Serena Matthews from Worksop is currently looking forward to a 12 night cruise around the Canaries. It will be a welcome and much needed break and all part of her recuperation now she has finished her treatment for breast cancer. But she says finding full insurance for the trip has been worse than the treatment. One company quoted her a premium of £1000 for the 2 weeks away.
“That was the most expensive – most companies just say no and won’t touch you,” says Serena. “I eventually took the cheapest quote which was still £242 but it’s not right. Normal holiday insurance would only cost about £30. It’s bad enough being diagnosed with cancer without being penalised for it as well.”
Serena was attending a special advice session as part of a ‘Positive about Life’ course at the Weston Park Cancer Support Centre on Northumberland Road in Sheffield. Other cancer patients at the session were not prepared to pay such premiums.
“It’s almost a matter of principle,” says Joan Stanger from Blythe. “As far as I am concerned my consultant has said I am free from the cancer now, so why should I be penalised? I’m not sure if I will go on holiday or if I did if I would tell the insurance company.”
That’s not a policy recommended by Cancer Information and Support Nurse Anne Cheung who was taking the informal advice session.
“We always advise you to declare it. There have been instances where people have had to pay huge medical bills incurred on holiday because even if they are taken ill and it is nothing to do with the cancer once the insurance company finds out the policy is invalid.”
“There are various avenues you can take,” says Anne. “It’s all about looking at the risk and what suits you. It’s ludicrous if you are quoted a thousand pounds for a quick weekend break across the channel so you may want to find an insurance company who will insure you for everything except any cancer related illness. It’s something to consider.”
The main advice is to shop around. The Cancer Support Centre is open to anyone from the region who needs help – whether they have been a patient at Weston Park Hospital or not.
“We have a list of recommended insurance companies,” says Anne. “You have to know who to go to in your area. Often if you try and arrange your insurance on the phone or over the internet you get asked a set of basic questions. If you get one tick in the wrong box you are just turned down straight away. Some of our clients have insensitively been asked ‘Are you terminal?’ which really isn’t helpful if you are trying to get away to recuperate. It can bring someone right down again.
“At the Cancer Support Centre we know which companies are more sympathetic and will use a specialised medical questionnaire to look at each person as an individual case. We have also helped patients who are really very ill to visit friends and relatives in places like Australia and New Zealand – so there are ways it can be done.”
The Cancer Support Centre can also advise on general health tips for cancer patients who may be more sensitive to sun exposure if they have had radiotherapy or who may not be able to have certain vaccines if they have had chemotherapy. Swimming in the sea or swimming pools is also something chemotherapy patients should be wary of.
Anyone who needs advice on holidays and cancer can get in touch with the Weston Park Cancer Information and Support Centre by calling 0114 2265666 or dropping in between 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday at 23 Northumberland Road, Sheffield S10 2XT (behind the Car Park at Weston Park Hospital).
The Cancer Support Centre is funded by charitable donations through the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Appeal.
