A lymphoma diagnosis can change how you think about travelling. Alongside choosing where to go and looking forward to your holiday, you may now find yourself thinking about treatment dates, medication, infection risk, vaccinations and whether you can get travel insurance that takes your diagnosis into account.
But having lymphoma does not necessarily mean that you have to stop travelling.
You may be planning a holiday while your lymphoma is being monitored, looking forward to getting away after treatment, living with lymphoma longer term, or travelling while you are in remission.
Whatever your circumstances, having something to look forward to, like travel, can matter.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer find cover that takes their medical circumstances into account.
We know that travelling with lymphoma can bring up questions that were never part of planning a holiday before your diagnosis. Can you travel during treatment? What if your immune system is weakened? Can you have travel vaccinations? When can you travel after chemotherapy? Do you still need to declare lymphoma if you are in remission?
That is why we have brought together some of the questions and practical considerations that may help you prepare for your trip with greater confidence.
Can you get travel insurance with lymphoma?
In many cases, you may be able to get travel insurance if you are living with lymphoma, receiving treatment, have finished treatment or are in remission.
When you get a quote, you will go through a medical screening where we will ask questions about your diagnosis, treatment, medication and current health. This helps us understand your individual circumstances and the cover available to you.
The questions you are asked may depend on the type of lymphoma you have and how it is being managed.
Someone with a low-grade lymphoma that is currently being monitored without treatment, for example, may have very different circumstances from someone receiving chemotherapy for an high-grade lymphoma or recovering from a stem cell transplant.
It is important to answer the questions accurately so you can be confident you have declared the medical information we need.
Understanding lymphoma and Your Travel Insurance
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow in an uncontrolled way.
There are two main groups of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin lymphoma, which is identified by the presence of a particular type of abnormal cell
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which includes many different types of lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can also be described as low-grade, meaning they generally develop more slowly, or high-grade, meaning they tend to grow more quickly.
There are many different subtypes within these groups, so two people with lymphoma can have very different experiences of the condition.
Find out more about Blood Cancer Travel Insurance
You may be receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted treatment or radiotherapy. Some people may have a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy. If you have a slower-growing lymphoma, you may not currently need treatment and instead have regular appointments to monitor your condition.
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 lymphoma
Having lymphoma does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel. Depending on your health, treatment and advice from your medical team, you should still be able to enjoy holidays in the UK or abroad.
The important thing is to plan around your own circumstances.
Someone whose lymphoma is being monitored and who feels well may have very different travel considerations from somebody who has recently completed chemotherapy or is recovering from more intensive treatment.
Before you travel
- Speak to your healthcare team: If you are receiving treatment orhave recently finished treatment, discuss your plans with your consultant, clinical nurse specialist or another member of your lymphoma team.
- Plan around your treatment: Treatment for lymphoma can include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted treatments and radiotherapy. Ask whether your treatment schedule, side effects or recovery should influence when you travel.
- Understand your infection risk: Lymphoma and some treatments can weaken your immune system. Ask your healthcare team whether your current infection risk should affect where or when you travel and whether there are any additional precautions you should take.
- Check vaccinations early: Some vaccinations may not be suitable if your immune system is weakened, while others need to be given well in advance of travelling. Speak to your healthcare team or a travel health professional before having travel vaccinations.
- Think about sun protection: Some lymphoma treatments can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Ask your healthcare team whether this applies to your treatment and what precautions they recommend.
- Bring enough medication: Take enough medication for your trip, plus additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed. Keep essential medication in your hand luggage and check the rules for taking medicines into your destination.
- Take useful medical information: Depending on your circumstances, it may be helpful to carry details of your diagnosis, treatment and medication, along with any medical warning cards your healthcare team has advised you to carry.
- Check you are fit to fly: If you have recently received treatment, had a stem cell transplant, are experiencing significant side effects or have other concerns about your health, ask your healthcare team whether flying is appropriate for you. Your airline may also have its own requirements.
- Consider airport assistance: Fatigue can make long walks through airports and standing in queues more difficult. If this could affect you, check what assistance your airline or airport can provide.
