A holiday can give you something positive to plan for when life has been shaped by appointments, test results or treatment. It can also bring extra questions. Will travel insurance cover your prostate cancer? How will you arrange your trip around your treatment? What should you take if you need frequent toilet access, continence products or a catheter?
In many cases, prostate cancer travel insurance is possible, whether you are being monitored, receiving treatment, have completed treatment or are living with advanced prostate cancer. The cover available and the price you pay will depend on your individual medical circumstances and the trip you are planning.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer find cover that takes their health into account. We also want to make the process feel clear and manageable, without expecting you to understand complicated insurance language.
This page explains what you may be asked during medical screening for travel insurance, how different prostate cancer treatments can affect your travel plans and the practical preparations that could make your holiday more comfortable.
Can You Get Travel Insurance with Prostate Cancer?
Having prostate cancer does not automatically mean that you cannot get travel insurance or travel abroad.
You may be able to find cover if you are:
- On active surveillance or watchful waiting.
- Preparing for prostate cancer treatment.
- Receiving treatment, such as external beam radiotherapy.
- Taking long-term hormone therapy.
- Recovering from surgery or radiotherapy.
- Having regular follow-up appointments.
- In remission.
- Living with advanced prostate cancer.
When you go through our quote process whether that be online or over the phone, you will complete a medical screening. This helps us understand your diagnosis, current health, treatment, medication and ongoing care.
You do not need to decide which parts of your medical history are relevant before you begin. The screening questions will guide you through the information we need, but it can be helpful to have a list of your medication and details of recent treatment or hospital appointments nearby.
Each person is considered according to their own circumstances. Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different quotations because their treatment, symptoms, general health, destination and travel plans are different.
Answering the questions fully and accurately helps us assess the cover available and reduces the risk of problems if you need to make a claim.
Travelling with Prostate Cancer
Travelling with prostate cancer, or after a prostate cancer diagnosis can involve a little more planning. The most useful preparations are often practical ones: finding dates that work around treatment, knowing where the nearest toilet will be, taking enough medication and making sure you have the right documents with you.
Before You Travel
Speak to your healthcare team
Ask your consultant, specialist nurse or GP whether your proposed trip is suitable for you.
They may be able to help you choose the best time to travel, particularly if you have recently had surgery, have started a new treatment or experience side effects that vary from week to week. They may recommend delaying a trip if they do not think it is currently safe for you to travel.
Fit your holiday around treatment and monitoring
Check your calendar for:
- PSA tests.
- Hospital appointments.
- Treatment sessions.
- Hormone injections.
- Scans.
- Follow-up consultations.
- Dates when you expect test results.
Leaving enough time between an appointment and your departure can be useful, particularly if the results could affect your treatment or travel plans.
If your treatment has a cycle, ask your healthcare team whether there is a point in that cycle when you are likely to feel more able to travel.
Check whether you are fit to fly
If you have recently had a prostatectomy or another procedure, ask your surgeon or treatment team when it will be safe for you to fly.
There is no single waiting period that applies to everyone. Your recovery, the type of procedure, any complications and the length of your flight will all need to be considered.
Your airline may also have its own requirements. In some circumstances, it may ask for confirmation that you are medically fit to fly.
Plan your medication carefully
Take enough medication for the length of your trip, including a little extra in case your return is delayed.
Keep essential medication in your hand luggage, in its labelled container or original packaging. Carry a copy of your prescription or a medical letter if one is required.
If your medication needs to be kept cool, speak to your pharmacist about transporting and storing it safely. Check that suitable refrigeration will be available at your accommodation.
Different countries have different rules about medication. GOV.UK advises travellers to check whether their medicine contains a controlled drug and to confirm the destination country’s rules before travelling. Lastly, proof that the medication has been prescribed may be required.
Check your vaccinations
Ask your GP, treatment team or a travel health professional whether you need vaccinations for your destination and whether they are suitable for you.
Some treatments, including chemotherapy, can affect the immune system and may make certain vaccines unsuitable. Ask for advice well before your departure date rather than arranging vaccinations at the last minute.
Make toilet access part of your planning
Urinary urgency, incontinence or bowel changes can make a long journey feel daunting. A small amount of preparation can remove some of that worry.
