A lung cancer diagnosis can make travel feel more valuable and more complicated at the same time.
You may be looking forward to a change of scene, precious time with family or the chance to return to a place you love. But questions about flying, breathlessness, treatment and getting medical help abroad can quickly take over the planning.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer explore travel insurance options that takes their individual medical circumstances into account. We believe travel can remain an important part of life during treatment, through recovery and beyond.
Our role is to make the insurance process clearer, so you can understand your options and plan your trip with greater confidence.
Can you get travel insurance with lung cancer?
Having lung cancer does not automatically mean that you cannot get travel insurance.
Cover may be available if you are receiving treatment, have completed treatment or are living with an ongoing diagnosis. The cover available and the price you pay will depend on your individual health, destination, length of trip and the policy you select.
When you get a quote, you will complete a travel insurance medical screening. This helps us understand your diagnosis, treatment, medication and current health.
You do not need to decide which information matters before you begin. The screening process will guide you through the questions we need to ask. It is important to answer each question accurately, so that your circumstances can be assessed properly.
Planning a trip with lung cancer
Lung cancer affects people in different ways. Some people may experience breathlessness or fatigue, while others may be managing the effects of surgery or treatment. Treatment can include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies, depending on the type of lung cancer and the individual circumstances.
That does not mean travel has to be ruled out. It does mean that planning around your health is important.
Before you book
Speak to your healthcare team: Ask your consultant, lung cancer nurse or healthcare professional whether you are medically fit to travel. This is particularly important if you have recently had chest surgery, started a new treatment or noticed a change in your breathing.
Think about the whole journey: Consider more than the flight time. Large airports, long transfers, steps, steep streets and busy itineraries may require more energy than expected. Choosing suitable accommodation and arranging airport assistance can make the journey more comfortable.
Plan around treatment: If you are having chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or another form of treatment, ask your healthcare team about the timing of your trip. They can help you consider treatment dates, possible side effects and when you may feel most able to travel.
Check your medication: Take enough medication for the whole trip, with additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed. Keep essential medicines in your hand luggage and carry a list of what you take. You should also check the rules for taking medicines into your destination.
Click here, to read our blog ‘Travelling abroad with prescribed medication: What you need to know.
Know where you could get help: Research the healthcare available near your accommodation and keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details with you. Always check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for your destination.
Flying with lung cancer
Air travel may require extra preparation if lung cancer or its treatment has affected your breathing.
Oxygen levels and air pressure change during a flight. Some people with lung cancer may be advised to wait before flying, particularly if they are breathless or have recently had chest surgery. Your treating doctor, respiratory team or specialist nurse is best placed to advise whether flying is safe for you. Your airline may also ask for medical clearance or a fit-to-fly certificate.
If there is any concern about how you will manage the lower oxygen levels in the cabin, your medical team may recommend an assessment to check whether you need oxygen during the flight.
Travelling with oxygen
If you use prescribed oxygen, speak to your healthcare team before making arrangements. The amount of oxygen required during a flight may be different from the amount used at home.
Contact your airline as early as possible. Airlines have different rules about supplying oxygen and allowing portable oxygen equipment on board, so do not assume that you can travel with your usual equipment without approval. You should also tell your travel insurer that you will be travelling with oxygen.
While you are away
Give yourself permission to travel at a pace that suits you.
That may mean leaving space between activities, arranging transport rather than walking long distances, or planning quiet days alongside busier ones. Keep essential medication and emergency contact details with you, and seek medical advice if your breathing or general health changes.
Cancer and some cancer treatments can increase the risk of blood clots, while sitting still for long periods can add to that risk. Ask your healthcare team whether there are any precautions you should take for a long flight, car journey or coach trip.
Declaring lung cancer on your travel insurance
Travel insurance needs to reflect your health as it is when you arrange your cover.
When completing your medical screening, be prepared to provide accurate information about:
- Your lung cancer diagnosis
- Treatment you are receiving or have recently completed
- Medication you take, including prescribed oxygen
- Ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care
- Symptoms or medical conditions connected to your cancer or treatment
- Any other medical conditions you have
Do not assume that lung cancer no longer needs to be mentioned because treatment has finished or you are feeling well. Answer the medical screening questions based on your current circumstances and medical history.
If relevant information is not declared, it could affect your cover and may mean that a related claim cannot be paid.
If your health changes after you buy your policy, contact Lighthouse before you travel. This includes a new diagnosis, a change in treatment, new medication or a change in an existing 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
