Just wondering if anyone else have gone abroad whilst having treatment?
I’ve had a surgery,having chemo now and planning to go to Spain for a week before starting radiotherapy. Really looking forward to this but abit worried about insurance,covered usually through our bank. Have been fine apart from the week after treatment (sickness/fatigue) but keep thinking if I don’t have insurance it would just be my luck to pick up a bug especially considering using the swimming pool, eating abroad etc.
hi im off to spain in 3 weks i finished rads at end of jan my existing company wont insure me but if you search in here there are specific companies that do insurepink, bromleys and insurewith.com are a few. good luck and enjoy your hols
sue
I was told by the onc I would’nt be able to get insurance while on chemo, well she said it would be very expensive. She said her friend had been quoted £5000 for a weekend in Spain but that was 2 years ago and things change so give one of the specialist insurance companies a ring.
You should apply for your European Health Card (the old E111) that gives you the same access to public health services in Spain that you have with the NHS here. You can do it online through the Direct.gov website. It doesn’t replace travel insurance for things like repatriation costs, but is worth doing. Spain has a good health service and there are lots of expats who use it.
I had mx last Sept, chemo Nov - March and rads in April. In May I got an annual European policy with Debenhams Insurance for myself and other half for £88.00.
They said won’t cover for the BC but covered for everything else and specifically said for example if you break a leg, had food poisoning. Its unlikely that I would need to see a doctor for bc while on weeks hol so quite happy with cover.
Darcy I would ask your onc, as you will probably need a fitness to travel letter from him/her anyway to get insurance. Bromley will cover you if your onc says it’s ok.
If your trip is during chemo, I think the infection issue is a serious one - particularly flying, when it is so easy to pick up a bug. I was hospitalised twice during chemo, and it is not uncommon. At the very least I would recommend you take a letter specifying the treatment you are on, just in case. If you are post chemo, then it should be much easier.
I’ve just come back from a week in Spain and I’m on chemo. My onc was happy for me to go and it was lovely to get away. I’ve been several times while undergoing treatment and have never had any problems. I use the insurance that I get through my bank which doesn’t cover me for the BC but for everything else.
It’s bad enough having this disease without having to miss out on holidays isn’t it? If your onc is happy for you to go then go and have a wonderful time!
Thank you for all your comments, everyone on this forum is so helpful and everytime I have a question or worry people always respond x
I have my europe thingy card, I will talk to my onc, I will talk to my bank about the insurance, if they have a problem I might get insurance just for me for peace of mind then will continue to look forward to my holiday.
I asked my GP for antibiotics which she gave me just in case I picked up anything and needed immediate treatment. I didn’t need them but felt secure knowing I had them if required. Like E I just went with my E111 card and basic insurance.
I went to Madeira 2 weeks after my final chemo. I found that the cheapest insurance was SAGA. It cost £95 for a week and covered the BC. Most companies that I contacted wouldn’t insure me. Thankfully everything went without a hitch. Saga didn’t require a “fit for travel” letter. Some companies I contacted wouldn’t insure me without me having a blood test (at my considerable expense)to check that my blood levels were ok.