A myeloma diagnosis can change the way 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, fatigue, infection risk, mobility and whether you can get travel insurance that takes your diagnosis into account.
But having myeloma does not necessarily mean that you have to stop travelling.
You may be planning a holiday while your myeloma is being monitored, travelling during ongoing treatment, looking forward to getting away after treatment, or living with myeloma over the longer term.
Whatever your circumstances, having time away can still be something to look forward to.
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 myeloma can bring up questions that were never part of planning a holiday before your diagnosis. Can you travel during treatment? What if you have bone pain or reduced mobility? Is it safe to take a long flight? Can you have travel vaccinations? Do you still need to declare myeloma 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 Myeloma?
In many cases, you may be able to get travel insurance if you are living with myeloma, receiving treatment, have finished treatment, are in remission or are having your condition actively monitored.
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.
Someone with smouldering myeloma who is currently being monitored without treatment, for example, may have very different circumstances from someone receiving ongoing cancer treatment 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 Myeloma and Your Travel Insurance
Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that develops from white blood cells called plasma cells.
Plasma cells normally make antibodies that help your body fight infection. In myeloma, abnormal plasma cells build up in the bone marrow and can affect the production of healthy blood cells.
Myeloma can affect people differently. It can sometimes cause problems involving the bones, kidneys, blood and immune system.
Some people have myeloma that is not currently causing symptoms. This may be called smouldering or asymptomatic myeloma and can sometimes be managed through active monitoring rather than treatment straight away.
Find out more about Blood Cancer Travel Insurance
If you have active myeloma, treatment can include combinations of targeted medicines, chemotherapy and steroids. Some people may also have high-dose treatment followed by a stem cell transplant. Others may take maintenance or continuous treatment over a longer period.
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 Myeloma
Having myeloma does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel. Depending on your health, treatment and advice from your medical team, you may still be able to enjoy holidays in the UK or abroad.
The important thing is to plan a trip that works for you.
Someone whose myeloma is stable and being monitored may have very different travel considerations from someone experiencing bone pain, recovering from intensive treatment or taking ongoing medication.
Before you travel
- Speak to your healthcare team: Discuss your plans with your consultant, clinical nurse specialist or another member of your myeloma team before booking, particularly if you are receiving treatment or have concerns about your health.
- Plan around your treatment: Myeloma treatment can be given over longer periods and may involve regular hospital appointments. Ask your healthcare team whether your treatment schedule, blood tests or possible side effects should influence when you travel.
- Think about your bone health: Myeloma can weaken bones and cause pain or fractures. If you have existing bone problems, ask your healthcare team whether there are activities, journeys or movements you should avoid.
- Consider your mobility: Bone pain, fatigue, weakness or nerve problems can sometimes make walking long distances or standing for extended periods difficult. Think about airport assistance, accessible accommodation and how demanding your itinerary will be.
- Understand your infection risk: Myeloma and some treatments can affect your immune system. Ask your healthcare team whether your current infection risk should influence your destination or travel plans.
- Ask about blood clots: Myeloma and some treatments can increase the risk of blood clots. Speak to your healthcare team about your individual risk, particularly if you are planning a long journey.
- Bring enough medication: Take enough medication for your trip, plus additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed. Keep essential medicines in your hand luggage and check the rules for taking them into your destination.
- Check vaccinations early: Some vaccinations may not be suitable for people with myeloma, particularly if your immune system is weakened. Speak to your healthcare team or a travel health professional before having travel vaccinations.
- Take useful medical information: Ask your healthcare team whether it would be helpful to carry a letter explaining your diagnosis, treatment and medication while you are away.
During your holiday
Travelling with myeloma may mean approaching your holiday at a slightly different pace.
You may find it helpful to:
- Build regular rest into your itinerary
- Avoid putting unnecessary strain on bones that have been weakened by myeloma
- Stay hydrated in line with your healthcare team’s advice, particularly in warmer weather. Follow any infection precautions recommended by your healthcare team
- Carry essential medication with you
- Store medication according to its instructions
- Avoid long periods of inactivity where appropriate
- 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 pain, fatigue or other symptoms affect how much you feel able to do
A holiday does not need to be packed with activities to be worthwhile. Choosing a pace that works for you can make it easier to concentrate on enjoying the time away.
