Hormone therapy can become part of everyday life for months or sometimes years, which means holidays and travel may continue alongside treatment.
You may be taking tablets every day, having regular injections or receiving hormone therapy alongside another cancer treatment. You might feel well and travel regularly, or you may be dealing with side effects such as fatigue, hot flushes or aching joints that change the way you plan a trip.
Having hormone therapy does not necessarily mean that you need to put travel on hold.
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 while taking hormone therapy can bring up questions that may not have been part of planning a holiday before your diagnosis. Can you take your treatment abroad? What happens if an injection is due while you are away? Can hormone therapy increase your risk of blood clots on a long flight? Do you still need to declare your treatment if you have been taking it for years?
There is not one answer that applies to everybody. The type of hormone therapy you take, how long you have been taking it, any side effects and your wider health all matter.
That is why] we have brought together some of the practical considerations that may help you travel with greater confidence.
Can you get travel insurance while having hormone therapy?
In many cases, travel insurance may be available while you are receiving hormone therapy.
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 who has been taking hormone therapy for several years and is otherwise well may have different circumstances from somebody who has only recently started treatment or is having hormone therapy alongside chemotherapy, radiotherapy or another treatment.
It is important to answer the medical screening questions accurately so you can be confident you have declared the information we need.
Understanding hormone therapy and Your Travel Insurance
Some types of cancers use hormones to grow in the body.
Hormone therapy works by reducing the level of certain hormones in the body or stopping hormones from reaching cancer cells.
It is commonly used for some types of breast and prostate cancer and may also be used for certain other cancers.
Different hormone therapies work in different ways. Treatment may be given as tablets, injections or a combination of treatments. Some people take hormone therapy for a relatively short period, while others continue treatment for several years.
Side effects also vary depending on the drug and the individual. Possible effects can include tiredness, hot flushes, sweating, headaches, nausea and muscle or joint aches.
For travel insurance, it is your individual circumstances that matter.
When you get a quote, we may ask about your cancer diagnosis, hormone therapy you are taking, other cancer treatments, medication 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 decide for yourself which medical details are relevant before you start. Our medical screening process will guide you through the questions we need to ask.
Find out more about Travelling During and After Cancer Treatment
Travelling during hormone therapy
For many people, hormone therapy becomes part of everyday life rather than a short course of treatment.
That means travelling while taking it may be something you do regularly.
Whether you need to make changes to your travel plans will depend on the treatment you take, the side effects you experience and your wider health.
Before travelling, think about whether your treatment schedule creates any practical issues. If you take tablets, make sure you have enough for the trip. If you receive injections, check whether an appointment falls while you are away and speak to your healthcare team about what to do.
Do not delay or change your treatment simply to fit around a holiday unless your healthcare team has agreed to this.
If you have recently started hormone therapy, you may also want to see how the treatment affects you before committing to a particularly demanding trip.
Travelling after hormone therapy
Some people stop hormone therapy after a planned course of treatment, while others may remain on treatment for many years.
How you feel after treatment stops can vary depending on the drug, how long you have taken it and your individual circumstances.
Some side effects may improve after treatment finishes, but this does not always happen immediately.
There is no single waiting period after hormone therapy that applies to everybody.
If you have recently stopped treatment and are still experiencing side effects or have concerns about travelling, speak to your healthcare team before booking.
When arranging travel insurance, you may still need to provide information about your cancer diagnosis and previous hormone therapy even if treatment has ended.
Planning your trip while taking hormone therapy
Because hormone therapy often continues for longer periods, the practical side of travelling with your treatment can become just as important.
Before you travel
- Check your treatment dates: If you receive hormone therapy by injection, make sure your holiday does not clash with an appointment unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.
- Take enough medication: If you take tablets, make sure you have enough for the entire trip, plus additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed.
- If you are having hot flushes: Hot weather can make hot flushes and sweating more uncomfortable, so consider your destination, accommodation and planned activities.
- Plan around fatigue: If treatment makes you tired, think about how demanding your journey and itinerary will be.
- Consider joint or muscle symptoms: Long periods sitting still or very active holidays may be less comfortable if treatment causes stiffness or aching.
- Ask about blood clot risk: Some hormone therapies can increase the risk of blood clots. If this applies to you, speak to your healthcare team before a long journey.
