Is it safe to fly?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Tnguyen
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:47 pm
Facebook Username: Natalie Nguyen

Is it safe to fly?

Postby Tnguyen » Thu Feb 02, 2017 2:50 pm

Hello everyone,
Mom is still Doing well in her current situation, eating and having bowel movements
We called hospice and they're setting up an appointment.
Doctor said my mom has about a month left...and if lucky she might have 2 months. He said he hates estimating and think we should just forget about a time limit and keep living everyday.
My mom last wish is to go back to Cali and be with her family, but I'm worried with her health issue it will be hard for her to fly. Has anyone with stage 4 cc with lungs met fly before and is there any advice to it?
Mom does have shortness of breath, and were planning to get her a portable oxygen to help. And her pain in abdominal is control with pain med but usually only a 3-4 pain level.
It'll be both our first and last family trip as 5.
Thank you again for all of your sweet messages, this is going to be hard and I'm not sure how I can get through it but right now her happiness is all I care for.
Mom Diagnosed with CC stage iv with mets to liver and lung
16 rounds of folfox - failed
folfori- some growth, some shrank
folfori+vectibix- failed after 4 months (scans came back with some growth)
currently- (oct12/16) stivarga (2 pills a day)

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: Is it safe to fly?

Postby peanut_8 » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:01 pm

How long of a flight would it be, and would you require connections?

I think with the help of a wheelchair to get her to the plane, and into her seat, and portable oxygen, she would be able to fly.
I imagine it would be tiring for her, but she could always nap on the plane.

I've flown a lot, and flight attendants can be very compassionate in situations like yours.
Best Wishes,
peanut
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

Pita
Posts: 637
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 3:48 pm
Location: So Calif

Re: Is it safe to fly?

Postby Pita » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:06 pm

I'm so sorry that this is happening, hugs and prayers to all in your family.

Can't answer the question about flying but IMO sounds like it shouldn't be a problem if she has oxygen, her Onc shouId know the answer. I have previously read that you have to get permission from the airlines for oxygen and this is what I found: "Obtaining oxygen for air travel — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not allow travelers to carry their own oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen aboard commercial aircraft. Instead, most patients can use a Department of Transportation approved battery-powered portable oxygen concentrator.Oct 3, 2016."

Not sure where your family is in California but I wanted you to know that I live in So Calif/Orange County and my Oncologist and Onc Nurse are Vietnamese (both fluent in the language) if your Mother should need one while you are here in California. He is wonderful, not attached to a cancer center but schooled at the best City of Hope, UCI, UCLA and USC.

Best wishes...
70yo Fem DX: 1/21/2016 RC Stage IV-Nodules lungs
MSS-Kras Wild-Lynch Synd Neg-Lung Biopsy 1/27/16-Port 2/19/16
MRI 7/7/16 Endometrial polyp found, watching LAR 7/19/16, No Ileostomy, Stage ypT3 N1
CT 11/7/16: Most mets stable,1 shrunk,1 new??
CEA Tests: 1/21/16=20, 12/22/16=5.3, 1/20/17=4.8, 2/15/17=6.2
9/20/16-1/24/17 Folfuri & Avastin
#10/10 Done
PET/CT 2/10/16-1/31/17=Some shrunk & growth to 2, Avastin failing ??? :evil:
2/21/17 Folfuri & Avastin

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Is it safe to fly?

Postby Lee » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:12 pm

Is this a round trip flight or just one way?

There are Medical Charter flights that you might want to check out. Not sure what the requirements are, ie vacation flight. Butt if it is her wish to go to Cali as her final place I'm sure they could work with you.

Ask her Dr.(s) what they think about her flying commercial.

All the best,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

SugarBubbie
Posts: 239
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:55 pm
Facebook Username: Rhonda Pinkston
Location: Texas

Re: Is it safe to fly?

Postby SugarBubbie » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:27 pm

Please check out Angel Flight, they help people with medical issues get where they need to go. It's volunteers helping out with private flights. So sorry about your mom,hope you have many days with her.
Rhonda
DX Stage II anal cancer 2007 age 57
Radiation 6 weeks, Xeloda/oxilaplatin
DX Breast cancer Jun 2011 Stage3 one lymph nodes
Taxol 12 weeks FAC 4 tx, 31 radiations
5 year survivor certificate from MDA 2012 for anal cancer
DX triple neg bc oct 2015 4 rounds adriamyicyn, 20 radiations
"Positivity has no downside"


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Thomasnug and 125 guests