Hello
Because I have been a miserable hag from hell the last few weeks my lovely husband would like us to go to New York when I finish chemo in a month, before starting rads in early Nov as we’ve never been.
Before I get too excited… can I get insurance? also any other probs people can think of? I used to just be a by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl, but these days am a little more cautious about expecting nice things without a catch!!
Thanks - hope you’re all having good sundays
L xx
Lizalou
If you do a search on the forum you will find a couple of threads devoted to this subject. There are a few companies who offer insurance to members of this club so give them a call. It seems that different people get different quotes - I guess they do it according to the individual unlike the high street offerings to people who do not have critical illnesses
I would seriously advise against going to the US without insurance at all - it could be very costly if you have an incident even not related to bc. And if you don’t disclose bc to your insurers they will find a way of wriggling out of paying any other claim
Good luck in finding insurance and I hope youget your holiday. I have just finished chemo and now have surgery followed by rads. Due to finish rads on 5th December and I am hoping it all fall into place and I will be heading to Oz for Xmas
Sharon x
Dear Lizalou,
I have just returned from 2 weeks in Portugal with husband and 2 girls and felt it did me a world of good. We had annual cover with Norwich Union and they said the cover would continue but not for anything BC related. This also covers a ski policy for Canada in Dec. We have paid about £150 for a family of 4. I decided that if I have problems I will be able to wait till I get home (if I find another lump or I have aches and twinges). On flight to Portugal because I am on tamoxifen and slightly increased risk of DVT I just walked around a bit and did some foot exercises. For Canada I will wear socks and maybe take low dose asprin.Have a brilliant holiday.
Lovr Shorty2 xx
I’m the same as Shorty, my insurance covers everything excpet anything to do with BC. I’ve booked Orlando for lat Nov - 1 month after my rads finish - the way that I see it is that there shouldn’t be a problem over there that can’t wait until I get home, the only problem is if something happened prior to leaving and I couldn’t go I’l lose all my money. I waited until my chemo was over to book and dont see that there should be any problems with the rads that would last over 1 month long - anyway - I’m determined -I need this holiday so I’m going
Well - what you may want to discuss with your doctor is: if you get an infection, would that be considered “breast cancer” or not? because - as you will be coming out of chemo, that would be the biggest risk.
If the insurance will cover that, I am sure you don’t plan to go to Orlando (or NY…) to check in for rads, more check-ups or so on… as long as the risk of infections is taken care of, you are fine to travel. You will be gone a few days, and taking with you all meds you need to take regularly. So unless you catch a virus or a bug, get a high fever and need care for that, you should be fine…
Hi Lizalou,
the macmillian website has a section on travel insurance and recommends some compnaies. i am going to Thailand in jan after all chemo and rads. i did find you will have to phone a few companies as prices varies quite vastly from different companies. You may also find that as you have not completely finised treatment the quote may be higher. This is what i have found so have decided to get travel insurance in december as will have finised all treatment then. Hope this helps.
lots of love
Nx
Thanks everyone this is hugely helpful and has made me feel more relaxed about it. It’s difficult isn’t it? As you say Kelyn, we could end up with and infection beforehand but can’t live our lives wrapped in cotton wool. I say yes to holidays and lot’s of em!
Thailand in Jan will be lovely Nadia…may have to plan another trip ;o)
xx
Apparently the affects of chemo and rads can be experienced for up to 3 mths after the end of treatment. For this reason I struggled to get health insurance but I did get covered for lost luggage etc.
You need to remember that the side affects of chemo are cummulative and so you ‘may’ feel more ill as each session goes by, making it harder to get over the later ones. This was the case for me. I went to wales 8 wks after the end of chemo and 2 wks after rads and I was fine.
I was then lucky enough to go to Turkey, 2.5 mths after end of chemo (when I wasn’t covered by ins), This was the best thing emotionally, but if it’s sunny, you need high factor cream as skin can burn easier for up to 3 mths from end.
You may enjoy the trip more if you wait until you are fitter?
Irene
Hi there
Have you tried
Freedom Insurance 087077 43760
I have had excellent advice from them and their quote was very reasonable. They deal in pre-existing medical conditions. I am, like you, between chemotherapy which I finished last week and radiotherapy which I start at the beginning of October. I’m going to France on Thursday! Sure, I get tired but I feel OK and I know a holiday will do my husband the world of good as well!
Sharon