A breast cancer diagnosis can change how you think about travelling. Things you may never have worried about before, such as getting travel insurance, taking medication abroad or knowing what would happen if you became unwell in a foreign country, can suddenly become part of planning a holiday.
The good news is that having a breast cancer diagnosis does not necessarily mean you cannot get travel insurance or go abroad. And we know that getting back to travelling can feel like an important step in moving forward, after a cancer diagnosis, whether that’s a relaxing break, a long-awaited family holiday or simply getting away for a few days.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer find cover that takes their medical circumstances into account.
We know from speaking to people living with and recovering from cancer, as well as from our work with cancer charities, that travelling can bring up lots of questions. When is it safe to fly? What happens if treatment dates change? What medication can you take with you? And, of course, will you be able to get travel insurance?
That is why we have put together some of the questions we are asked most often, to help make planning your trip a little easier.
Can you get travel insurance with breast cancer?
In many cases, you will be able to get travel insurance if you are living with breast cancer, having treatment for it, finished treatment or are in remission.
When you get a quote, you will go through medical screening, where we will ask about your diagnosis, treatment, medication and current health. This helps us understand your individual circumstances and the cover available to you.
It is important to answer these questions accurately so you can be confident you have declared the medical information we need.
Understanding Breast Cancer and Your Travel Insurance
A breast cancer diagnosis can affect people very differently, and the same is true of treatment and recovery. Some people may be planning a holiday after treatment has finished, while others may be travelling during treatment or living with secondary breast cancer, and are on permanent treatment
For travel insurance, it is your individual circumstances that matter. When you get a quote, we may ask about your diagnosis, the treatment you have received or are currently having, any medication you take and your ongoing care.
This helps us understand your health as it is today and assess the cover available to you. You do not need to work out what information is relevant before you start. Our medical screening process will guide you through the questions we need to ask.
Travelling with breast cancer
A breast cancer diagnosis does not necessarily mean putting travel plans aside. Depending on your health and treatment, you can still enjoy holidays at home or abroad.
The right preparation can make travelling feel more manageable.
Before you travel
- Speak to your healthcare team: Check with your consultant, cancer nurse or healthcare professional if your treatment or health could affect your travel plans, particularly if have undergone recent surgery or new treatment.
- Check you are fit to fly: If you have recently had surgery or treatment, ask whether you are fit to fly and if you will need any medical documentation. Your airline may also have its own requirements, so check with them too
- Plan around your treatment: If you are having chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or other treatment, speak to your healthcare team about the timing of your trip and when you may feel best able to travel.
- Bring enough medication: Take enough for your trip, plus extra, where appropriate, in case of delays. Keep essential medication in your hand luggage and check the rules for taking medicines into your destination, particularly if you take any controlled medication
- Consider airport assistance: If fatigue, discomfort or reduced mobility could make a busy airport difficult for you, check what special assistance your airline or airport can provide.
- Check vaccinations: Some cancer treatments can affect which travel vaccinations are suitable for you. Ask your healthcare team or a travel health professional for advice before you travel.
During your holiday
Once you are away, give yourself permission to travel at a pace that works for you.
You may want to:
- Build rest into your itinerary if you experience fatigue
- Drink plenty of water, particularly in hot weather
- Protect your skin from strong sunlight
- Store medication according to its instructions
- Know where you could obtain medical assistance locally
- Keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details with you
- Avoid packing every day with activities if your energy levels fluctuate
If you have lymphoedema, are at risk of developing it, or have had lymph nodes removed as part of breast cancer treatment, ask your healthcare team whether there are any additional precautions you should consider while travelling.
Flying after breast cancer treatment
Whether you can fly will depend on your individual circumstances, particularly if you have recently had surgery or are experiencing complications from surgery or treatment
There is no single waiting period that applies to everyone after breast cancer treatment.
Before flying, speak to your healthcare professional about your circumstances. Your airline may also have its own requirements about travelling following surgery or while receiving treatment.
If you are concerned about blood clots, swelling, lymphoedema or another treatment-related issue, discuss this specifically with your medical team before travelling.
The Importance of Declaring Your Medical Conditions
Whether it is unexpected medical treatment abroad or returning home early because of a medical emergency, healthcare costs while travelling can quickly become expensive. Therefore, having travel insurance that reflects your individual health is an important part of travelling with confidence. When arranging your travel insurance, it is important to tell us about:
- Your cancer diagnosis
- Any medication you are taking
- Any treatment you are currently receiving or have recently completed
- Any ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care
- Any medical conditions that have developed as a result of your cancer or its treatment
- Any other medical conditions you have
Providing accurate information allows us to assess your circumstances and explain the cover available to you.
If medical conditions or treatments are not declared, it could affect your cover and may mean claims relating to those conditions cannot be paid.
At Lighthouse, we aim to make medical screening straightforward, helping you understand exactly what information we need so you can travel with greater peace of mind.
Why Choose Lighthouse Travel Insurance?
Our policies can offer:
- Up to £10 million emergency medical expenses.
- Up to £10,000 cancellation cover, based on the trip cost per person declared.
- Up to £5,000 cover for your personal belongings, depending on the policy selected.
- 24/7 access to an Emergency Medical Assistance team.
- Cover for UK, European and Worldwide trips, provided you are not travelling against the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) travel advice.
- Access to Air Doctor Connect is available on numerous policies, allowing you to connect with over 20,000 doctors in 78 countries. Where non-urgent outpatient treatment is provided through Air Doctor Connect, your policy excess is waived, and you may claim back the cost of prescribed medication when you return home.
Please Note: Any amounts listed above are per insured person on the policy. Cover limits, benefits and exclusions vary between policies. Full details can be found in your policy wording, available in your Customer Area
