Most of the diaries I write for the MNCC are based in my own personal experience of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. This one is not, for a change. I'm hoping we'll hear from those of you who have traveled long distances for cancer treatment. What qualifies as long? Well, the 45 minutes max that I went for a second opinion is not long. I'll leave it to the group to come up with a definition.
I ask in part because I just returned from a long trip, which was very fun but also very tiring. It started me thinking about the extra energy required by traveling for treatment. I know people do it; one of the women in my in-person support group went about 500 miles (usually flying but not always) once a month to take part in a clinical trial.
In contrast, I feel extremely fortunate to have had a 10-minute trip to my treatment center. I could come home quickly and collapse; I didn't have to reserve enough energy to get in a car or get to the airport for the travel home first. Caregivers are also welcome to chime in, as always, especially since with travel much of the burden of logistics rests with you. Whether you are along or stay home, having to travel makes life more complicated for everyone.
So that's my major question for tonight: How far have you had to go for treatment--whether surgery or any adjuvant therapies? Of course, please feel free to bring up any other topic of interest or concern. This forum is meant for all of us.
Monday Night Cancer Club is a Daily Kos group focused on dealing with cancer, primarily for cancer survivors and caregivers, though clinicians, researchers, and others with a special interest are also welcome. Volunteer diarists post Monday evenings between 7-8 PM ET on topics related to living with cancer, which is very broadly defined to include physical, spiritual, emotional and cognitive aspects. Mindful of the controversies endemic to cancer prevention and treatment, we ask that both diarists and commenters keep an open mind regarding strategies for surviving cancer, whether based in traditional, Eastern, Western, allopathic or other medical practices. This is a club no one wants to join, in truth, and compassion will help us make it through the challenge together.