General

Due to invasion and metastasis, cancer disorders often present a complex pathological picture with possible symptoms from many organs.

Particularly in the case of cancer patients, it is important to make a holistic evaluation before deciding upon means of transportation, escort, etc.

When evaluating transportation, one should pay special attention to whether there are:

• Pleural effusions, tumour growth within the lungs or severe ascites, all of which complicate

   respiration.

• Pressure on vital organs, such as the trachea, larger vessels, or nerves.

• Cerebral metastases that can cause increased intracranial pressure.

• Anaemia, hypercalcaemia, or other electrolyte imbalances.

• Serious mental problems.

Untreated, all the abovementioned conditions may be contraindications for transporting the patient by commercial flight.

Before transportation, it is important to optimise the patient’s condition in the best possible way.  Pleural effusions should be drained, anaemic patients should be given a blood transfusion, electrolyte imbalances should be corrected, and so on.

Most cancer patients may be transported by commercial flight, but in the case of terminal and preterminal patients, their condition is often so unstable that transportation is only possible by air ambulance.

Advising cancer patients planning to travel by air

Cancer patients in good phase

Principally, cancer patients in a stable and good phase can go on short trips abroad. However, it is important to get approval from the treating physician, the physician representing the airline, and the insurance company if they wish to be covered by their insurance. Often there is a large discrepancy between what the treating physician and the insurance companies accept. Insurance wise, it is not enough that the treating physician has approved the journey.

Cancer patients in unstable phase

Cancer patients in critical condition or an unstable phase should not travel. This includes patients undergoing and just having received chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, it is often the case that extremely ill cancer patients will undertake long journeys, and, because of the deterioration in their condition, are prevented from returning home by air, or even from being transported home by any means at all. It can be an extremely unpleasant and expensive experience for a patient to have to remain in a foreign hospital and, sometimes, to die there, because their condition makes repatriation by air impossible.

These situations are usually not covered by travel insurance companies.

In this context, it should be mentioned that any physician responsible for a cancer patient who is planning a long overseas journey should point out the risk of the disease preventing return or transportation home. It is recommended to give this message in writing too.

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