Cancer-related fatigue can make travelling feel very different from how it did before your diagnosis or treatment.
You may still want to go away, see new places and spend time with the people who matter to you, but the journey itself, busy airports or trying to fit too much into each day can feel more demanding when your energy levels are lower or unpredictable.
Cancer-related fatigue does not necessarily mean you have to stop travelling. It may simply mean planning your trip in a way that works better for your energy levels. At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer find cover that takes their medical circumstances into account.
We also know that fatigue can be difficult to explain. You might look well but feel completely exhausted, need more rest than you used to or find that your energy changes from one day to the next.
That can bring up practical questions when you are planning a holiday. Will you manage the journey comfortably? Would a shorter flight, ferry crossing or train journey suit you better? What if you need to rest while everyone else wants to explore? Can you arrange assistance at an airport, station or ferry terminal, even if you do not normally use a wheelchair?
That is why we have brought together some of the practical ways you can plan around cancer-related fatigue without letting it take over your holiday.
Can you get travel insurance if you have cancer-related fatigue?
Travel insurance may be available if you are experiencing fatigue as a result of cancer or cancer treatment.
When you get a quote, you will go through medical screening where we will ask questions about your cancer diagnosis, treatment, medication and current health.
Fatigue itself may be connected to your cancer, treatment or another medical condition, so it is important to answer the medical screening questions accurately.
Your circumstances can be very different from somebody else’s.
One person may experience mild tiredness following treatment but otherwise feel well, while another may need to plan regular rest because fatigue has a greater impact on their day-to-day life.
Providing accurate information helps us understand your individual circumstances and assess the cover available to you.
Understanding cancer-related fatigue when you are travelling
Cancer-related fatigue is more than simply feeling tired after a busy day.
It can leave you feeling physically or mentally exhausted, sometimes after doing very little. Unlike ordinary tiredness, it may not improve fully with sleep or rest.
Fatigue can be caused by cancer itself or by treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. It can also continue after treatment has finished.
It can affect people in different ways.
You might notice:
- Less energy for walking or sightseeing
- Needing longer or more frequent periods of rest
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling more tired after travelling than you expected
- Taking longer to recover after a busy day
- Your energy changing from one day to another
For some people, fatigue improves as recovery continues. For others, it may last for months or longer.
That does not automatically mean that travelling is not possible.
The important thing is to plan around the energy you have now rather than the energy you think you should have.
Can you travel if you have cancer fatigue?
Many people can still travel while experiencing cancer-related fatigue.
Macmillan advises that fatigue does not necessarily have to stop you travelling, but that it is important to think about how much activity you can manage and plan rest between activities.
Whether a particular trip is right for you will depend on how fatigue affects you, your treatment, your wider health and advice from your healthcare team.
The destination is only part of the decision.
You also need to think about:
- How long the journey will take
- How early you need to leave home
- How much walking is involved at the airport or station
- Whether you have connecting flights or transfers
- How much activity you want to do once you arrive
- Whether the accommodation makes resting easy
- How quickly you recover after a busy day
A short city break can sometimes be more physically demanding than a longer holiday where you are staying in one place.
Try to think about the whole experience rather than judging a trip only by the travel time.
Choosing a holiday when you have cancer-related fatigue
The best holiday is not necessarily the one with the shortest flight or the fewest days away.
It is the one that works with your current energy levels.
You may find it useful to think about:
Journey length
A direct flight may be easier than changing planes, even if the direct flight itself is slightly longer.
If travelling by road or rail, think about whether you will need breaks and how easy those will be to arrange.
Accommodation
Consider how far your accommodation is from the places you want to visit.
A hotel close to restaurants, the beach or local attractions may reduce how much energy you spend simply getting around.
Check whether there are lifts, stairs or long walks within the accommodation if mobility is also an issue.
Your itinerary
You do not need to plan something for every morning, afternoon and evening.
Leaving gaps in your itinerary gives you the option to rest without feeling that you are missing something you paid for or booked in advance.
Climate
Hot weather can make some people feel more tired.
If heat affects you, think about whether you would prefer to travel at a cooler time of year or plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
Who you are travelling with
If you are travelling with family or friends, talking about your energy levels before the trip can help.
You do not all need to do everything together.
Having the freedom to rest while somebody else goes sightseeing can make a holiday feel far less pressured.
Planning your trip when fatigue affects you
Good planning does not mean planning every minute.
It means removing some of the things that could unnecessarily use up your energy.
Before you travel
- Speak to your healthcare team: If fatigue is significant, has recently become worse or is affecting your ability to manage normal activities, discuss it before travelling.
