Air travel after Bowel surgery….

Hi Grahamthegreat

I was advised by oncology not to travel overseas within 3 months of finishing my chemo.

That sounds like a definitive answer, no insurance would be valid for overseas travel with that advice.  When does chemo end?

YNWA 

Mike 

My chemo (at least for now ) has recently finished and I am very much looking forward to travelling late summer 

Hi! Mine ends end of June.

Hi Grahamthegreat

My body was a little peeved by the last furlong of chemo, so just in case yours is feeling similar I'm sending a power boosting virtual hug to help get you past the post

I am hoping to fly long haul in Dec 23. I've Just had an LAR last week so in about 6 months time.

I was wondering, can one travel without insurance? I would be travelling to be in a very safe environment in a country with reciprocle health care available with next no luggage or valuables.

I guess it would be the repatriation in case of bad illness or death costs would be the only issue?

It is possible to travel but very very unwise.  Check out with your surgeon what they think.  Mine said no to Kiev to the C/L final in 2018, about 5 months after surgery, but was fine with Argentina later in the year.  TBH the cancer diagnosis/treatment didn't put up the cost of insurance nearly as much as I expected.

YNWA 

Mike

Hi Richard21 

I just wondered why you would contemplate not having insurance? I would agree with Mike that it would be very unwise. Who would pay repatriation costs in a worst case scenario? I travelled long haul 5 months after getting NED after my chemoradiotherapy, but my insurers wouldn’t cover any cancer related issues. I was comfortable with that as it would cover everything else, like accident, lost luggage, theft, losing passport etc and I was only going for 2 weeks.

After subsequent surgery for recurrence, I personally wouldn’t have been able to do long haul within 6 months, but my cancer was different. It still involved rectum removal and 2 stomas. I have done longhaul since however, but with full insurance.

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah

I'm fully aware that not having travel insurance is a risk. I haven't looked into it yet as I may well need more chemo this year following on from my op last week so will wait and see.

But having had annual travel ins in place for 40+ years as a healthy person and never once claimed you may understand my question, especially if I don't need any more chemo and insurance companies still want to capitalise on my bad fortune. I hate them at the best of times.

But as you say if I can find one who will not include any cover regards my cancer journey then if a reasonable price that would be good.

Which company did you use?

Richard x

Hi Richard. I googled ‘travel insurance for cancer patients’ and went on a compare site and got insurance from there. I was also covered on my husbands insurance through his bank account for anything not cancer related. The board below might have some recommendations too?

 Travel insurance forum for cancer patients