Recently updated on February 8th, 2024 at 09:48 am
Few journeys are as transformative as those marked by a battle against cancer. This indiscriminate adversary affects not just the person diagnosed but everyone around them – their partner, family, friends, and colleagues.
Cancer reshapes perspectives and highlights both life’s fragility and human resilience. Usually, it leads to a deeper appreciation for life’s moments, whether big or small.
On February 4th it’s World Cancer Day – an international day intended to raise awareness of cancer and to support its prevention, detection, and treatment.
We wanted to hear from people who have traveled after fighting cancer and entering remission. For some of them, travel becomes more than just a trip – it’s a way to reclaim joy, embrace newfound strength, and feel free at last.
Join us as we share these individual stories of healing, courage, hope, and the transformative power of travel.
This year World Cancer Day wants everyone to ask their governments to improve health equity, to make it easier for all populations to enjoy affordable and accessible cancer services, and to reduce disparities in cancer incidence and mortality. You can join their Call To Action here.
“It was time to celebrate”
“The year was 2015. It marked [the] five-year anniversary of my breast cancer. Going to Venice, Italy and riding in a gondola had been one of my dreams,” says Judith H.
“After I survived my five years after breast cancer, surgeries and chemotherapy it was time to celebrate. So my sister and I contacted Trafalgar and planned our trip.
“It turned out to be a trip that more than exceeded my expectations. Thanks to Lydia and all the staff for making my dream come true. I am now a 12-year survivor and ready for more traveling to see the world. Thanks Trafalgar and God bless all of you.”
TAKE A TRIP: Best of Italy
“Now it was our chance to have fun and make a dream come true”
“I had always dreamed of seeing Stonehenge in person,” says past guest Gerri C. “After being diagnosed with breast cancer, having surgery and going through radiation. I asked my best friend Rose to go with me.
“She had taken me to all my appointments and been my care giver for weeks when I couldn’t use my arms or drive. Now it was our chance to have fun and make a dream come true.
“We saw so many sheep on the hillsides traveling through Wales, Ireland and Scotland. It was a real treat to get to pet and feed some at a family owned winery.”
TAKE A TRIP: Best of Britain and Ireland
The Alaska trip that finally happened
Joel and his father had been planning a trip to Alaska for almost five years, and just when they were ready to go his father was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The trip was put on the back burner.
“Fortunately, the cancer was removed and my father continued to live a fairly normal life,” Joel C. says. Sadly in the years to follow, his father lost all three siblings to cancer and a brain tumor.
“Travel just kind of fell to the wayside,” Joel says, until 2019 when they booked the trip for 2020 – but a global pandemic had other ideas.
“[Then] my father was also diagnosed with black lung from coal mining for 39 years. Not knowing what the future would hold for him (or for anyone for that matter) we finally made our trip a reality in July 2022.
“I traveled to Europe on my honeymoon several years ago with Trafalgar and had the best experience traveling that I have ever had. Therefore, we knew we wanted to travel with Trafalgar to Alaska. It was a stellar experience. Everything we dreamed of and more!”
TAKE A TRIP: Majestic Alaska
“The whole trip was a reboot for my spirit”
Our Editor, Alex, was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, which temporarily derailed his late twenties. After recovering, he was itching to regain the sense of personal freedom and independence. He found it on a trip to the USA.
“After I was given the all-clear for cancer in 2015, I took a trip to the National Parks of Utah and Arizona,” says Alex. “After spending the previous two years mostly tethered to a city centre hospital, to suddenly have so much space and freedom was incredible – and quite overwhelming.”
“The trip was a massive reboot for my spirit. I could feel parts of me that I didn’t realised I’d lost touch with – optimism, curiosity, creativity – coming back.
“There was one particularly memorable moment – when we were surprised by a string of mustang horses while on a sunrise tour of Monument Valley. They appeared out of nowhere, just casually passing by in front of us, on their way to find water. I managed to get my camera out just in time to capture one walking past.
“It was completely unscripted, and incredibly cinematic – something I’ll remember for a long time.”
TAKE A TRIP: Best of the Canyonlands
“…after surviving cancer, I made it a point to travel”
“This was a special trip for me because after surviving cancer, I made it a point to travel and try to cross off as many things off my bucket list as I can,” says Adriano C. “And Trafalgar made it possible accomplish this.”
“I was able to see the land of the trolls, see a glacier, experience the fjords, swim in a fjord with friends, and many more things. This was a truly special trip.”
TAKE A TRIP: Best of Norway
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Getting back on the road
“[Imperial Europe] was my first trip I took after I beat stage four cancer,” says David J.
“Seeing Prague from the Strahov Monastery was truly breathtaking and made everything I went through to get here well worth it.”
TAKE A TRIP: Imperial Europe
“I was lucky enough to survive and … have the best lifetime experience.”
“We had the trip of a lifetime and everything went so well. Every destination had its unique history, art, and culture, [and] the cathedrals are remarkable,” says Sermin.
“My trip was absolutely amazing and exceptionally well organised. Our tour was fantastically fun, enjoyable and informative.
“It was very special and meaningful because I am a cancer survivor. I was lucky enough to survive and able to have the best lifetime experience in the most remarkable way with Trafalgar. Thank you.”
TAKE A TRIP: Traditional Europe
This year World Cancer Day wants everyone to ask their governments to improve health equity, to make it easier for all populations to enjoy affordable and accessible cancer services, and to reduce disparities in cancer incidence and mortality. You can join their Call To Action here.