Did You Know?
Gotta Get Away?
Summer is synonymous with summer vacations. Perhaps now more than ever you may need a getaway to relax and take your mind off things. Maybe you need some time to yourself or perhaps you would like to spend some time with your family. Either way, now is a great time to plan and book your trip. Our Cancer Fighters share their tips and suggestions to make your summer vacation as enjoyable as possible.
Summer vacations don’t have to mean expensive trips or weeks away. Some awesome memories can be created from day trips. Begin looking at locations close to home. Some great places to visit include museums, parks and historical sites. You can even call your local chamber of commerce for ideas and suggestions. Ray Laboeuf, Cancer Fighter, suggests going to a baseball game. He and his family enjoy the food and fun at Kansas City Royals baseball games.
If you just need a break, consider one or two nights away. Bruce Lauderman, a Cancer Fighter from Indiana, recently went to the mountains of Tennessee for a short vacation over Memorial Day weekend. Pigeon Forge, TN is beautiful to visit and features log cabins for the outdoor enthusiast or hotels for a less rustic trip. A vacation for a few days allows the opportunity to drive a little further or even hop on a short flight. You can enjoy all the sites of the area and have a few nights away from home. The short trip can provide some relaxation and a chance to see and do new things.
If you have the strength and financial resources, you may consider a trip for a week or more. Melisa Thideman, a Cancer Fighter from Wisconsin, and her daughter went on a road trip through South Dakota, North Dakota and Canada. She was a little weak from radiation and chemotherapy but still enjoyed time with her daughter singing songs in the car, and making impromptu stops along the way.
Alternatively, if you are traveling to CTCA for treatments or appointments, make that destination a vacation. Diann and Jim Stark, Cancer Fighters from Pennsylvania, often take a couple extra days after appointments at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center to travel to Chicago and visit the local museums and sporting events.
If you are in treatment or recovery you may have special needs to consider when traveling. Follow our tips for a fun summer vacation:
• Talk to your doctor before going.
• Plan ahead.
• Set realistic expectations.
• Plan time to rest during the day, don’t overdo it.
• If you are flying, read the travel and medication guidelines from Transportation Services Administration.
• Bring your medications and bring more than you expect to need.
• Never pack your medications, bring them in your carry-on to avoid being separated from them.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Rent wheelchairs or scooters if necessary.
Remember to pack:
• Medications
• Copies of current prescriptions
• Emergency phone numbers for your health care providers
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitizer
• Sweater or jacket for chilly nights
• Water or refillable water bottles
• Extra contacts if you wear them
Travel provides the opportunity to get away from work, stress and worry. It is also a time to refresh and renew your energy. Many of our Cancer Fighters feel that a vacation is vital to their physical and mental well-being. Fran Smith, a Cancer Fighter at CTCA at Western Regional Medical Center shares her most important tip about travel, “Do it. Don’t let cancer or treatments stop you.”