As part of Cat Macleod’s role as a Young Lives vs Cancer social worker, she helps families plan and access trips and holidays while their child is on treatment. She explains the positive impact these breaks can have, and things to consider beforehand.
In my role with Young Lives vs Cancer, I have the privilege of working to support incredible children and young people, their parents, and carers. They amaze me by continuously finding the inner strength to live through the unrelenting challenges of life with cancer, and the seemingly endless appointments, procedures, treatments and scans. So, when I hear them say, “If only we could get a break from it!”, my first thought is about how I can best support them to take a holiday.
Families often tell me they want to feel free, to “escape the clinical stuff” and “leave cancer in a box for a few days”. Holidays are an opportunity for them to step away from their familiar, draining daily routine and focus on making new, happy memories together. I listen, tell them I hear them, and then in partnership, we get to work.
Here, I share some of my thoughts and ideas for planning and undertaking a holiday when your child is affected by cancer...
Where to begin?
Every holiday starts with an idea! A change of scenery, visiting that place you’ve always wanted to go to, or reuniting with friends and family you haven’t seen in ages. But what if you can’t find somewhere accessible that meets your needs, or that’s affordable? When you’ve got cancer to think about, going on holiday can seem very complicated. However, experience tells me that with creative planning and motivation to make something happen, it’s nearly always possible to create an opportunity for adventure.
- Decide what you need from a holiday
What are you looking for in a holiday? If it’s a break from hospital life or a chance to have fun as a family, you might find you don’t need to travel far. Remind yourself of your original intention when you’re planning – if it all seems too stressful, perhaps there’s a different way to achieve what you’re looking for?
- Don't worry about duration
Quality experiences don’t need to take a long time. Taking even a short break can help to distinguish one period of time from the next. For instance, between treatment cycles or following a scan.
- Accept help from others
As anyone who’s done it knows, caring for someone with cancer can take an enormous emotional toll. Don’t be afraid to recognise this and accept support from others, whether it’s a friend who wants to help or an organisation that could provide financial support or a place to stay. There are incredible holiday opportunities being offered to families affected by cancer – ask your clinical team or Young Lives vs Cancer social worker, or search online to find out your options.
Managing risk
Once you’ve worked out where you’re going and when, it’s time to take care of the medical stuff. Taking a clinically vulnerable child or young person on holiday may seem overwhelming, but it can be done, and it can have enormous benefits for everyone involved.
It’s all about managing risk. How far are you happy to go, what is it that you want to achieve by being away from your safe and familiar space of home and, very importantly, what do those who care for the most health-challenged in your group think is wise? Have the conversations and seek others’ opinions, but ultimately, make decisions you feel comfortable with.
- Allow time either side of your trip for the unexpected, i.e., changes to travel details.
- If you have clinical support to take your holiday, still consider where your nearest medical facility would be and how you could access it if needed.
- Ensure everyone going on holiday has enough of everything they may require, such as medications, mobility aids etc. Replacements may be hard to find. The item I find families often forget is a thermometer!
- If you’re going abroad, research travel insurance and ensure you have the right documentation in place. Pre-existing medical conditions can make applying for insurance more complex, so make sure to start looking at this well in advance, include accurate clinical details in your application, and always read the small print! Your clinical team or Young Lives vs Cancer social worker may be able to help.
When it all goes to plan
When you’re planning a holiday with a child or young person with cancer, it’s easy to imagine all the things that could go wrong. This can be true of any new experience, but with careful planning and risk management, remember that it could actually all go right! It’s entirely possible that a holiday from whatever your current life situation is throwing at you could give you a newfound energy to keep going. Experiencing something new, and having exciting, shared moments to reflect upon with those you care for, live alongside and love, could be the best therapy ever!
From Contact magazine issue 95 - Summer 2022