During your holiday
You may find that the way you want to travel changes during treatment or recovery. A slower pace does not have to mean enjoying your holiday any less.
You may find it helpful to:
- Build rest into your itinerary if you experience fatigue
- Keep well hydrated, particularly in warmer destinations
- Follow any infection precautions recommended by your healthcare team
- Protect your skin from strong sunlight
- Carry essential medication with you
- Store medication according to its instructions
- Know what your medical team has advised you to do if you develop a fever or become unwell
- Know where you could obtain medical assistance locally
- Keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details somewhere easily accessible
- Leave some flexibility in your plans in case your energy levels change
Planning for the things that might affect you can help make your diagnosis less of a focus once your holiday actually begins.
Lymphoma, your immune system and travelling
Lymphoma affects lymphocytes, which are an important part of your immune system. Lymphoma and some of its treatments can therefore make it harder for your body to fight infection.
This can sometimes remain a consideration even after treatment has finished or while lymphoma is in remission.
Your individual risk will depend on the type of lymphoma you have, the treatment you have received, how recently you received it and your current health.
Before travelling, ask your healthcare team whether your immune system is currently weakened and whether this should influence your plans.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to think about:
- Your destination and access to appropriate healthcare
- Food and water precautions
- Crowded airports and other forms of public transport
- Travel vaccinations
- Insect and mosquito-borne infections at your destination
- What you should do if you develop a fever or signs of infection
If your healthcare team has given you instructions about what to do if you become unwell, make sure you know how you would access appropriate medical care while you are away.
Travel vaccinations with lymphoma
If you are travelling somewhere that requires or recommends vaccinations, speak to your healthcare team or a travel health professional well before your trip.
Lymphoma and some lymphoma treatments can affect your immune system, which can influence which vaccines are appropriate for you.
This is particularly important with live vaccines, which may not be suitable for some people with lymphoma or people who have recently received certain treatments.
The timing of vaccinations can also matter, particularly following chemotherapy, radiotherapy, high-dose steroids or a stem cell transplant.
Do not assume that a travel vaccination is suitable simply because you have had it before or because it is routinely recommended for your destination.
If a vaccination recommended for your destination is not suitable for you, speak to your healthcare team or travel health professional about what this means for your travel plans.
Sun safety after lymphoma treatment
Sun protection is sensible for everybody travelling to a sunny destination, but it can be particularly important for some people who have had lymphoma treatment.
Certain chemotherapy drugs, targeted treatments and radiotherapy can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
If you have had radiotherapy, the skin in the treated area may also be particularly sensitive.
Before travelling somewhere hot or sunny, ask your healthcare team whether your treatment means you need to take additional precautions.
This might include:
- Using a high-factor sunscreen
- Reapplying sunscreen regularly
- Wearing clothing that covers your skin
- Wearing a hat
- Spending time in the shade during the strongest sunlight
If you are unsure whether your treatment can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, ask your healthcare team before you travel.
Flying with lymphoma
Having lymphoma does not automatically mean that you cannot fly.
Whether flying is appropriate for you will depend on your individual circumstances, including your treatment, current health and any complications you may have.
Someone whose low-grade lymphoma is stable and being monitored may have very different considerations from somebody who has recently completed intensive chemotherapy or had a stem cell transplant.
Cancer and some cancer treatments can increase the risk of developing a blood clot, while sitting still for a long journey can add to that risk.
Speak to your healthcare team before flying if you have concerns about your treatment, immune system, blood counts, breathing, blood clots or any other health issue.
Your airline may also have its own requirements regarding fitness to fly, so check these 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. Having travel insurance that reflects your individual health is therefore an important part of travelling with confidence.
When arranging your travel insurance, it is important to tell us about:
- Your lymphoma diagnosis
- The type of lymphoma you have
- Any medication you are taking
- Any treatment you are currently receiving or have recently completed
- Any stem cell transplant or other intensive treatment you have had
- Any ongoing hospital appointments, monitoring or follow-up care
- Any medical conditions that have developed as a result of your lymphoma 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 when required, 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 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
