Archive for the ‘Travelling with Medical Conditions’ Category

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Be Loud Be Clear in January

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
bowel cancer travel insurance

Talking about bowel cancer during Be Loud Be Clear week

 

Following Be Loud Be Clear Week (23rd to 29th Jan), we at AllClear wanted to voice our support by talking about travelling with bowel cancer. Be Loud Be Clear  is part of UK charity Beating Bowel Cancer’s work to raise awareness of symptoms, promote early diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer.

Lots of events took place including dress LOUD days, cake sales or even a LOUD tie day  - all contributing to raised awareness! At AllClear we too helped spread awareness of the event through our social media, such as our Twitter account.

If you didn’t get directly  involved in Be Loud Be Clear week, there is still lots that you can do throughout 2012. For example, take a look at all the runs, treks and challenges that you can sign up to in 2012.

The aim of all these events is to get people talking more about bowel cancer and understanding more about the symptoms and signs to look out for.

One thing that we think is not talked about it enough is how you can carry on doing the things you enjoy, even if you have been diagnosed with bowel cancer…

Don’t let bowel cancer affect your holiday plans

At AllClear we understand that when you’re diagnosed with bowel cancer, part of the problem is the feeling that your life is put on hold and you can’t get on with the things you enjoy. This can include getting comprehensive travel insurance to go on holiday. Travelling without comprehensive cover, could mean you have no protection if things do go wrong whilst you’re away. It is also a huge risk as medical bills abroad frequently run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Therefore, following Be Loud Be Clear week, we wanted to point out that with specialist travel insurance for those suffering from bowel cancer, a diagnosis doesn’t have to spell the end of holidays abroad. This gives people the peace of mind to enjoy foreign travel, with access to medical treatment anywhere in the world, just in case it’s needed.

AllClear Travel uses a medical screening process to provide specialist travel insurance for cancer –  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes and there’s no need to provide medical certificates. Using AllClear Options, our online medical travel insurance comparison service, you can get a range of quotes, from a number of different specialist travel insurance providers, and get the travel insurance that best suits you.  

As well as getting specialist travel insurance to cover cancer, here are AllClear’s top tips on travelling with bowel  cancer:

Planning: The secret to a stress free trip is to plan ahead. Consult your GP or specialist before booking a trip so they can help decide what is realistic for you.

Holiday Timing: It may often be necessary to advise a delay to the planned journey if you have recently completed, are currently undergoing, or due to start certain treatments e.g. chemotherapy. Do not automatically cancel your holiday, however, as often simple re-arrangements can be made to allow a holiday to take place. Radiotherapy can be planned before the holiday and started on return – this doesn’t delay the treatment because there may well be a week or so gap between the planning and start

Fight infection: Certain types of chemotherapy or radiotherapy can affect your ability to fight infection so you should check with your cancer specialist nurse for any precautions you should take before your holiday, as your immune system takes time to recover. Preventing infection may mean avoiding certain types of food and drink, such as unpasteurised cheeses.

Healthcare: You may wish to understand more about the standard and provision of healthcare in the destination country. You could contact the relevant High Commission, Embassy or Consulate. If there is concern that the destination is a country or area lacking in suitable medical facilities, you may want to consider an alternative that has a better standard of healthcare. If the destination is remote (even in a developed country) then healthcare is likely to be more basic

Vaccinations: To visit some countries you will need vaccinations, but if you are having certain cancer drugs or have a weakened immune system, you may not be able to have the required vaccinations so it is vital that you check with your doctor. It may also be that you require a flu jab as timings of flu epidemics vary across the world, again check with your doctor or a travel nurse.

Medication: If you are taking any medicines, you should plan how much you need to take with you and get those prescriptions before you go (make sure you have an extra supply in case you lose any). Keep a few days’ supply of medication in your hand luggage so you don’t need to panic if your luggage goes missing.

Taking care in the sun: Some patients may be more sensitive to the direct effects of the sun due to chemotherapy regimes or radiotherapy. High-factor sun block (SPF 15 or higher) is recommended, as is the wearing of loose, cotton clothing. (also see careful sun exposure)

Avoiding diarrhoea and vomiting:  Diarrhoea and vomiting can be debilitating to individuals who are generally in good health, but can be devastating to a patient with cancer. If unsure about the cleanliness of the piped water supply, boil all water before drinking or cleaning teeth. For additional safety, only use bottled water (ensure that the cap is sealed).

Information: Keep information on your cancer, doctors and medication with you at all times.

