Hi
My hubby won a holiday recently - long story but anyway we are looking at Mexico all Inclusive for Feb next year. This truly is a won holiday with none of that nasty small print,
We can go earlier but there is a specific reason why we have looked at Feb 20.
I was diagnosed in April this year stage 4 with small volume in bone, So am on Chemo tablets and Leterzole.
I need sign off from hospital to get insurance and when speak to BCN she did not say yes or no just see how the treatment goes as its too early to say.
I know I don't have to get insurance until just before we travel so should I take the chance and book it or am I being too positive and should we go earlier whilst I am still ok
Any advice or experience of booking holidays a while ahead is appreciated.
Thanks for reading and if replying thanks too
Hi IamLyn
Although I'm not a member of this group the subject heading caught my eye.
Having not had breast cancer I can't comment on whether you should book your holiday earlier or not. However, to protect yourself you should buy your travel insurance at the same time as your holiday so that if you have to cancel you will be able to claim back any costs you've incurred.
Now I realise that as you've won this holiday you might not have anything to pay but, just in case you do, please consider taking out travel insurance at the same time as booking the holiday.
I can see that you've recently joined the travel insurance group and hopefully you've seen all the recommendations from others who have got reasonably priced insurance.
I hope you have a fantastic holiday whenever you decide to take it.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Hi IamLyn
A bit late to the conversation and the party, I am afraid. I too have been in a state of limbo, wondering whether to plan and commit to a holiday in the near distant future (3 months).
I too have advanced breast cancer - I was originally diagnosed in 2014, finished treatment April 2015, was in remission for 4 years, but recently diagnosed February 2019 with mets to bones (spine, ribs, femur, pelvic and left side of skull). It has also gone into my liver.
So my advice to you is – Is you go for it girl. I had a period recently where I was very ill, constant vomiting for the last 3 1/2 months. It turned out to be related to the fentanyl patches for pain relief and not the actual treatment. I am happy to say that I am finally feeling normal again. Part of getting back to normality planning stuff for the future, including holidays with my lovely husband. It is something that we enjoy doing every year and try to get at least 4 holidays in a year. I must admit, I thought that I wouldn’t go on holiday again, with so much pain and basically bedridden.
So, I have booked two holidays. A short break for one week and another to West Florida (Mexican Gulf) in November for 33 days. It is all booked and paid for, maybe against my better judgement, but if I left it, prices were going up and I have in the past had to upgrade to business class, just to sit by hubby. Having the holidays booked – it gives a lovely focus – something to look forward to 
I did check out insurance with a company with insurancewith beforehand, but unfortunately as I am not travelling within the next 2 months, I cannot insure my holiday yet. This is my predicament at the moment. My constraint is that I only want to go with this company, especially as it covers me for everything that I need and asks very indepth questions about my cancer, where it has spread, medications and gets into the nitty gritty. Giving me confidence that I won't have any problems in the event that I do have to claim. At the end of the day, we need to be covered if I require any urgent medical cover, cancellation of holiday, air ambulance back to the UK or repatriation if need be... etc, etc. Apologies, I have always been a pragmatic person and like to think about all the scenarios. Nothing negative, but it is good to get the ducks in a row. Based on the quotes I have done for this company the price is coming in around £210 for 31 days, £357 to include my husband. I will need to get the quote done in September at the earliest, due to the fact I can't do this online at this stage.
I have tried other companies which are quoting me up to £1600 which I almost subscribed to as a given, especially due to the fact that I have a progressive disease/life limiting. But even these companies feel like they are only asking generic questions and the protection seems limited with high excesses. I can’t take the risk being putting my husband and I in untenable situation.
I have spoken to my oncologist and I appreciate that our situation can change at a moments notice, but have got my oncologist to say that he is happy on principle for now. Obvioulsly nearer the time, I will get that in writing. I have gone ahead and booked my holiday, based this on the last 3 cycle tumour markers/results. At the moment, I am taking palbociclib (ibrance) oral chemo which offers a lot of flex in itself. In addition, Letrozole and an injection every 4 weeks for bone strengthening. In theory my holiday falls outside my usual 28 day cycle, my oncologist and I have agreed that I can have my injection 1 week before, plus blood tests the day before my injection. This means that it will be 3 weeks into the cycle as opposed to the usual 4 week cycle for injections and bloodtests and I will start palbociclib as usual which will be a week later. On the other side of the cycle, I ake a 14 day break instead of the usual 7 day break. Ironically, as my original appointment would have been on the 27th December, I would have had to flex anyway, due to the fact that no-one can get bloods done on boxing day.
The plan is that I will ask my oncologist on 22nd November to say that he is happy for me to go on holiday the next day. Yeah, very fine, but pretty confident and trying to viewi it positively and based on my previous results and scans.
Not sure that I will be so close to the line next year, as I have been given approximately 2 years with the palbociclib, providing it keeps working.
Wishing you the best with your holidays. As I said - Go for it. We all need to have as normal/enjoyable lives as possible. Spend time with family, friends and make each day count. Concentrate on the positives and don't invest time in any negatives. As soon as I was diagnosed, I have retired at the tender age of 53 and I look at it that I have the advantage of making special memories with the special people in my life. I couldn’t do that if I was run over by a bus..
Sharron
