Unpack your worries: Making the most of travel with breast cancer

After a breast cancer diagnosis, travel can become more complicated. Medication schedules, fatigue, side effects, mobility changes, scans, treatment timing, and anxiety may all come along for the ride.

Even with the challenges, many breast cancer thrivers travel – a lot. Hear how these LBBC leadership volunteers prepare to leave worries behind, protect their energy, and make room for meaning wherever they go.

Nancy: Put cancer in the backseat

When Nancy Poorvu, PhD, MSW, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2012, she was a professor of social work and had recently earned her PhD. Travel was already part of her life. She traveled for conferences, research, family milestones, and the sheer wonder of seeing the world.

Nancy prefers to travel when her treatment is stable, but when there are bumps in the road, she can still keep cancer in the backseat. When she was on a treatment that caused painful hand-foot symptoms, she was determined to see mountain gorillas in Uganda. The climb to the gorillas’ home, however, was steep and difficult, so Nancy accepted help: Porters carried her up in a litter, a sturdy seat designed to transport people over steep paths.

At the top, Nancy and her group saw the mountain gorillas. She said hello to one, raising her palm in greeting. In return, the gorilla came close enough to fist-bump her.

By making accommodations for her symptoms, she was able to create what she calls a “cancer-free zone” where she can stay in the moment. The result? She had “one of the most magnificent experiences of [her] life.”

Left: Nancy and her daughter    Middle: Nancy and her best friend in Paris    Right: The friendly gorilla

Travel with a safety net

When your treatment or symptoms changes your plans, flexibility is essential.

• Look for comprehensive travel insurance that clearly covers medical cancellations and treatment changes. Companies like Travel Guard, IMG, and others offer plans that may include this coverage, but you should purchase early and meet specific requirements. Policies vary, so read the details carefully and ask questions before you buy.
• Choose refundable flights or flexible fares whenever possible.
• Keep a travel document organizer with copies of your prescriptions, insurance info, and booking details. Case-it medical binder organizer has room for it all.
• A simple tool like a pill organizer — packed with extra medication in the event of a travel disruption — can help you stay on top of your treatment.

Jonise: Make memories that last

Jonise Louis’s love of travel did not change after she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2020 when she was 35, but her reason for traveling did. Before MBC, travel was often a break from routine. Now, it is about legacy, presence, and memory-making with her children.

“One of my favorite moments is hearing our boys randomly bring up places we have visited,” Jonise says. “Those reflections bring me so much joy; they remind us that even while navigating life with MBC, we are still building a life full of memories.”

For Jonise, “Preparation is my peace.” Jonise talks with her healthcare team ahead of time, researches nearby healthcare access, chooses destinations that are easy to navigate, and builds in buffer time. When traveling with her children, she also prepares them emotionally. She lets them know that Mommy may need rest, and that it is okay.

Her version of travel is softer now. Less rushing. Less pressure. More intention. The trip does not have to be big to be meaningful.

Pack for comfortable memory-making 

When traveling with breast cancer, comfort and ease create space for joy.

• A comfort-filled bag-in-bag by Zoolase can be filled with snacks, wipes, and water – for you and the children. Pack it with Odacité’s SPF 50 color balm to offer your lips — and cheeks — extra protection and gorgeous color.
• Compression socks can help reduce fatigue during travel days.
• Luxcare’s lightweight travel wrap offers versatility for any destination, with sun protection, warmth, and style.
• A beautiful journal, like Notebook Therapy’s Hinoki travel notebook, invites you to revisit treasured travel moments again and again.

Kim: Travel ease makes space for fun

Kim Builta has been living with metastatic breast cancer, mostly in her bones, for more than 15 years. After treatments and some complications, Kim now has a 3-inch difference in leg length. She uses a shoe lift and a cane, and she moves more slowly than she once did.

For a long time, Kim tried not to make her needs seem like a burden when fulfilling her love of travel. When people offered help, she would say, “I can do anything for a short time.” Over time, she learned that pushing through was not always the best way to protect her energy or enjoy the trip.

Kim has learned how to communicate clearly with her family about what would make travel easier. Stepping into a bathtub is hard because of her hip, so they find accommodations with a walk-in shower. Her travel companions help pull her rolling suitcase through the airport.

On a recent trip to Maui, Kim’s intentional choices saved her energy for her non-negotiable activity: seeing penguins, her favorite animal. Her selfies captured the joy of the moment – and her on-theme outfit.

Save energy for the fun part

Support isn’t a shortcut — it’s what makes the fun possible.

• Remember you are allowed a carry-on and a personal bag when flying. Try using a rolling carry-on and a lightweight, convertible backpack.
• A portable seat may fit into your tote or backpack and make breaks more restful.
• A foldable grabber-reacher tool can make unpacking easier by helping you avoid painful bending or stretching.
• Choose one fun, meaningful outfit or item that reflects what you love — like Kim’s penguin shirt. Here’s an option that’s too cute to save for penguin sightings.

Amara: Travel with the body you have now

For Amara Brown, travel after breast cancer has meant learning to move through the world in a changed body.

Amara was diagnosed at age 39 with two breast cancers, one in each breast. After finishing 12 weekly rounds of chemotherapy, and while still receiving AC every 3 weeks, her first trip was from her home in Providence to visit friends in Baltimore.

A later trip to Scotland with her sister, about 7 weeks after a bilateral mastectomy and shortly after an infected tissue expander had been removed, was a celebratory one. But it was also emotionally difficult. Amara was still struggling with the reality of being in a body that felt very different from the one she knew before cancer. She remembers breaking down in a ramen restaurant bathroom because neuropathy made it difficult to use chopsticks. Another night, she cried from pain while her sister slept.

