Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World
PURPOSE: Travel for patients with cancer has become more achievable because of gains in quality of life and overall survival. The risk assessment of these patients is complex, and there is a paucity of data to which clinicians can refer. We present the challenges of traveling with cancer and a revie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.19.00029 |
| _version_ | 1819206029255114752 |
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| author | Sharon Heng Brett Hughes Michael Hibbert Mustafa Khasraw Zarnie Lwin |
| author_facet | Sharon Heng Brett Hughes Michael Hibbert Mustafa Khasraw Zarnie Lwin |
| author_sort | Sharon Heng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSE: Travel for patients with cancer has become more achievable because of gains in quality of life and overall survival. The risk assessment of these patients is complex, and there is a paucity of data to which clinicians can refer. We present the challenges of traveling with cancer and a review of the literature. METHODS: A review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed. A search using the terms ”cancer,” “advanced cancer,” ”metastases,” “brain edema,” “lymphoedema,” “pneumothorax,” ”pleural effusion,” “pericardial effusion,” pneumonitis,” “hypoxia,” “end-of-life,” and “shunt,” combined with “flying” and “air travel,” was conducted. The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for English-language studies up to December 2018. Studies, case reports, or guidelines referring to travel in the context of adult patients with malignancies were included. A total of 745 published articles were identified; 16 studies were included. An inclusive approach to data extraction was used. RESULTS: There were no specific criteria to deem a patient with cancer fit to travel. Neurologic, respiratory, and cardiac implications, and time from recent surgery or procedure need to be considered There was a lack of high-quality studies to inform decisions, but the British Thoracic Society and Aerospace Medical Association Medical Guidelines included recommendations for fitness to fly for patients with cancer. CONCLUSION: In the absence of large prospective studies, individual fitness to travel should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind that maximizing a patient’s ability to safely travel is an important goal for many individuals with cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:01:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ca61597e6284a6c940036fa332562e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-9506 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:01:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ca61597e6284a6c940036fa332562e32022-12-21T17:59:13ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJournal of Global Oncology2378-95062019-07-01511010.1200/JGO.19.000291Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern WorldSharon Heng0Brett Hughes1Michael Hibbert2Mustafa Khasraw3Zarnie Lwin4Monserrat North Lakes Day Hospital, North Lakes, QLD, AustraliaRoyal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, AustraliaRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, AustraliaRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, AustraliaRoyal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, AustraliaPURPOSE: Travel for patients with cancer has become more achievable because of gains in quality of life and overall survival. The risk assessment of these patients is complex, and there is a paucity of data to which clinicians can refer. We present the challenges of traveling with cancer and a review of the literature. METHODS: A review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed. A search using the terms ”cancer,” “advanced cancer,” ”metastases,” “brain edema,” “lymphoedema,” “pneumothorax,” ”pleural effusion,” “pericardial effusion,” pneumonitis,” “hypoxia,” “end-of-life,” and “shunt,” combined with “flying” and “air travel,” was conducted. The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for English-language studies up to December 2018. Studies, case reports, or guidelines referring to travel in the context of adult patients with malignancies were included. A total of 745 published articles were identified; 16 studies were included. An inclusive approach to data extraction was used. RESULTS: There were no specific criteria to deem a patient with cancer fit to travel. Neurologic, respiratory, and cardiac implications, and time from recent surgery or procedure need to be considered There was a lack of high-quality studies to inform decisions, but the British Thoracic Society and Aerospace Medical Association Medical Guidelines included recommendations for fitness to fly for patients with cancer. CONCLUSION: In the absence of large prospective studies, individual fitness to travel should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind that maximizing a patient’s ability to safely travel is an important goal for many individuals with cancer.http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.19.00029 |
| spellingShingle | Sharon Heng Brett Hughes Michael Hibbert Mustafa Khasraw Zarnie Lwin Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World Journal of Global Oncology |
| title | Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World |
| title_full | Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World |
| title_fullStr | Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World |
| title_short | Traveling With Cancer: A Guide for Oncologists in the Modern World |
| title_sort | traveling with cancer a guide for oncologists in the modern world |
| url | http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.19.00029 |
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