- Take any other medication you need: Make sure you have supplies of medicines used to manage treatment side effects or other medical conditions.
- Consider airport assistance: If fatigue, pain or reduced mobility makes long airport journeys difficult, check what assistance is available.
- Keep useful medical information with you: Depending on your circumstances, it may be helpful to carry details of your treatment and medication.
During your holiday
You may find it helpful to:
- Take your treatment at the usual time (take advice from your treatment team if you are travelling through time zones)
- Carry essential medication with you
- Keep well hydrated, particularly in hot weather
- Wear lightweight clothing if hot flushes or sweating affect you
- Build rest into your itinerary if you experience fatigue
- Keep moving during long journeys where appropriate
- Keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details somewhere accessible
- Know where you could obtain medical help locally if needed
Your treatment does not have to dominate your holiday. The aim is simply to plan around the things that genuinely affect you.
Hormone therapy, hot flushes and travelling somewhere warm
Hot flushes and sweating are common side effects of some hormone therapies.
They can occur with treatments used for both breast and prostate cancer and may be more noticeable in warm weather.
This does not necessarily mean that you need to avoid hot destinations.
You may simply find it more comfortable to:
- Choose accommodation with good ventilation or air conditioning
- Wear lightweight, breathable clothing
- Carry water with you
- Plan outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day
- Leave time to rest if disturbed sleep is making you tired
- Carry a small fan if you find one helpful
If hot flushes or sweating are becoming difficult to manage, speak to your healthcare team. There may be ways to help reduce the impact of the side effects.
Hormone therapy, joints and mobility while travelling
Some hormone therapies can cause muscle or joint aches, stiffness or changes to bone health.
This can make long periods sitting still uncomfortable and may affect walking, sightseeing or more active holidays.
If joint pain or stiffness affects you, think about the practical demands of the trip you are planning.
You may want to consider:
- How much walking is involved
- Whether your accommodation has stairs
- How long you will be sitting during your journey
- Whether you need help with luggage
- Whether airport assistance would make travelling easier
- Building easier days into a busy itinerary
Speak to your healthcare team if pain is new, worsening or significantly affecting your mobility.
Hormone therapy, blood clots and long journeys
Some hormone therapies can increase the risk of developing a blood clot. Long periods sitting still during travel can increase blood clot risk further.
This does not mean that everybody taking hormone therapy has a high risk of blood clots or needs to avoid long-distance travel.
Your risk depends on the specific treatment you take and other individual factors.
If your healthcare team has told you that your treatment increases your risk, speak to them before a long flight, train, coach or car journey.
They can advise whether there are particular precautions you should take.
Do not start aspirin, blood-thinning medication or use medical compression stockings specifically for a journey unless this has been recommended appropriately for you.
Flying while taking hormone therapy
Taking hormone therapy does not automatically mean that you cannot fly.
For many people, flying remains a normal part of travelling during treatment.
However, cancer itself and some hormone therapies can increase blood clot risk. Long periods sitting still during a flight can add to that risk.
If you have been told that you are at increased risk of blood clots, have previously had a clot or have other medical concerns, speak to your healthcare team before a flight.
Your wider health also matters when deciding whether you are fit to fly, not simply the fact that you are taking hormone therapy.
Read our guide to Flying During and After Cancer Treatment
Travelling when your hormone therapy is given by injection
Some hormone therapies are given by injection rather than tablets.
Depending on the treatment, injections may be given at regular intervals, which means you need to consider appointment dates when booking a trip.
Before travelling:
- Check when your next injection is due
- Speak to your healthcare team if your holiday overlaps with an appointment
- Ask whether the timing can safely be adjusted if necessary
- Do not arrange changes yourself without medical advice
- Keep details of your treatment with you if appropriate
If you are planning a longer trip, raise this with your healthcare team early enough for any necessary arrangements to be made.
The Importance of Declaring Your Medical Conditions and Hormone Therapy
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
- Hormone therapy you are currently taking
- Hormone therapy you have recently completed
- Other cancer treatment you are receiving or have received
- Any medication you are taking
- Any ongoing hospital appointments, scans or follow-up care
- Any medical conditions or complications that have developed as a result of your cancer or 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, 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