Find more details on travelling with bowel cancer.

Following Be Loud Be Clear, the Department of Health is launching a bowel cancer symptom awareness campaign national campaign on 30 January. The aim is to promote earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer. Find out more about Be Clear on Cancer

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Do you know about World Heart Day?

Monday, September 26th, 2011

World Heart Day was created in 2000 by the World Heart Federation. World Heart Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness of heart disease and how to promote healthy hearts. National activities such as public talks and screenings, walks and runs, concerts or sporting events  are organized worldwide by members and partners of the World Heart Federation.

 World Heart Day is at the end of this month, on the 29th September – it takes place on the same day each year.

The Theme this year is ‘One World, One Home, One Heart’. For the last 2 years, World Heart Day has focussed on heart health in the workplace, but this year we are urged to take charge of improving heart health within the home, for all the family. This includes choosing healthy food options, increasing physical activity, and saying no to tobacco. This year, we are challenged to take charge of our family’s heart health and become our home’s advocate for heart-healthy living.
The recommendations include:

1. Ban Smoking from your home: The risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half one year after quitting and 15 years after quitting the risk is nearly the same as someone who never smoked.
2. Stock your home with healthy food options: Recommendations include making sure that every evening meal contains at least 2 to 3 servings of vegetables per person, and including fruit in your breakfast.
3. Be Active: Just 30 minutes of activity on most days can help to prevent heart attacks and stroke. World Heart Day recommends families should limit the amount of time spent in front of the TV to less than 2 hours per day. It recommends organizing more outdoor activities for the family and this is especially interesting to us in terms of travel.  For example, could your next holiday be a cycling or hiking trip?
4. Know your numbers: Visit a healthcare professional who can measure your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, together with waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI). You can then develop an action plan specific to your own family’s heart health and  make this action plan clearly visible in your home as a reminder!

Ok, so a lot of these recommendations are things we know already, but it’s always useful to be reminded of them, and you may want to think how some of these recommendations might apply when booking your next holiday! You can get more information on travelling with a heart condition in our Medical Travel Insurance Guide.

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Exercise a ‘super drug’ for cancer survivors that can stop disease returning

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
travelling with cancer

Moderate excercise, such as badminton, can help in cancer recovery

 

Exercise is a ‘wonder drug’ for cancer survivors and may prevent the disease returning, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.  Physical activity could also benefit those undergoing treatment for cancer. Macmillan say doctors should prescribe exercise rather than telling patients to rest.

A review of more than 60 studies for the charity found that being active during treatment does not worsen fatigue and has positive effects on mood and wellbeing.

Once treatment has finished, exercise can reduce the impact of side effects, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, impaired mobility and weight changes.

The research also showed exercise has an impact on preventing recurrence of a few specific cancers. For example, women with breast cancer who exercise for 150 minutes a week at moderate intensity have a 40% lower risk of recurrence  of disease compared to women  who are active for less than one hour a week.

Moderate exercise includes very brisk walking, heavy cleaning – such as washing windows, vacuuming and mopping – mowing the lawn, cycling and badminton.

Macmillan Cancer Support found that more than half of GPs, practice nurses, oncologists and cancer nurses did not speak to their patients about the possible benefits of exercise, or only spoke to a few of them.

We decided to think about what this means for travel. If you are recovering from cancer, in between treatments, or your cancer is in remission, a holiday can be just what you need to recharge the batteries. But, based on this research, you may want to think more about what kind of holiday you should go on, as a more activity based holiday could actually aid in recovery. For example, could you consider going on a walking holiday, or somewhere where you could hire a bike while you are away? You should discuss any travel plans with your doctor though, and our travelling with cancer tips may help with your decision too.

One more point is obviously to make sure that you have cancer travel insurance cover in case of any problems while you are away.

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Could chocolate be the answer to heart disease?

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

 

travelling with heart conditions

Could chocolate be the answer to heart diease?

Chocolate seems to help cut the risk of heart disease and stroke, an overview of research has found. People who ate the most chocolate had a 37% reduced risk of heart disease and 29% reduction in stroke, compared to those who ate least, according to analysis of data from more than 100,000 people.

Previous studies have found that chocolate contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that could help ward off heart disease, but the problem is that many popular chocolate products still contains lots of fat and sugar and these ingredients are likely to offset any health benefits derived from the chocolate content.

