Travel Insurance and feeling lost...

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Hello - I just wondered if anyone knows about getting travel insurance and holidays…and actually how they feel when treatment ends - prob 2 diff subjects - feel like “what now” do i just resume normal life i had before BC “BBC”?

I finished my chemo end June and i have 3 rads left. I really want to go on holiday and am worried re travel ins and passport - firstly can i get travel insurance, do i have to specify that i just fin treatment for bc? when will my immune system be ok again am i more likely than usual still to pick up jippy tummy>? what about my wig - my hair is growing but now enough for me to want to bare all - can i wear wig in airport or will scanner show is not attached to me and is a wig> or do i wear bandana? strange questions i think after what been thr this year!Regards silvershar xxx

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Hi silvershar,

While your waiting for replies, I thought it might be helpful to post a link to the BCC publication - Breast cancer and travel insurance:

breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/FPI_Breast_cancer_and_travel_insurance_Factsheet_for_web.pdf

I’m sure other users will be along soon with support and practical information regarding this issue, but please don’t hesitate to give the BCC Helpline a call on 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm and Sat 9am to 2pm.

With best wishes,
Anna, BCC Facilitator

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Hello there Silvershar,

I’m sure we’ve answered each others posts in the past, but I can’t remember your diagnosis, but I’m sure you will be able to get travel insurance, so don’t worry. (There’s a sticky thread about travel insurance on this website, but perhaps you may not feel like scrolling thru the posts on it, to find out info - I know sometimes I’ve posted a new thread, cos I just didnt feel able to look thru previous threads and posts at that time).

I’ve got travel insurance for a long-haul flight in three weeks time. I booked it back in April, and got three different quotes, but ended up with going with InsurePink. Just google and it’ll show up. They give some of their profits to breast cancer charities, and are very reasonably priced. They’re also really friendly on the phone!

I had high grade DCIS 10yrs ago and was treated with WLE and rads, then last October I had a mx for Paget’s disease of the same breast. I’ve not needed any further treatment since then, but last year I also had facial cellulitis, and believe it or not, it cost me more additional premium to insure myself for the cellulitis than it did for the bc!

The other company I looked at that gave a comparable quote to InsurePink, were InsureWith. The third company was Hastings but their prices were very high!

Yes, I would definitely tell the ins. company that you’ve had treatment for bc, and any other illnesses you’ve had, because if not, if you injured yrself or were ill whilst on holiday, they would check with yr doctor and if you’d not declared something, your policy could become not valid.

I told them everything, even about my nasal polyps - honestly, my insurance papers make me look a right hypochondriac cos Ive declared everything, as I’m travelling a long distance on my own, n am wary enough about finding my way thru the airports, without having to be worried about if my travel insurance is ok! Lol!

As regards yr query about the wig, I’m not sure as I don’t have a wig, but I do have a prosthesis and am expecting that I may be “patted down” cos of it, as it’ll show up on the body scanner.
I’m travelling with British Airways, and I think I’ve seen advice about wigs on the Heathrow website. If you get chance, see if you can see the info on their website, and if not, send me a pm, and I’ll have a look for you tomorrow. (It’s getting a bit late for me now to have a look for u, as I have to be up early for work tomorrow).

Silvershar, your questions aren’t strange - theyre very practical and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of others come along on here to reply to you too.

I hope you’re not too sore from your rads - n you av only 3 left to go! That’s great news!

Sorry that I can’t answer your questions re chemo and yr immune system - I’ve not had to have chemo, but I bet you’ll get replies from others on here who’ve had chemo.

Take care Silvershar!

With much love,
Shelley xxx

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Thank u so much Shelly for ur reply, i really appreciate your help, I will look on the Insure Pink and thank u for the help re Heathrow and wigs, thank u. rads have made me sore, but now another day gone and 2 days left. Shar xxxxx

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Shar, give Bromley Insurance a ring - they have a special breast cancer policy as well but their policy excess is less than InsurePink (or it was when I went with them earlier in the summer).

Jane xxx

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thankx Jane i will call them tomorrow Shar xxxxx

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hi Shar how are you doing?

I dont know too much about the Insurance side of it, but your wig is a tricky one,
Right do you need to get a passport if so have your photo done with your wig on and when you are travelling wear the wig so you look the same in real life as on your passport photo, that way when your own hair grows back your passport photo will still be you and not the bald person you are now, does that make sense I hope so I know what I mean lol,

my friend had her passport from years ago, last year she decided she was going to go abroad, when she showed me her passport I couldnt even tell she was the same girl, she queried it with her travel agent who advised her to get the photo renewed along with her passport, apparantely they have really clamped down on this now at the airports,

hope you have a lovely holiday anyway, and glad to hear you are keeping ok, it will be all done and dusted soon, I finished my rads end of June, blistered a bit after, but seem to be doing ok at the moment touch wood,

if you go somewhere hot, you probably already know, but be very careful to use sunblock and dont let your skin be exposed it gets very sore very quickly according to a lot of the ladies on here

all the very best Shar, love Liz x

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You’re right about the sun - I find that my head feels as though it’s burning as soon as the sun shines on it even though I’ve now got a short coating of hair. A big sun hat is a must!

My passport was fine - I have masses of very long, dark curly hair on my passport photo and when we went away I had a very thin covering of fine greyish stuff. He gave me a good look but I had no problem, and i suppose the reason for the change was pretty obvious! Don’t foget how often some women radically change their hair style and colour so I think they’re very used to looking at your facial features rather than your hair.

Jane xxx

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Hi silvershar. I had exactly same concerns as you! I went to Greece 6 weeks after treatment (chemo then rads) finished and had the best time! Got insurance through insurepink who were brilliant and cheap. They will insure you 2 weeks after rads have finished and it was £48 ish for the whole family for 2 weeks. As for the wig, I was same as you, not enough to go wig free, so wore it on the flight out but found it hot and bothersome on holiday so wore a hat. By the end of 2 weeks I’d got used to not wearing it and it looked odd when I put it on so I went home without it. Didn’t get stopped at passport control nor had any second looks from anyone.

Have a fantastic holiday, my holiday really helped recharge my battery !

Rachelx