Myeloma, bone health and travelling
Myeloma can affect the bones, sometimes making them thinner and weaker. This can cause bone pain and increase the risk of fractures.
The spine, ribs, hips and pelvis can be among the areas affected.
If you have bone damage or ongoing pain, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel. It may, however, influence the type of holiday and activities that are right for you.
Before travelling, speak to your healthcare team about whether there are any activities they recommend taking extra care with.
You may want to think about:
- How much walking your trip will involve
- Whether you will need to lift or carry heavy luggage
- Long periods sitting in cars, coaches or aircraft
- Whether your accommodation involves lots of stairs
- Activities that could involve falls, impacts or strain on weakened bones
- Whether airport or mobility assistance would make your journey easier
If you experience new or worsening bone pain, do not assume that it is simply something you need to manage while you are away. Follow the advice your healthcare team has given you about when to seek medical help.
Myeloma, fatigue and mobility while travelling
Fatigue is common in people with myeloma and can also be caused by anaemia or treatment.
It may feel different from ordinary tiredness and may not disappear simply after a good night’s sleep.
This can make long journeys, busy airports and packed itineraries more demanding than they were before your diagnosis.
You may find it useful to plan shorter travel days, allow longer connections between flights and avoid arranging too many activities for the first day of your holiday.
If walking long distances is difficult, ask your airline or airport about special assistance. You can also check accessibility at your accommodation and places you plan to visit before you travel.
There is no need to prove that you can holiday exactly as you did before your diagnosis. Planning around your current energy levels can make the experience more enjoyable.
Myeloma, infection risk and travelling
Myeloma can make it harder for your body to fight infection, and some treatments can weaken your immune system further.
Your individual level of risk will depend on your current health, treatment and blood results.
Speak to your healthcare team before travelling and ask whether you need to take any additional precautions.
This may include thinking about:
- Your destination and access to medical care
- Crowded airports and public transport
- Food and water precautions
- Travel vaccinations
- What you should do if you develop a fever or signs of infection
- Whether your medical team recommends carrying any additional medication
If you have been given specific instructions about what to do if you develop an infection, make sure you understand how you would follow those instructions while abroad.
Myeloma, blood clots and long journeys
People with myeloma can have an increased risk of developing blood clots. Some myeloma treatments can increase that risk further.
Long periods of inactivity during a flight, car journey or coach journey may also contribute to blood clot risk.
However, this does not mean that everybody with myeloma needs to avoid long-distance travel.
Before a long journey, speak to your healthcare team about your individual risk and whether there are any precautions you should take.
If you have been prescribed medication to reduce your risk of blood clots, continue to take it as directed and speak to your healthcare team before making any changes.
Make sure you also understand the symptoms your medical team has told you to look out for and when you should seek urgent medical attention.
Travelling while receiving ongoing myeloma treatment
Myeloma treatment can sometimes continue for a long period, including maintenance or continuous treatment.
Being on ongoing treatment does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel, but your treatment schedule and medication need to be part of your planning.
Before travelling:
- Discuss your dates with your myeloma team
- Make sure you will not miss treatment or monitoring appointments that your healthcare team considers necessary
- Take enough medication for the whole trip, plus additional supplies where appropriate
- Check how your medication needs to be stored
- Keep essential medication in your hand luggage
- Take supporting medical documentation if appropriate
- Ask how to manage medication if you are crossing several time zones
Do not change, delay or interrupt treatment simply to fit around a holiday unless this has been agreed with your healthcare team.
Flying with myeloma
Having myeloma does not automatically mean that you cannot fly.
If you are considering air travel, it may be helpful to consider your current health, treatment and how you are feeling. If you have bone pain or reduced mobility, for example, you may want to think about how comfortable you will be during a longer journey and whether you would benefit from airport assistance.
Your healthcare team can also advise you if you have concerns about your blood counts, infection risk, blood clot risk or recent treatment.
Speak to your healthcare team before flying if you have concerns. They can advise you based on your individual circumstances.
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 myeloma diagnosis
- 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, blood tests, monitoring or follow-up care
- Any medical conditions or complications that have developed as a result of your myeloma 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