Therefore, the researchers (from Cambridge University) said companies should consider reducing the fat and sugar content of their products to make the most of chocolate’s health-giving properties, but did not recommend that people increase their chocolate intake for the sake of their hearts.

They analysed seven studies of the topic, finding that five linked high chocolate consumption with lower risk of heart disease, even after adjusting for things like age, weight and exercise.

Some evidence suggests that dark chocolate with high cocoa content is the most healthy, but the studies included milk, dark and white chocolate, as well as drinks, biscuits and desserts.

Catherine Collins, a dietitian at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in London, said it could be the relaxing element of treating yourself to chocolate that is good for the heart.

Victoria Taylor, Senior Heart Health Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, pointed out that more research needs to be done. This study didn’t explore what it is about chocolate that could help and if one particular type of chocolate is better than another, so she would not advise people to eat more chocolate based on this research.

Ok, so we can’t really answer the question in the title. As with  most things, chocolate may only play a partial role in a multi-faceted approach to a healthy heart, and there is still more research that needs to be done before we can really have an answer. But, for more information on a healthy heart, particularly when you are travelling, you can check out our info on travelling with heart conditions.

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Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
raising awareness lymphatic cancer

Raising awareness of lymphatic cancer from 12th to 18th September

This week (12th to 18th September) is Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of lymphoma and fundraise for this important work. We checked out the Lymphoma Association website, and there are still a number of ways that you can help and get involved…

We have picked out just a few ideas here:

Tell people online – If you are on Twitter, you could tweet: ‘This week is #Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week, which raises awareness of the UK’s fifth most common cancer. http://www.lymphomas25.org.uk/lymphatic-cancer-awareness-week-2011

Text Giving – You can support Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week by texting LCAW11 and the amount you would like to donate (e.g. LCAW11 £5) to 70070. The Lymphoma Association will receive the whole amount.

Here at AllClear we support Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week. We know that if you have lymphatic cancer, then a holiday can be a great way to recharge the batteries, or aid in recovery. So we have collected the following tips for people with lymphatic cancer who either have a holiday planned, or want to plan one in the future (Thanks to the Lymphoma Association for a lot of this information).

Here are our tips on travelling with lymphatic cancer:

  • Planning: What type of medical facilities are there at your destination? Could you get medication if you needed it? Talk everything through with your doctor – they might be able to recommend a colleague in the local area who you can speak to if you need to.
  • Travel Insurance: Make sure you get specialist travel insurance that covers your cancer, in case you need any medical treatment while you are away.
  • Lymphatic cancer Medication: Take enough medication for your trip, plus extras. Some medications are not readily available in other countries, so it is worthwhile to check out beforehand what you should do if your supply gets low.
    • Keep all medications in their original containers with labels. Prescription bottles should have your name, and the name and dosage of the cancer medication clearly indicated.
    • Consider carrying a note from your doctor with a list of your required medications on it to prove that you need them. This is especially important for pain medications, antidepressants, and stimulants that may be illegal in other countries.
    • Carry all your medications in a re-sealable plastic bag to prevent spills. If you are traveling with chemotherapy or injectable medications, this is particularly important.
    • Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to handle your medications if you will be traveling to a different time zone.
    • If you need syringes for your medications, make sure you bring enough for your entire trip, as well as a note from your doctor explaining why you need them.
  • Infection: If you have active lymphoma, you may be more prone to infection because of the impact of the disease on the immune System. This is particularly true if you  are currently receiving chemotherapy or steroids. You can greatly reduce the risk of infectious disease by attention to simple hygiene. For example, wash hands thoroughly; buy all drinking water in sealed bottles and do not have ice if you are unsure of the water source
  • Vaccines: Some vaccines are not recommended for people with lymphoma because the vaccine contains live organisms (a small weakened version of the disease-causing organism, causing an immune reaction so the person is protected in the future) . Consider this when deciding your destination. Here are some examples, but you would need to check with your doctor for your individual circumstances.

1. Polio Vaccine – the inactivated vaccine is suitable for people with lymphoma

2. Meningitis Vaccine – people who have had their spleen removed are at particular risk of contracting meningitis

3. Yellow fever vaccine – for certain countries in Africa and South America. Since it should not be given to people with lymphoma, it may restrict your ability to travel to such countries.

4. If necessary, make sure you are protected against mosquito bites. If you are need to take malaria tablets, check with your GP that  that anti-malaria tablets recommended would not result in any chemotherapy treatment or other medication for your lymphoma.

If you have any other useful tips on travelling with lymphatic cancer, do please add them to the comments box below.