- Choose your journey carefully: Consider direct routes, realistic connection times and how much walking will be involved.
- Arrange assistance: Airports, train stations and cruise terminals may be able to provide support with longer distances or boarding.
- Think about your arrival: Avoid planning a full day of activities immediately after a long journey.
- Choose accommodation that works for you: Consider lifts, walking distances, access to food and places where you can rest comfortably.
- Plan medication: Make sure you have enough for the trip and understand how it needs to be carried and stored.
- Keep your schedule flexible: Avoid booking every activity in advance if you know your energy levels can change.
- Build recovery time into the trip: You may want a quieter day after a long excursion or travel day.
- Keep medical information accessible: Have your healthcare and travel insurance information somewhere easy to find.
During your holiday
You may find it helpful to:
- Alternate busier days with quieter ones
- Rest before you become completely exhausted
- Take breaks during sightseeing
- Keep well hydrated
- Eat regularly if this helps you maintain your energy
- Use taxis or local transport rather than walking everywhere
- Ask for help with luggage
- Sit down while waiting rather than standing unnecessarily
- Leave an activity early if you have had enough
- Change your plans if you wake up feeling particularly tired
Travelling at a slower pace does not make the holiday less worthwhile.
The aim is to spend your energy on the things you most want to enjoy.
Managing your flight with cancer fatigue
Getting to your destination can sometimes use more energy than the holiday itself.
Airports in particular can involve long walks, queues, security checks and waiting at gates.
You may want to consider:
- Airport or airline assistance
- Early boarding where available
- A wheelchair or buggy for long airport distances
- Luggage assistance
- Choosing seats that make getting up easier
- Allowing plenty of time between connections
- Staying near the airport before an early flight
- Breaking a long road journey into shorter stages
You do not need to normally use a wheelchair to benefit from airport assistance.
If walking a very large airport would use most of the energy you hoped to have for the first day of your holiday, assistance can simply be a practical way to conserve that energy.
Managing your journey with cancer fatigue
Travelling by car, ferry, train or cruise can also take more energy than you expect, particularly if you are travelling a long distance or changing between different forms of transport.
You may want to consider:
- Breaking long car journeys into shorter stages, with time to stop, stretch and rest
- Checking what assistance is available at railway stations, ferry terminals and cruise ports
- Arranging help with your luggage if carrying it would be difficult
- Choosing seats or cabins that are easier to access, particularly if you have mobility difficulties
- Allowing extra time when changing between trains, ferries or other forms of transport
- Checking accessibility arrangements in advance, as these can vary between operators
- Staying overnight if your journey is particularly long or you have an early departure
Pacing yourself while you are away
Pacing means balancing activity and rest rather than doing as much as possible until you are exhausted.
One way to approach this is to decide which parts of the holiday matter most to you.
If there is somewhere you particularly want to visit, you could plan a quieter day before or afterwards.
You might also:
- Do one main activity rather than several
- Take a break at your accommodation during the afternoon
- Choose shorter guided tours
- Use transport for part of a sightseeing route
- Book flexible or refundable activities where possible
- Avoid feeling that every meal needs to involve going out
If you already know there are particular times of day when you feel better, you may be able to plan important activities around them.
Sleep, time zones and fatigue
Travelling across time zones can disrupt your usual sleep pattern, which may add to existing fatigue.
If you are planning a long-haul trip, consider whether you want to leave the first day or two relatively free while your body adjusts.
You may also want to:
- Avoid scheduling an important excursion immediately after arrival
- Give yourself time to rest after the journey
- Keep medication timings in mind if you are crossing several time zones
- Try to maintain a routine that works for you once you arrive
If you take medication at specific times, ask your healthcare team or pharmacist how to manage significant time-zone changes.
When should you speak to your healthcare team about fatigue?
Fatigue is common in people affected by cancer, but that does not mean every change in your energy should simply be accepted as normal.
Fatigue can have several causes, including cancer treatment and other medical conditions.
Speak to your healthcare team if:
- Your fatigue is new
- It has suddenly become worse
- It is affecting your ability to manage everyday activities
- You feel unusually weak or unwell
- You are worried about what is causing it
- You are unsure whether you are well enough for the trip you are planning
They can consider your symptoms alongside your cancer, treatment and wider health.
The Importance of Declaring Your Medical Conditions
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 cancer treatment you are currently receiving or have recently completed
- Any medication you are taking
- Any ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care
- Medical conditions or complications that may be contributing to your fatigue
- 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
