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Can you fly with neck lymphedema?

Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Mar 21 12:09pm | Replies (4)

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Profile picture for William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor @hrhwilliam

Good question. In most commercial flights the cabin altitude is held to no less than 8000 feet. That is about two-thirds the atmospheric pressure of sea level. As a pilot, I can tell you there is trouble if you have air pockets under your skin, a common issue with tracheotomies. Aside from that, the pressure within you equals the pressure outside.
Perhaps your surgeon who performed the initial procedure on your neck which caused the lymphedema would likely know for certain. If it from radiation and results in a stiff or limited neck range, then likely there is nothing to be concerned about. Only my opinion and experience as both a patient and a pilot. My lymphedema was mild.

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Replies to "Good question. In most commercial flights the cabin altitude is held to no less than 8000..."

@hrhwilliam
Thank William for the insight about air pockets...I will not be asking the advice of my surgeon since he cut my carotid artery which landed me with many problems...will ask mt current ENT