Q: I am a 75-year-old man. I had surgery for an enlarged prostate, not
cancer, four weeks ago and I am feeling quite well. I am booked for a
holiday in England in a few weeks. Is it safe to travel by air, or
should I cancel my trip? I have cancellation insurance, but I really
want to go if possible.
A: I think you should be fine to travel. Air travel is not as difficult
for someone who has had recent surgery as a long car journey, where you
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are doing the driving. Every time you change gear or put on the
brakes, you are stressing the recently formed scar tissue and
interfering with the healing process. In any case you will have
completed the usual six-week waiting period before the doctors would
allow you back to work, if you are still in the work force. As long as
you have not suffered any complications such as bleeding or infection,
you will be fine. Make sure you move around as much as possible, and
make several trips to the washroom to get the circulation going in your
legs, and prevent blood clots and embolisms.
England is also a better place to travel than the United States as far
as the cost of health care goes. Of course you should have travel
insurance, but as far as I am aware England still offer free emergency
treatment to foreigners.
Air travel is not recommended for people who have suffered a recent
heart attack, or who have other serious heart and breathing problems.
Nearly every man ends up with prostate problems sooner or later, if
they live long enough. Did you know that vitamin E has recently been
found to have a role in preventing prostate cancer? Researchers at the
University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered that vitamin E
interferes with the ability of prostate cells to produce prostate
specific antigen as well as inhibiting the androgen receptor for the
male hormone. Both of these substances help prostate cancer develop.
The discovery of the vitamin’s influence is a significant breakthrough
since many of the favourite drugs used to treat cancer of the prostate
focus on reducing men’s testosterone levels. This can lead to other
medical problems as well as impotence. Vitamin E would not interfere
with testosterone levels.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont.
Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are
encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding
medical questions and treatments.