Still, Amara found ways to adapt. “Cancer will try to rob your joy, but it’s your job to ensure you live your life while you can,” she says. She traveled with what she jokingly describes as an “embarrassing amount of water” to stay hydrated. Crossbody bags and fanny packs helped reduce strain and fatigue while keeping her hands free. She also began dressing differently for her changing body, choosing new clothes that helped her feel comfortable and confident again.

Soothe post-treatment symptoms

Managing side effects can make the difference between enduring a trip and enjoying it.

• A light and breathable breast form, like AnaOno’s cooling triangle breast form, can provide cooling comfort against your skin after breast surgery. Travel tip: Prostheses can trigger airport scanners, so let TSA staff know in advance or carry it in your bag.
• The right swimsuit, like the Judy one-piece – or any of POST SWIM’s other designs – can help you feel supported and confident in your new body.
• A portable fan and extra hydration can help with hot flashes.
• For tight muscles after a long trip, a simple stretching strap can help you gently open your chest, boost lymph fluid circulation, relieve cording, and restore mobility.
• For skin that’s more sun-sensitive after radiation and chemo, mineral sunscreen options can help protect skin. Amara uses Badger’s Reef Safe mineral sunscreen. For those who prefer tinted coverage, Odacité’s SPF 50 flex-perfecting mineral drops delivers a natural finish.

Tiernnee’: Find your window of strength

For Tiernnee’ Jefferis, travel has always been part of who she is. She traveled before cancer, and after her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, she felt an urgency to see more of the world.

In 2015, a surgical biopsy revealed cancer in her left breast. A PET scan later found tumors in her liver. Within 42 days, she went from believing she had stage 0 disease to learning she had stage IV breast cancer. Travel offered an antidote to all the uncertainty.

Tiernnee has visited all 50 states and explored places across Europe, Oceania, Africa, South America, North America, and Central America. She has walked along winter lakes, watched autumn leaves in New England, visited Iceland’s glaciers and volcanoes, and scattered her father’s ashes in Patagonia beneath a rainbow in the Strait of Magellan. And so much more.

What’s different now is timing her travel and packing for comfort – especially walking shoes. She plans around her “window of strength” — the time in her treatment schedule when she feels best — and builds her days around one must-do experience. Her approach manages the reality of being in treatment while fulfilling her dreams.

When you’ve traveled the world, you learn comfort counts in the moment.

• Walking shoes like Wander Free sneakers or sandals have an easy slip-on design and support your steps along the journey.
• At the end of the day, slip into a soft pair of foldable slippers.
• Dry off, then move on with a quick-dry towel.
• Use tools like Skyscanner for flight comparison sites or Solo Travel for tips to roam on your own.

Holly: Know before you board

Holly Davies, PhD, MBA, LMSW, travels primarily for business conferences where she is presenting. Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in December 2025, Holly also lives with POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

To manage her complex health needs, Holly brings a dedicated medical supply bag with medications and assistive devices. She sewed a Red Cross-style patch onto it so it’s easy to identify. Medical bags for prescriptions and assistive devices should not count against standard carry-on and personal item limits when you travel.

Her biggest tip: Know your rights before you fly. Look up your airline’s policies on disability-related access, medical items, and assistive devices. For manual wheelchair users, check options for onboard storage.

If you have trouble at the airport, Holly says to ask for a complaint resolution officer, often called a CRO, who should be available during all operating hours, at no cost to you, to get help.

Holly is the third person from the right.

Carry what you need

Your medical needs travel with you — and deserve space.

• Use a dedicated medical supply bag for prescriptions and devices, and don’t forget to add a Red Cross patch.
• A belt bag keeps your phone, ID, and must-haves secure while freeing your hands for everything else. Try this modern style or, if you need something dressier for work, try the MoneyPenny convertible crossbody bag.
• The Hydaway collapsible water bottle for taking oral medications stands up when you need it — and disappears when you don’t.

Kyla: Travel with intention

Kyla Wenger was diagnosed in 2023 at age 30 with stage II triple-positive breast cancer. For Kyla, what helped her feel prepared before traveling again was thinking through her specific needs ahead of time — not just packing as she used to but planning around how her body feels now.

Travel doesn’t have to be perfect or look the same as before. Kyla checks in with her doctor, organizes medications, builds flexibility into her schedule, and gives herself permission not to push. She now listens to her body more and builds in rest time every day. In new places, she stays grounded by keeping parts of her normal daily routine, such as having a slow morning.

Before traveling, Kyla researches nearby hospitals, pharmacies, and urgent care centers near her hotel or destination using an app like Google Maps. Saving locations and phone numbers in advance helps her feel more supported while she’s away from home.

Rest and recover on the road

In addition to advice from your healthcare team, build in recovery rituals.

• Small comforts can make a big difference. On the road or in the air, a travel pillow and a blanket offer real moments of rest during long travel days.
• AnaOno’s Rora recovery bra provides gentle support without uncomfortable compression and won’t chafe your skin under seatbelts.
• A cooling eye roller, like Odacité’s baobab + sarsaparilla eye contour serum concentrate rollerball, can help soothe puffiness and create a self-care ritual so you’ll look and feel radiant.
• A mini sound machine creates a soothing environment wherever you go.
• Rub tired feet and calves with Harborside Bath & Body’s muscle rescue balm.