You could:
- Book an aisle seat close to the toilet.
- Check airport and station toilet locations before travelling.
- Choose accommodation with a private bathroom.
- Plan toilet stops into road journeys and excursions.
- Carry an urgent toilet card.
- Keep pads, wipes and a change of clothing somewhere easy to reach.
- Check whether accessible toilets require a key or local access card.
Try not to reduce your fluid intake simply to avoid using the toilet, unless a healthcare professional has advised you to do so. Staying hydrated is particularly important during flights and in warm weather.
Prepare for travelling with a catheter
If you use a catheter, speak to your nurse about caring for it while you are away.
Take more equipment than you expect to need, including spare drainage bags, valves, wipes and a spare catheter where advised. Keep enough supplies in your hand luggage to manage if your checked baggage is delayed.
Contact your airline before travelling. It may ask for a letter from your doctor or nurse explaining why you need the equipment. Some airlines may also allow additional baggage for medical supplies, but their rules vary.
Take the right information with you
It may be useful to carry:
- A summary of your diagnosis and treatment.
- A list of medication and doses.
- Your hospital or specialist nurse’s contact details.
- A copy of your prescription.
- Any letter needed for medication or medical equipment.
- Your travel insurance documents.
- Your insurer’s emergency assistance number.
- An advice card if you have had permanent seed brachytherapy.
If you are travelling somewhere where English is not widely spoken, consider having important medical information translated.
During Your Holiday
A good holiday does not need to be packed with plans from morning until night. Leave space in your itinerary for your energy levels to change.
You may find it helpful to:
- Build regular breaks into longer days.
- Keep water with you.
- Wear light layers if you experience hot flushes.
- Choose a cool room or accommodation with air conditioning in hot climates.
- Store medication according to its instructions.
- Keep essential medical supplies with you on days out.
- Know where you could obtain medical help locally.
- Keep your insurer’s emergency contact details available.
- Avoid heavy lifting or unfamiliar strenuous activities if you have been advised not to do them.
- Give yourself time to recover after travelling.
Hormone therapy can cause side effects such as hot flushes and fatigue. If these affect you, a hot destination or a very active itinerary may require extra planning. Light clothing, access to shade, a cool bedroom and a more flexible schedule may help.
Some people become more sensitive to sunlight after radiotherapy or certain chemotherapy treatments. Ask your treatment team whether this applies to you and follow their advice on sun protection.
If treatment has weakened your immune system, take particular care with food, water and infection risks. Your healthcare team can give advice based on your treatment and destination.
If you become unwell while you are away, seek medical help and contact your insurer’s emergency assistance team as soon as possible.
Flying After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Whether you can fly will depend on your current health, the treatment you have received and how well you are recovering.
If you have recently had surgery, do not rely on a general waiting period found online. Speak to your surgeon or specialist nurse before booking. They can take account of the procedure you had, your recovery and any complications.
Cancer and treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy can increase the risk of blood clots for some people. Sitting still for a long time during a flight may add to that risk. Ask your healthcare team whether you need to take any particular precautions.
Depending on the advice you receive, helpful steps may include:
- Choosing an aisle seat.
- Getting up and walking when it is safe.
- Moving your feet and legs while seated.
- Wearing loose, comfortable clothing.
- Drinking water regularly.
- Avoiding sitting with your legs crossed.
- Wearing compression stockings if your doctor recommends them.
If you experience urinary urgency or use continence products, keep everything you may need in your hand luggage. An aisle seat close to the toilet can make the flight more comfortable.
If you use a catheter, contact the airline before travelling and ask whether you need any documentation.
If you have had permanent seed brachytherapy, the seeds may be detected by radiation sensors at an airport, station or cruise terminal. Ask your treatment team for an advice card or letter that confirms the treatment you have received.
The Importance of Declaring Your Medical Conditions
Whether it is unexpected medical treatment abroad or needing to return home early because of a medical emergency, healthcare costs while travelling can quickly become expensive. 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.
You should also contact us if your health changes after you have purchased your policy. This could include starting a new treatment, being prescribed different medication, having surgery or receiving new information about your condition.
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
