may require additional walking.
The “short walk” described by a healthy person may be exhausting for me.
I have learned to ask specific questions rather than rely only on the word accessible.
Driving Trips Require a Different Plan
When I drive or ride six hours to see family, the trip may take nine hours.
I plan stops before I become desperate for one.
I leave enough time to move safely.
I avoid building a family event around my exact arrival time when possible.
I consider whether I can drive the full distance or need someone else to share it.
I also need recovery time after I arrive.
I am still happy to see the people I love.
I simply have to arrive differently.
Family May Not Understand Why the Trip Takes So Long
Someone waiting at the destination may think:
“It is only six hours away.”
For my body, it is not only six hours.
It is:
Six hours of sitting
Several movement breaks
Bathroom stops
Meals and medication timing
Pain management
Traffic
Getting in and out of the vehicle
Walking until my muscles loosen
Recovering afterward
The map measures miles.
It does not measure the effect those miles have on a chronically ill body.
Travel Requires a Backup Plan
I try to know what I will do if:
A flight is delayed
My luggage is lost
A medicine is misplaced
My pain becomes severe
I fall
My blood sugar changes
I cannot complete an activity
The airport wheelchair does not arrive
A hotel room is not accessible
I need urgent medical care
I need to return home early
Planning for a problem does not mean I expect the trip to fail.
It means I respect the reality of my health.
Travel Insurance May Matter More Now
Travel insurance used to feel like an optional expense.
Chronic illness can make it more important.
Policies differ greatly.
A traveler should understand whether a policy covers:
Trip cancellation
Preexisting conditions
Medical care abroad
Medication problems
Emergency transportation
Medical evacuation
A traveling companion
Mobility equipment
Interrupted travel
The CDC encourages travelers with chronic conditions to consider policies offering emergency assistance and evacuation coverage, especially for international travel.
I Still Have to Consider My Budget
Travel planning still includes money.
I need to think about flights, hotels, food, activities, and transportation.
Now I may also need to consider:
More expensive direct flights
A seat that better meets my needs
Accessible transportation
A hotel closer to activities
Travel insurance
Extra days for rest
Medication supplies
Baggage for medical items
Mobility assistance
Emergency expenses
The cheapest trip may create the greatest physical cost.
Direct Flights May Be Worth More to Me
A connecting flight may cost less.
It may also require:
Getting off one airplane
Traveling through another airport
Waiting for wheelchair service
Reaching another gate
Managing a delayed connection
Repeating boarding and deplaning
Spending more hours seated
When possible and affordable, a direct flight may reduce pain, fatigue, and the number of things that can go wrong.
That is a cost-benefit decision, not luxury for the sake of luxury.
I Have Learned to Plan for the Body I Have
The hardest travel adjustment was not creating lists.
It was admitting that I needed them.
I wanted to travel as the person I had been before cancer.
That person could leave quickly.
She could walk farther.
She could sit longer.
She did not have to think about twenty medicines, a cane, wheelchair assistance, blood sugar, severe stiffness, or whether a hotel shower was safe.
Trying to plan for that old body created disappointment.
Planning for my present body gives me a better chance of enjoying the trip.
My Body Has Limits, but My Life Still Has Possibilities
I have gone to Puerto Rico.
I have gone to Ireland.
I have visited Ohio and West Virginia.
I have seen family.
I have made memories.
I did not do those things because my chronic illnesses disappeared.
I did them because I learned to work with my limits instead of pretending they were not there.
That is not surrender.
It is adaptation.
Questions to Ask Before Traveling With Chronic Illness
Am I medically stable enough to travel?
Do my doctors have concerns about flying or long-distance driving?
Do I have enough medication for delays?
How should I handle time-zone changes?
Are my medicines permitted at the destination?
Do I need a doctor’s letter?
Is my insurance accepted there?
Do I need travel medical or evacuation coverage?
Where is the nearest appropriate medical facility?
What mobility assistance should I arrange?
Do I need an aisle seat or another accommodation?
How often should I stand or move?
What symptoms would mean I should seek urgent care?
What activities should I avoid?
How much recovery time should I schedule?
