Kate here: So we've been through the medical pages on the web (suggested by the nurse), trying to work out what medical protection we need while we're away. The NHS are a bit vague and basically want you to make up your own mind when it comes to jabs and malaria tablets etc.
We've therefore both had two lots of multi-purpose jabs - one for Hep A and Typhoid and the other for Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio.
We're just about outside the 'risk' zone for malaria so we'll be planning on spraying ourselves in DEET but not taking tablets for four months (as you need to take them before you go and once you get back too!).
My wonderful breast care nurse, Linda, has checked with my oncologist and the Yellow Fever jab that I had in August 2008 will still be effective. Tim and I were due to go to Peru in October 2008....but I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2008 so October was spent undergoing chemotherapy rather than trekking the Inca Trail. I was worried that the chemo might have knocked out the effectiveness of the jab.
I'm also going to stop my Tamoxifen at the beginning of March (with permission from my consultant). As many of you will know, I've been on these hormone tablets for nearly five years and because they can increase your risk of DVT I've been told I can come off them early (I'll only be six weeks shy of the five year mark). Mind you, I'll probably still get some very attractive flight socks to wear!
We'll also be putting our own medical/first aid kit together - we've already got one which we take on our long walks but it might need to be bulked up a bit - and we already need more plasters as even though Tim has walked about 500 miles in his walking boots, he still gets blisters - ouch!!
Well, hasta luego...(that's another thing... I must remember to pack the Spanish phrase book)!!
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