Published Aug 18, 2020

Should Cancer Patients Fly During a Pandemic? What You Need to Know

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Flying With Cancer During COVID-19

Cancer patients should avoid unnecessary air travel.
If air travel is unavoidable, cancer patients should discuss how to best reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 with their treatment team.
If you must fly you should 1) wear a mask at all times, 2) consider wearing eye shields and gloves, 3) pack and bring your own food and beverages, 4) minimize contact with people and objects as much as possible.

Hopping on a plane seemed so second nature just months ago, but since March, in the U.S., everything has changed. While more and more people are easing up on their personal restrictions, if you have cancer, it’s important to know the risks (and safety measures to take) if you want to fly. We understand these kinds of decisions, especially now, can be very stressful.

“First off, is it safe for anyone to fly during COVID? I have personally tried to avoid it.”

SurvivorNet reached out Dr. Stephen Freedland, a Professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to ask when (and if) he thought it was safe for cancer patients to fly. He told us, "First off, is it safe for anyone to fly during COVID? I have personally tried to avoid it." Dr. Freedland went on to say that " having cancer may not increase the risk of getting COVID, but if you get it you may have a worse infection, depending on where in treatment you currently are." He suggests that cancer patients who must travel should inform their treatment teams to discuss the inherent risks of travel and to see if any changes to their treatment schedule should be made.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) having cancer increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19. During the early days of the pandemic social distancing, hand hygiene, shelter-in-place orders, and the usage of masks formed the backbone of the public health strategy to prevent spread of the virus. As time has gone on restrictions on travel and social interaction have seemingly relaxed, but the question remains is it safe for patients with cancer or those receiving cancer therapy to travel? Better yet, is it safe for this vulnerable population to fly?

The CDC warns that people with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (such as cancer patients) "should consider their level of risk before deciding to go out and ensure they are taking steps to protect themselves. Consider avoiding activities where taking protective measures may be difficult, such as activities where social distancing can't be maintained." They remind us that social distancing is, in part, defined by maintaining a minimum of 6 feet of separation between you and another person. Is this at all possible with air travel? Even with some airlines taking measures to book flights at less than 100% capacity, with the middle seat open, is that enough space to qualify as social distancing? Unfortunately, physicians have limited data to counsel patients on the true risks of air travel.

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Fortunately, the CDC and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have issued guidance to help airlines reduce the spread of COVID-19, including increased sanitation measures and the recommendation to wear cloth face masks. Additionally, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also increased efforts to improve sanitation at security checkpoints. This is to protect their employees as much as it is to protect us. Despite these measures, air travel limits the ability to practice social distancing as defined by the CDC and also puts air travelers at risk when time is spent in crowded security lines and in airport terminals.

Overall, despite easing of restrictions, patients with cancer should continue to limit their travel, especially when considering taking a flight. Dr. Freedland provides this advice for cancer (and all) patients who must fly during the pandemic:

Wear a mask at all times
Consider eye shields and gloves
Pack your own food and beverages
Minimize contact with people and things as much as possible while in the airport

The best approach for cancer patients is to continue to practice social distancing and have a discussion with your health care providers regarding the risks and benefits of air travel.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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