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Have you got the BBQ Blues?

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Ok, so the UK weather has been typically temperamental so far this year. We have had some lovely, long hot days, but also more than our fair share of rain. With the school summer holidays now upon us, the question is, will there be lots more sunshine to enjoy?

 Given the ups and downs of the weather then, it is quite surprising then that many Brits are postponing their summer holidays until the Autumn, because they don’t want to miss sunny weather at home, according to this travel agents survey. (although to be fair, I think at the time this survey was done, we had been having a very hot and sunny spell!)

So why this change? It seems we want to make the best of the UK weather and enjoy those British BBQs, beaches and beer gardens! A lot of the time, this does seem like a good plan. After all, there has been numerous instances over the last few months when  the UK weather has been better than in the Mediterranean. Going abroad in the Autumn or winter means you can avoid those peak periods, high prices,  and stifling heat, that can occur in July and August.

travelling with medical conditions

Do you have a holiday abroad booked over the summer, or are you waiting until the Autumn?

So what are the main reasons for saving that holiday until the Autumn, according to the survey of 1092 people? Well, the site asked respondents ‘Are you holidaying later than normal this year, for example in autumn or winter, instead of summer?’ Some 56% of respondents said they were.

The reasons broke down as follows:

  • Cheaper holidays later in the year: 42%
  • Expecting UK summer to be hot: 37%
  • Due to work (e.g. holiday availability): 21%
  • No particular reason: 19%
  • Have longer to save up money: 8%
  • Other: 5%

So have you booked a holiday yet? Are you hoping to make the most of the good weather in the UK (and have more time to save up) and going away in the Autumn instead? This can make particular sense if you have a medical condition, like Arthritis – you can benefit from the milder weather here over the summer, and then when it starts to get colder in the UK, enjoy a holiday abroad (Remember, if you do have a medical condition like Arthritis, you will need to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers your conditions.)

So for those who have a holiday booked in the Autumn, let’s hope the British weather is not too disappointing for the rest of the summer. And for those who DO have a holiday abroad booked over the summer, I hope you don’t get too jealous if we have lovely weather at home too!

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‘Universal’ cancer jab?

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
A 'Universal' vaccine for Cancer is being trialled

A 'Universal' vaccine for Cancer is being trialled

 

A ‘universal’ vaccine for cancer could be available in just 2 years, according to this article. The TeloVac jab is part of a new generation of drugs that use the body’s own defences to fight the disease. TeloVac has already been given to hundreds of Britons with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. But it is hoped it will be effective against many other tumours, including those of the skin, lung and liver.

In the case of pancreatic cancer, which killed actor Patrick Swayze, survival rates have barely improved in the past 40 years, and patients typically die within six months of diagnosis. Just 3% survive five years, and it is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK. Although vaccines usually prevent disease, the TeloVac jab is designed as a treatment.

Rather than attacking the cancer cells, like many existing drugs, it harnesses the power of the body’s own immune system to fight the tumours (in the same way that vaccines for infectious diseases encourage our immune system to fight off the specific virus).  It works by encouraging the immune system to seek out and destroy an enzyme called telomerase. Found at high levels in many cancer cells, telomerase effectively makes them immortal, allowing them to live on when healthy cells would die – easing the growth and spread of the tumour.

In the largest trial of its kind in the UK, more than 1,000 men and women in the late stages of pancreatic cancer are either being given the vaccine alongside their normal drugs, or treated as usual. The results from the 53 hospitals taking part will not be available until next year but, anecdotally, some patients credit their participation in the trial with giving them an extra year or two of life. In earlier, smaller trials, the vaccine gave those in the late stages of the disease an average of an extra three months.  Pancreatic cancer cells are normally invisible to the immune system but the vaccine ‘spots’ the telomerase spilling out from them and kick-starts the fight back.

Healthy cells escape the attack because their levels of telomerase are too low to bother the immune system. This cuts the risk of side-effects such as nausea and hair loss normally seen with cancer drugs.

The latest study is funded by Cancer Research UK. Obviously, there is still a lot of clinical research to be done, proves the jab’s worth, it could be available to treat advanced pancreatic cancer by the end of 2013. In time, it could be used earlier in the disease – and even to prevent it.

We will keep you posted when we hear any more about this cancer vaccine. In the meantime, if you, or a family member or friend, has cancer and you are planning a holiday, you might find our travelling with cancer blog category useful.

