When hospital appointments and treatment have taken up a lot of your time, having a holiday in the diary can give you something completely different to think about.
You may be planning your first trip after ovarian cancer surgery, finding a time that works around chemotherapy or ongoing treatment, or simply wondering whether your diagnosis will make getting travel insurance more difficult.
Macmillan says around 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK.
While that is a significant number, no two experiences are exactly the same. At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we look at your individual medical circumstances when assessing the travel insurance available to you.
Having ovarian cancer does not automatically mean putting holidays aside.
Can you get travel insurance with ovarian cancer?
Travel insurance may be available if you are living with ovarian cancer, currently receiving treatment or have finished treatment.
When you get a quote, you will complete medical screening. We may ask about your diagnosis, surgery or other treatment, medication, current health and ongoing hospital care.
This matters because ovarian cancer can be treated in different ways. Someone recovering well after surgery may have very different circumstances from someone receiving chemotherapy, taking ongoing targeted cancer treatment or having treatment following a recurrence.
Our medical screening process will take you through the questions we need to ask, so you do not need to decide beforehand what information is relevant.
Planning a holiday around ovarian cancer treatment
The right time to travel is personal to you.
If you are having chemotherapy, targeted therapy or another treatment, speak to your cancer team about the holiday you are considering. They can help you look at treatment dates, blood tests, scans, possible side effects and when you may feel most able to enjoy your time away.
If your treatment follows a cycle, do not assume that a gap between appointments will automatically be the best time to travel. Your healthcare team can advise based on how your treatment affects you.
It is also worth leaving some flexibility in your plans. If fatigue is something you experience, a slower first day, an easier transfer or simply not filling every day with activities can make a big difference.
Travelling after ovarian cancer surgery
Surgery for ovarian cancer can be a significant operation, so your holiday plans should work around your recovery rather than the other way around.
Before booking, it can be helpful to ask your healthcare team whether they think you are ready to travel with you travelling and whether the type of journey you are considering makes a difference.
Whether you are travelling by plane, ferry, train, Eurostar, coach or car, think about what will make the journey comfortable for you. This might include avoiding heavy luggage, arranging assistance, allowing more time between connections or choosing a seat that makes it easier to move around.
If your surgery involved part of your bowel or you now have a stoma, speak to your stoma nurse or healthcare team about preparing for your trip and make sure you take enough supplies with you.
There is no need to rush your first holiday after surgery. Travelling when you feel ready can make it much easier to enjoy being away.
Feeling comfortable while you are away
Ovarian cancer and its treatment can sometimes affect how you feel from day to day.
You may experience fatigue, abdominal discomfort, bloating or changes in your bowel habits. If any of these affect you, think about the practical things that could make your holiday easier.
That could mean knowing where toilets are during longer journeys, choosing accommodation that is easy to get around, building breaks into days out or keeping medication and anything else you regularly need close by.
Your holiday does not need to look the way it did before your diagnosis. What matters is that it works for you now.
Declaring ovarian cancer on your travel insurance
When arranging your travel insurance, answer the medical screening questions accurately based on your circumstances at the time.
You may be asked about:
- Your ovarian cancer diagnosis
- Surgery or other treatment you have received
- Treatment you are currently having
- Medication you take
- Ongoing scans, tests or hospital appointments
- Whether your cancer has returned or spread
- Any other medical conditions you have
Do not assume that ovarian cancer no longer needs to be mentioned simply because treatment has finished or you are feeling well.
If your diagnosis, treatment, medication or health changes after buying your policy, contact Lighthouse before you travel so we can explain whether your cover needs to be reviewed.
Why choose Lighthouse Travel Insurance?
At Lighthouse, we understand that a holiday after a cancer diagnosis can be about much more than getting away. We want arranging the travel insurance to feel like one of the straightforward parts.
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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice
- Access to Air Doctor Connect 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.
