Travelling & outings during your child's treatment

Whether your child can travel during chemotherapy depends mainly on their current neutrophil count, how far along they are in their treatment cycle, and where they would be travelling to. During the period immediately after a chemotherapy cycle — when the immune system is at its lowest — travel is generally not recommended because access to emergency care and familiar hospital records may be delayed. Once blood counts have recovered and your child is in the safer window of their cycle, short trips and local outings are often possible with some precautions. Always consult your child's oncology team before any trip, even a short one, and get written guidance you can carry with you.

Before any outing, check your child's most recent blood count results and confirm with the oncology team that the timing is appropriate. Carry a copy of your child's treatment summary and emergency contact details for the oncology unit. Avoid crowded enclosed spaces — shopping centres, cinemas, busy restaurants — during periods of immune suppression, as the concentration of airborne pathogens is higher. Bring hand sanitiser and encourage regular hand-washing. Carry any medications your child needs, including fever management supplies, and know the threshold fever temperature at which you must seek emergency care immediately. Plan the outing to be physically manageable for your child — rest stops, a comfortable vehicle, and a way to shorten the trip if your child becomes tired or unwell.

A short family holiday is possible for some children during cancer treatment, but it requires careful planning and your oncology team's approval. Key considerations include: the destination's proximity to a hospital with oncology capability (in case of fever or emergency), the climate (extreme heat can worsen fatigue and dehydration in children on treatment), the type of activities planned, and where your child is in their treatment cycle. International travel adds layers of complexity — vaccination requirements, insurance gaps (standard travel insurance often excludes pre-existing conditions), and the challenge of obtaining treatment records in another country. Many families find that a local short break — a few days in a peaceful, low-infection-risk setting within driving distance of the treatment centre — is the right balance between rest and safety during active treatment.

Your oncology team will give you a specific fever threshold — typically a temperature at or above 38°C (100.4°F) — at which you must seek urgent medical attention, regardless of where you are. This is a hard rule: do not wait to see if the fever comes down on its own. If your child develops a fever during an outing or trip, call your oncology team immediately and follow their instructions, which will usually include going to the nearest emergency department while also alerting your treating centre so they can communicate with the receiving hospital. Always carry the name and contact number of your child's oncology unit and a one-page medical summary when travelling, so that any emergency doctor can see the current treatment at a glance. Do not administer fever-reducing medication before seeking help, as this can mask important symptoms.

These activities carry specific risks that need to be weighed against your child's current immune status. Theme parks and busy public attractions involve large crowds and high-contact surfaces, making infection transmission more likely. Swimming pools — particularly public ones — carry the risk of waterborne infections and chemical irritants that can affect sensitive skin and mucous membranes in children on treatment. Playgrounds with shared equipment carry lower risk, particularly outdoors, but physical falls carry a higher consequence if your child's platelet count is low (low platelets increase the risk of bruising and bleeding from minor impacts). Your oncology team can advise on each specific activity based on your child's current blood counts, type of treatment, and how they are feeling. Ask before each outing rather than assuming the same rules apply every week.

Many treatments used in childhood cancer — including certain chemotherapy agents and radiation therapy — can make the skin significantly more sensitive to sunlight (a condition called photosensitivity). This means that even a short period outdoors without sun protection can cause burns or reactions that are more severe than a typical sunburn. Always apply a broad-spectrum, high-SPF sunscreen before any outing, use wide-brimmed hats and protective clothing, and plan outdoor activities for cooler, shadier parts of the day. Heat can also worsen fatigue and dehydration, which are already challenges during treatment. Carry water, avoid peak heat hours, and have a clear plan for getting your child into a cool, comfortable environment quickly if needed. Ask your oncology team whether any specific sun or heat restrictions apply for your child's treatment protocol.