Traveling After Stage IV - Questions, Concerns and Conversation
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Has anyone ever traveled with an open wound that needs to be kept bandaged? My skin mets have corroded away most of the skin on the breast so I have to keep it nice and covered up. My MO hasn’t given me any travel restrictions, but I’m thinking of airport security scanners since I think there is sliver in the dressing salve that they would notice. Do I bring a doctors note like in my school days!? Lol I’m hoping to do a little trip to the Redwoods. It’s Nothern Cali and I’m in Southern Cali so I hope it’s not too big of a trip for me. Has anyone else planned a trip there? We are flying in to SF and driving up PCH.
Hugs and safe travels
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Hello dorimark
Yes, i started checking xeloda board, it has so many useful information! Thank you!
Recent scan showed my liver tumor has gone after 3rd cycle, so at this point im NED! I hope xeloda works for you too.
Pajim, Cuba sounds great destination! Please add some pictures!
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Peanuts that’s awesome news about the liver!! Happy dancing ensues
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Parry, back in the old days I traveled whilst I was having radiation. It was near the end so my skin was mostly gone and I was wearing those strips and a net around it. I don't remember anyone saying anything at any time.
It can't hurt to have a doctor's note with you but don't let it stop you from going places!!!
Best way to get a note is to write one and ask him or her to sign it. That's what I did (for Cuba -- you're supposed to have a MD note if you bring in prescription meds)
Working on the Cuba pix. . .
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I never thought to ask for a note...good idea! Sim worried about getting stopped at the air port with so much meds and bandages, lol. I don’t want it to look like I’m hocking kidneys on the black market
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Here's my husband and me with the 50's Chevy we rode in. The car behind us is an Edsel. Long story but the people we were traveling with were dying to find an Edsel. Our guide made it happen.
Me and our guide with Havana in the background. It was the one non-sunny day. As you can see, I didn't take a wig with me. Too hot.
I did see a policewoman with a shaved head. Our guide told me that some of the Cuban women do that for the summer because it's too hot to deal with hair.
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Hi, I'm noticing many if not most people in this thread blithely mentioning that they have obtained travel and/or evacuation insurance. My research indicates it is not possible to obtain travel insurance that includes anything to do with the pre-existing condition of stage IV cancer. What insurance are you getting, and have you actually checked that anything at all related to your cancer is covered?
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Mycells, DH and I have a trip coming up in October and paid just after my diagnosis. We booked through AAA and also paid for their insurance which required no health info. (If needed my onc was prepared to write that I was healthy enough for travel, not sure if that would really help though.). I believe it’s a “cancel for any reason” plan and includes coverage for medical costs overseas. If you haven’t already looked into that it may be helpful.
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Have the opportunity to go to Florida first week of October. I'm looking for information from fellow Canadians on where they got their travel insurance for pre existing conditions and how expensive it was? Any and all information would be appreciated
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Thanks Rosie24, I can look into it. I'm in Australia so if for some reason anyone in Australia has any ideas that would be great. The Breast Cancer Network Australia site just basically says "you won't be covered by any travel insurance for anything to do with your MBC, soz". And every policy I've looked at has advanced cancer in 'exclusions' once you delve into the fine print, even when you try to buy coverage for pre-existing medical.
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I just got evacuation insurance through AAA- for my last trip- didn’t ask about exclusions. All went well- but, I will ask for next trip.
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sherry35
re: "Have the opportunity to go to Florida first week of October. I'm looking for information from fellow Canadians on where they got their travel insurance for pre existing conditions and how expensive it was? Any and all information would be appreciated."
I wanted to go to Florida last winter. I could not find any Canadian travel insurance company that would sell me travel insurance once I mentioned that I am under treatment for breast cancer currently.
If you find one please post.
(Even in the U.S. health insurance companies cannot refuse you if you have a pre-existing condition!) I'm mostly worried that if I get an infection or a fever, and have to go to the ER or clinic, then I could incur a massive bill. All I could think of was go without any medical insurance and if I got sick, hop on a plane back to Canada ASAP, but that's not necessarily a very realistic plan. I ended up not going to Florida but I have a condo there and would like to go for at least a little bit in the winter.
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amica, that is my biggest fear as well. When I talked to my insurance company they said I wouldn't be covered for anything breast cancer related and at this point I think they could find reason to not cover anything. I don't want to bankrupt us. I also heard that public hospitals cannot refuse to treat you. I will post if I find anything.
Cheer
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Sherry35,
It’s my understanding that if you have been on the same treatment for 6 months, you are considered “stable” and can get insurance, although it could be pricey. Your oncologist may be able to help answer some questions.
