Breast Cancer ! Game Over or Game On? (Travelling Edition)

Diagnosed in 2022, I discovered I had breast cancer almost by accident. My small pert boobs had always been my ‘thing’ - some have shapely legs, a nice smile, a fat arse (!), me, despite being in my 50’s still had pert boobs. However, being perky means being dense and being dense means hiding nasties!

After diagnosis and prior to my surgery I headed to Zante with G for a few days away before the madness began. I recall vividly sitting on the beach in Kalamaki wondering if I would ever sit there again; wondering if I survived this journey if I would ever sit here in a bikini again. It was a very sobering time and I left the island feeling a little sad.

Fast forward 2 weeks and I was off to Brighton with G for an overnight stay at a hotel on the seafront. We’d booked a murder mystery weekend complete with afternoon tea and a three course meal not knowing of course that cancer would come into my life and knock me for six! I have to say it was a scary journey down from London as I was only 6 days post surgery and felt every single lump and bump on the road on the way down but I made it and despite a bit of queasiness (it always takes me a good while to get over a general anaesthetic) I can actually say we had a great time. This really gave me the confidence to move on from the diagnosis and treatment and to grab life by the balls!

I did not travel anywhere outside of the UK until I was 18, and then only visiting Paris for a short break. My parents were averse to travelling unless it was within the UK (mainly Dorset and Norfolk) and so it was not until I was 32 that I took my first proper holiday abroad - taking a short hop over to Benidorm. Travelling with a 3 year old was a challenge, but we did have a great time (despite the Spanish tummy that we all succumbed to) and it quite literally gave me the travelling bug.

By the time cancer came knocking, I’d been to numerous places across Europe and to New York/LA/Hawaii and to the Caribbean but the dream was to travel across America, east to west, starting maybe in New York and finishing in San Francisco. This was our initial idea and we aimed to do the trip in 2022. I was on a maternity cover contract for work and we decided to take a month off to travel once that finished and before I looked for another job. I was then offered the job on a permanent basis which meant I needed to get permission to take 4 weeks off to do the trip. This was granted but before we could book the trip, cancer came knocking and de-railed our plans.

During 2023, I started a long term treatment plan which will hopefully prevent my cancer from recurring. It was a tough year with many challenges and scares along the way, however we did manage to get to Athens in February, we also visited Barcelona in April, and hubby and I went to Corfu in September. Georgia and I also returned to Zante in October and at that point I really felt I’d come full circle. It really was quite emotional to sit on that beach a year later with two boobs (albeit one is now slightly smaller than the other !).

In 2024 our dream trip finally came true - we travelled to Toronto, then on to Washington, Nashville, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Seattle, spending 18 days visiting 7 big cities and we had an absolute blast. Yes, the treatment I am on makes me tired, causes insomnia, wakes me up early, wakes me up most nights for a pee, is making my nails brittle and my hair thin, causes my knees to ache and my periods to stop/start whenever they feel like it ….. and the hot flushes are off the chart, but I am alive! I was apprehensive about taking the trip as I was fearful that I would not be physically able as I knew there would be a lot of walking, we had booked loads of excursions, boat trips etc, but I made it!

Having cancer is no joke - whatever treatment you have will wipe you out, there will no doubt be long lasting side effects and yes, you may never really be the person you once were; however this should not stop you achieving your goals and dreams. The drugs really do wipe me out but again, with careful planning, pacing yourself etc anything is possible.

I made sure that I travelled with all of my medication in its original packaging and took a copy of my prescription with me although I’m pleased to say that I was not stopped at all. I travel with diabetic medication as well, which includes needles and liquids, numerous tablets as well as my cancer drugs and it was not a problem.

I am now 2 years in remission, still on the same treatment for potentially another 8 years, with all the joyful side effects that has to offer, however I will continue my travelling adventures as there really is a whole world out there. I have tried to remain upbeat and positive throughout my cancer journey - what other option do I have? It is terrifying and you do get moments where you ask ‘why me’ but cancer is generally beyond your control; no-one knows if the contraceptive pill I took from the age of 17 contributed to me getting breast cancer or if perhaps environmental factors played their part. It really is just bad luck.

So, what’s next for me? Hubby and I are off to Gran Canaria later in the year and next year I think we will try Crete. Georgia and I are visiting Zante again this year and next year we are looking at Amsterdam and Prague as city breaks and perhaps somewhere new for some summer sun.

So, don’t let cancer mean game over for you; there is life after cancer and yes, I have to be vigilant, have regular check ups and scans etc and although I’m in remission I know that I will never really be able to say 100% that I am cancer free, but I will continue to pack my suitcase, pop in my suncream and hop on a plane whenever I can.

With special thanks to The Elm Breast Clinic at King George Hospital in Ilford and also to Tamoxifen !

Tracey xx