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Pecan nuts can help cut heart disease

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
travelling with heart conditions

Eating pecan nuts can help cut heart disease

Nuts are really one of those foods – you either love them or you hate them (or cannot eat them because of allergies). But, according to this article, eating pecan nuts can lower the risk of developing heart disease. A study showed that eating pecans increases the amount of healthy antioxidants in the body, which help reduce inflammation in the arteries. This protective effect is important in helping to prevent development of heart disease.

The nuts are particularly rich in one form of the antioxidant vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol, and the study showed that its levels in the body doubled eight hours after eating pecans.

The researchers analysed 16 men and women who ate a sequence of three diets, one of whole pecans, one of pecans blended with water, and a neutral ‘control’ meal. The findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Even after three hours, unhealthy oxidation of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood – which can cause heart problems – fell by up to a third (Walnuts can help lower cholesterol too). Research from Loma Linda University published earlier in the Journal of Nutrition showed that a pecan-enriched diet lowered total cholesterol levels by 11.3%.

So eating more pecans and walnuts is something to consider, as part of a healthy balanced diet of course. If you have a heart condition and are planning a holiday, you may be interested in our blog category, travelling with a heart condition.

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Good dental hygiene can reduce stroke risk

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Travelling with stroke

Ok well we all want to have lovely white teeth, and so need to keep up our dental hygiene. But now there may be another reason to floss your teeth.

Tooth loss increases the risk of a stroke many years later, according to a new Japanese study, and underlying gum disease may be to blame. Researchers have calculated that those with fewer than 24 of their own teeth (adults should have 32) are almost 60% more likely to suffer a stroke.

Stroke is caused by a disturbance of blood supply to the brain. The most common type is an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel that normally delivers oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked. An haemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel bursts, causing bleeding into the brain.

In any stroke the nerve cells in the affected area of the brain may die within minutes of being denied oxygen, leading to impairment of bodily functions.

Other studies have also suggested a link between dental disease and heart disease. Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss after the age of 40.

The mouth is brimming with bacteria, which contributes to the sticky, colourless plaque that binds to teeth. Brushing and flossing helps get rid of plaque.

It has been suggested that oral bacteria can contribute to the furring up and narrowing of artery walls which can result in a stroke. bacteria damage cells in the lining of the arteries. Oral bacteria could also attach to fatty deposits in the arteries, which can lead to a blood clot and could result in a stroke.

Some interesting information here, then. If you, or a family member or friend, has had a stroke, you can find out more about travelling with stroke here.

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Lobster pill to help treat arthritis

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

travelling with arthritisNow a lot of might like to eat lobster as a special treat, but how do you feel about eating the crushed up shell as a tablet? Not so appetising?

But if you have arthritis, this can be a way to treat your symptoms….

Let me start from the beginning. Arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that affect the joints, all of which result in pain and disability.  According to Arthritis Research UK, as many as one in ten may suffer from joint degeneration.

There is no cure and few effective treatments besides painkillers and, eventually, surgery. One other option, though, is Glucosamine, as described in this article. Official medical guidance does not recognise it as an effective arthritis treatment, but Arthritis Research UK does endorse it.

So what exactly is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is needed to produce a molecule called hyaluronic acid, which is found naturally in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and synovial fluid around the joints and helps with elasticity.  You can’t obtain glucosamine directly from your diet. Instead, our body produces it from the glucose and glutamine building blocks in all foods.

As production of glucosamine slows with age, you can take it as a supplement. Glucosamine supplements are prepared using chitin, present in the shells of crabs, lobsters, prawns and shrimps.

Millions of Britons bought these glucosamine supplements last year – worldwide we spent £2 billion (much more than the £30 million we spend annually on Vitamin C)

So what is the verdict on Glucosamine for treating arthritis? At least 21 trials focusing have taken place. Although some trials have reported positive health benefits, other larger trials have reported no effect.

Arthritis Research UK suggests that those who want to try it should take glucosamine mixed with chondroitin (shark cartilage) supplements for three months and if the pain eases, carry on.

So what does this have to do with travel? Well if you suffer from arthritis, you might find that if you are on quite an active holiday, or one that involves a lot of walking, your arthritis might get worse. So Glucosamine could be something that you might want to consider trying before you go, and then taking the pills away with you on your holiday (obviously, check with your own doctor for your own particular circumstances though before trying it)

This is the first blog in the Travelling with Arthritis category – more blogs will be coming soon! In the meantime, please do share any other hints you have about travelling with arthritis, that might help others, below…

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