For many women facing breast cancer, the psychological burden can be as challenging as the disease itself. New research has found that travel, whether through direct experiences or cherished memories, plays a powerful role in improving mental health throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The findings were published in the journal Tourism Management.
The study, conducted in China, followed 31 women aged between 27 and 60. Researchers discovered that travel provided emotional relief at each stage of illness. During diagnosis, patients often grapple with fear of death and loss of control. Trips into nature or visits to spiritual sites were found to ease this anxiety, offering moments of peace that strengthened resilience.
Treatment posed its own psychological challenges, with long hospital stays and gruelling side effects leaving patients drained. Here, memories of past journeys or the anticipation of future ones helped ease stress. Patients described watching travel videos or recalling holidays with family, which gave them short-lived but meaningful comfort. Imagining future trips created hope, sometimes even helping chemotherapy sessions pass more quickly.
As women entered the survivorship stage, where worries about recurrence often linger, travel once again played a restorative role. Gentle activities such as walks in woodlands, camping with family, or cultural visits gave patients a sense of normality and connection. Over time, these experiences helped rebuild confidence and improve quality of life. For long-term survivors, travel was described not just as an escape but as an essential part of healing, offering a renewed sense of achievement and joy.
What made the findings particularly striking was the dual role of travel. It worked both as a direct activity, such as walking outdoors or visiting cultural sites, and as an indirect source of comfort through imagination and nostalgia. Even when finances or physical health prevented women from travelling, recalling positive experiences or sharing stories with loved ones provided psychological relief.
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women worldwide, accounting for nearly a third of cases. While medical advances have improved survival rates, mental health remains a critical issue. Feelings of disfigurement, stigma, and the side effects of treatment often compound the emotional strain. This research suggests that travel could be an overlooked but valuable form of support.
The study’s authors argue that healthcare providers and the travel industry alike could collaborate to make therapeutic travel more accessible. Programmes designed for cancer patients, including low-cost local trips or group travel opportunities, may help women benefit from the restorative effects of new environments. Such initiatives could also reduce isolation by creating opportunities for social connection among patients.
The findings highlight an important shift in how cancer care is viewed. Beyond traditional therapies, everyday experiences such as travel are shown to offer psychological healing. For women navigating one of the most frightening diagnoses, the chance to explore, remember, or dream of new places is more than a luxury. It is, according to this research, a vital resource for emotional recovery.