Cancer and some cancer treatments can affect how well your immune system works, which can make planning a holiday feel more complicated.
You may find yourself thinking about things that were never part of choosing a destination before, such as infection risk, vaccinations, food and water safety, access to healthcare and what you should do if you become unwell while you are away.
But having an increased risk of infection does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel.
What matters is understanding your individual level of risk, speaking to your healthcare team and planning your trip around the precautions that are appropriate for you.
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 when your immune system has been affected by cancer or cancer treatments can raise a lot of questions when you are thinking about travelling. Is it safe to fly? Should you avoid busy airports? Can you have travel vaccinations? Are some destinations better suited to you than others? What happens if you develop an infection abroad?
There is not one answer that applies to everybody.
Your cancer, treatment, blood results, medication and how well your immune system has recovered all matter.
That is why we have brought together some of the practical considerations that may help you plan your trip with greater confidence.
Can you get travel insurance if your immune system is weakened?
Travel insurance may be available if cancer or cancer treatment has affected your immune system.
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. This helps us understand your individual circumstances and the cover available to you.
Someone receiving chemotherapy and currently at increased risk of infection may have very different circumstances from somebody whose treatment finished some time ago and whose immune system has recovered.
Your underlying cancer, treatment history and any other medical conditions may all be relevant.
It is important to answer the medical screening questions accurately so you can be confident you have declared the information we need.
Understanding immunity and cancer when you are travelling
Your immune system helps protect your body from infection.
Cancer itself can sometimes affect immunity, particularly some blood cancers. Cancer treatments can also weaken the immune system temporarily or for longer periods.
These can include chemotherapy and some targeted therapies and immunotherapies. People recovering from stem cell or bone marrow transplants can also remain at increased risk of infection for a significant period. Macmillan notes that infection risk can be higher during treatment, for several weeks after some treatment, and for longer following high-dose treatment and transplant.
That does not mean everyone affected by cancer has the same level of risk.
Your healthcare team can consider factors such as:
- The type of cancer you have
- The treatment you are receiving or have recently completed
- Your blood results
- Whether you are taking medicines that suppress your immune system
- How recently you had treatment
- Any complications you have experienced
- Your destination and the infections that are common there
Feeling well does not always mean that your immune system has fully recovered.
If you have been told that your immunity is reduced, speak to your healthcare team before booking a trip abroad.
Find out more about Travelling During and After Cancer Treatment
Planning your trip when your immunity is reduced
A little more preparation can help make travelling feel much more manageable.
Before you travel
- Speak to your healthcare team: Ask whether your current immune status makes your trip appropriate.
- Discuss your destination: Tell them where you are going, how long you will be away and whether you will be somewhere remote.
- Ask about infection risk: Find out whether there are particular infections or situations you need to be especially careful about.
- Check vaccinations early: Cancer treatment can affect which vaccines are suitable and how well they work.
- Research healthcare: Know where you could seek appropriate medical help if you become unwell.
- Ask what symptoms to watch for: Make sure you know when your healthcare team wants you to seek urgent advice.
- Plan your medication: Take enough prescribed medication and understand any storage requirements.
- Carry useful medical information: Depending on your treatment, this may include alert cards, treatment details or contact information for your cancer team.
- Consider food and water safety: Think ahead about how easily you will be able to follow any precautions you have been given.
- Check your travel insurance: Make sure your medical circumstances have been declared accurately.
During your holiday
You may find it helpful to:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Carry hand gel or wipes where washing facilities may not be available
- Follow food and water precautions carefully
- Take sensible precautions against insect bites
- Follow your healthcare team’s advice about avoiding infection
- Carry prescribed medication with you
- Know where you could obtain medical help locally
- Keep your cancer team’s contact information accessible
- Keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details with you
- Seek medical advice promptly if you develop symptoms your healthcare team has told you not to ignore
The aim is not to make you anxious about everything around you.
It is to understand the risks that actually apply to you so you can plan around them.
Food and water safety when your immune system is weakened
Food and water infections can affect any traveller, but they can be more serious if your immune system is weakened.
Macmillan advises people at increased infection risk to take additional care over what they eat and drink while away.
Depending on your destination and the advice from your healthcare team, you may want to:
- Wash your hands before eating
- Drink sealed bottled water where tap water is not considered safe
- Avoid ice if you do not know whether it was made with safe water
- Choose freshly cooked food that is served hot
- Be cautious with buffets or food that has been sitting out
- Avoid raw or undercooked food where appropriate
- Peel fruit yourself if food hygiene is uncertain
- Avoid unpasteurised milk or dairy products
- Take extra care not to swallow unsafe water while swimming
Ask your healthcare team whether there are specific food precautions they want you to follow.
Crowds, airports and public transport
Airports, aircraft, cruise ships and public transport can bring you into contact with large numbers of people.
If your immune system is weakened, you may wonder whether you need to avoid crowded places completely.
There is no single rule that applies to everybody.
Your individual risk depends on how suppressed your immune system is, your treatment and any advice you have been given.
Speak to your healthcare team if crowded environments are a concern.
They may recommend particular precautions depending on your circumstances.
You may also find it useful to:
- Wash or sanitise your hands regularly
- Avoid close contact with people who are obviously unwell where practical
- Give yourself space in crowded areas where possible
- Arrange airport assistance if it helps you move through the airport more comfortably
- Keep any medication and treatment information accessible
You do not necessarily need to avoid normal travel or everyday activities unless your healthcare team has advised you to.
Travel vaccinations when your immune system is weakened
Vaccinations are one of the most important things to consider when planning travel with reduced immunity.
Some travel vaccines are live vaccines. These use a weakened form of a virus or bacteria.
Live vaccines are not suitable for everyone whose immune system has been weakened. Macmillan advises that live vaccines should not be given in a number of circumstances, including during or after some chemotherapy and radiotherapy, following stem cell or bone marrow transplants, and during certain immunotherapies, targeted treatments or immunosuppressive medicines.
Examples of live travel vaccines can include:
- Yellow fever
- Oral typhoid
- Some cholera vaccines
Other live vaccines include MMR and the nasal flu vaccine.
Inactivated vaccines may be safe to have, but they may not work as effectively while your immune system is weakened.
Start planning early.
The NHS recommends speaking to a travel health professional at least four to six weeks before departure.
Speak to both your cancer team and an appropriate travel health professional.
Do not have a live travel vaccine without confirming that it is suitable for you.
What if you cannot have a vaccine required for your destination?
Sometimes the vaccination recommended or required for a destination may not be suitable because your immune system is weakened.
This can be particularly important with yellow fever.
If this happens, do not assume that avoiding the vaccine is the only issue.
You also need to consider the risk of contracting the infection itself.
A specialist travel health service may consider factors such as the current disease risk at the destination, how immunosuppressed you are and whether travelling without vaccination would create an unacceptable risk.
Speak to your healthcare team and a travel health professional before booking.
In some circumstances, choosing a different destination may be the safer option.
Flying when your immune system is weakened
Having reduced immunity does not automatically mean that you cannot fly.
The bigger question is whether your current health and infection risk make the journey appropriate.
If you are concerned about travelling through busy airports or spending a long time on an aircraft, speak to your healthcare team about whether there are precautions that are appropriate for you.
Other aspects of your cancer or treatment may also affect whether you are fit to fly.
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 stem cell or bone marrow transplant you have had
- Any treatment or medication that affects your immune system
- Any ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care
- 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