Anna
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Hi Sherry. I answered you on another thread but will repeat here. When I traveled to England last year I was able to purchase travel insurance that covered pre-existing conditions through the BC Automobile Association at a reasonable price. I would have to look back at cost and exclusions but I was very happy with it as it did not require that I be on the same treatment for several months. It would not cover huge payouts but would certainly get you patched up enough to get you home. I felt that in reality that was the best place to be if things were going sideways.
Unless you are quite ill, it’s unlikely that you would need to be hospitalized for anything MBC related so this is a good option. Not sure what the Ontario equivalent of BCAA is.
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Thanks ladies
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Just chiming in. I know that in Canada, Blue Cross will cover pre-existing conditions.if you are under 55 and have not started a new treatment plan in the last 3 months. I do not however know the cost. I'm hoping to go to Europe in July and just started my treatment mid-March. Fingers crossed I get to leave home with some peace of mind.
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Thanks Greekninja! That's good to know. I will look into it
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Hi! I saw this thread and thought I'd pipe in. I work in international development and travel regularly to developing countries. After my diagnosis in 2015, I was so nervous that I would have to slow down on travel. But as I started to build confidence, I started to travel again. My international travel work and personal plans have included Jamaica (2015); India, Argentina, Cayman Islands (2016); Tanzania, Rwanda, Philippines, China, and Japan (2017); Tanzania, Mexico, Tanzania, Tanzania, Ethiopia (2018); Tanzania, Tanzania, Malaysia (2019). As you can see, it's been busy
For the most part, I have kept well. I'd bring the following (1) Cipro for basic traveler's diarrhea/GI concerns; (2) Non-Deet insect repellent; (3) Non-paraben and high zinc oxide sunscreen; (4) pain medication (even if you're not in pain); and (5) your medications divided into two different sections w/at least double the dose. (I once had my Tamoxifen bottle open and liquid spilled into it. I had to get brand new Tamoxifen en route in Turkey.)
Good luck and DM if you want specific tips! Happy to help!
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hi
Has anyone ever been told that you are at increased risk of DVT on long haul flights if you have stage IV cancer
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Everyone is at DVT risk on long haul flights. And are there any other flights when you're leaving Australia? If I recall correctly tamoxifen confers a higher risk of DVT. As does (maybe) aromatase inhibitors? I'd have to look it up, don't quote me on that.
In other words it's the drugs you're taking, not the cancer itself that confers higher risk.
All you need to do is buy some compression stockings. And if it's a day flight get up and walk around every few hours. If a night flight try to get your feet off the floor, or d some exercises.
Don't let this beast stop you from traveling.
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thank you pajama
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For any Canadians looking for travel insurance: I just found a company that covers metastatic BC for travel insurance. This is a Canadian company. It also mentions that you do not need to be 'stable' to get it. https://clearcompare.ca/
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Adding my input on travel insurance for Australians after spending a demoralising day yesterday trying to buy travel insurance as my annual multi-trip insurance is coming to an end (I've already been to Thailand and Bali since finishing chemo with no cancer-relaetd issues - just some Bali belly and a sprained ankle!).
I have confirmed that in Australia if you have metastatic cancer you will not find any insurance that covers the cancer or any claims arising directly or indirectly from it. But I finally found, after scouring the NIB product disclosure statement and reading the wording on the page where it denied insurance for my cancer, their single trip policies will cover illnesses and injury unrelated to cancer, as well as all the other stuff like luggage, natural disaster etc - including to the US (which would bankrupt me if I went without insurance and got a broken leg or got shot).
Other companies I tried gave the following results:
- Covermore: would not sell me any insurance policy (not even for luggage etc)
- 1Cover: would not sell me any insurance policy
- Insureandgo: would sell me a policy excluding cancer, but then the fine print says no medical claims (whatsoever) can be made where the person has had cancer treatment within the last five years and no cancellation cover (of any kind) if the person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness
- Allianz: fine print in PDS ambiguous and may be interpreted that having metastatic cancer would invalidate any health-related claims (or it could have just meant metastatic-related claims)
- AllClear (apparently the only specialist company that considers cancer): would only sell me a single trip policy to Thailand for $3600 (yes you read that right) with a $250 excess, but it would cover everything including cancer. They wouldn't let me just exclude cancer.
- I found some amazing US-based companies that seemed to offer cheap medical and other insurance to non-US citizens with cancer but when I went right to the end I couldn't buy it due to being located in Australia.
TLDR: NIB is the only company I found that will cover medical expenses unrelated to cancer. MBC cannot be covered in Australia.
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Good work my cells. I recently travelled to japan and insured with tick and yes no health regardless but covered all other things you may wish to claim e.g. loss of luggage etc. I figured doesn’t matter who e.g. if you broke your leg cause you tripped they would say treatment / MBC cause bones to be brittle. I was encouraged by my MO who did full round of scans so we had latest status for knowing if anything looked like it could go wrong. It’s sad not to be able to travel / insure cause a major incident OS could be financially devastating.
Thanks for sharing.
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