My Travel Checklist
Medical
Complete medication supply
Extra doses for delays
Current medication list
Doctors’ contact information
Insurance cards
Medical summary
Allergy list
Blood-sugar supplies
Approved pain-management items
Copies of needed prescriptions
International medication documentation when necessary
Mobility
Cane, rollator, or other device
Wheelchair assistance request
Accessible transportation
Supportive footwear
Rest stops
Hotel accessibility information
Shower and bathroom needs
Backup plan if walking becomes impossible
Scheduling
Extra travel time
Rest after arrival
Fewer activities per day
Flexible reservations when possible
Bathroom access
Medication and meal timing
Recovery time after the trip
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
I wish someone had told me that a six-hour drive might become a nine-hour day.
I wish I had known that rest needed to be part of the vacation plan.
I wish someone had explained that wheelchair assistance was not reserved for people who could not walk at all.
I wish I had known that using a disability parking space could preserve the strength I needed inside the building.
I wish I had understood that a mobility scooter could keep me independent rather than take my independence away.
I wish someone had warned me how complicated traveling with several medicines could become.
Most of all, I wish someone had said:
“Travel is not over. You will simply have to stop planning for your old body and begin planning for the body that is carrying you now.”
Hope for Today
Cancer changed the way I travel.
It did not take travel away from me.
I need an aisle seat.
I need movement breaks.
A six-hour drive may take nine hours.
I need medication lists, extra prescriptions, a cane, accessible plans, and recovery time.
I request wheelchair assistance at airports.
Sometimes I use a store scooter.
I use disability parking when I need it.
Each one of those decisions once felt like an admission of defeat.
Now I see them differently.
They are tools that help me continue living.
I did not travel to Ireland because I proved I could walk every airport.
I traveled because I accepted the assistance that helped me reach the airplane.
I did not visit my family because I forced my body through six hours without stopping.
I arrived because I gave myself nine hours.
Travel after cancer is not carefree for me.
It is still joyful.
It requires more planning, but planning gives me freedom.
My life is different.
It is not finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person who can walk request airport wheelchair assistance?
Yes. A passenger may need assistance because walking long distances, standing, making connections, or reaching a gate is difficult because of a disability.
Do airlines charge for wheelchair assistance?
Airlines are required to provide disability-related wheelchair or guided assistance without charging the passenger for the assistance.
Must wheelchair assistance be requested in advance?
Airlines generally cannot require advance notice for many accommodations, but notifying the airline ahead of time can help with planning. Some specialized services may require notice.
Can medication go in a carry-on bag?
Yes. TSA permits medication in carry-on baggage, including medically necessary liquids in reasonable amounts. Certain items may require declaration and additional screening.
Should medicine be packed in checked luggage?
Essential medicines are generally safer when kept accessible in carry-on baggage in case checked luggage is delayed. Travelers should follow TSA, airline, state, and destination-country rules.
How much extra medication should a traveler bring?
The CDC recommends enough for the entire trip plus extra in case of delay. Insurance and refill rules should be addressed before departure.
Is a negative attitude the reason travel feels harder?
No. Chronic pain, stiffness, joint damage, medication effects, fatigue, diabetes, and mobility limitations create real physical demands. Planning is a health strategy, not pessimism.
Support on Your Journey
Travel after cancer may bring grief and excitement at the same time.
You may be grateful to take the trip while mourning how easy travel once felt.
Surviving Life Lessons Community Groups are being formed so survivors and people with chronic illness can discuss travel, disability, medication planning, mobility, family visits, and the emotions attached to accepting help.
The goal is not to travel exactly as you did before.
The goal is to keep experiencing life as safely and fully as you can now.
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
**U.S. Department of Transportation. “Wheelchair and Guided Assistance.”**
**U.S. Department of Transportation. “Airline Passengers With Disabilities Bill of Rights.”**
**U.S. Department of Transportation. “General Travel Tips for Persons With Disabilities.”**
**Transportation Security Administration. “TSA Travel Tips.”**
**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. “Getting Health Care During Travel.”**
**Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Traveling Abroad With Medicine.”**
**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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