Travel after cancer treatment: insurance, planning & practical tips you may not realise you're allowed to use
For some people, planning a trip after cancer treatment feels like a meaningful milestone; for others, travel resumes almost automatically– until a few unexpected stumbling points quietly appear. With a little forethought and the right support in place, travelling can become not just manageable, but genuinely restorative.
Research consistently shows that time away, changes of scenery and positive anticipation can support wellbeing – and when practical details are thought through in advance, the body and nervous system are far more likely to enjoy the experience too.
Sometimes it’s the small things – knowing where the toilets are, having the right insurance in place, or not having to hammer in tent pegs with sore hands – that make the biggest difference.
This guide covers the basics you need to know – plus prompts to help you think about your individual needs, not a one-sizefits-all version.
Do you need travel insurance after cancer treatment?
In most cases, yes – and you will usually need to declare that you’ve had cancer, even if treatment has finished.
Most insurers class cancer as a pre-existing medical condition. When applying for travel insurance, you’ll be asked screening questions about diagnosis, treatment dates, medication, and follow-ups.
It’s important to answer honestly and fully. If you don’t, an insurer can refuse a claim or cancel the policy – even if the issue you’re claiming for isn’t directly linked to cancer. Guidance from Macmillan Cancer Support and MoneyHelper is very clear on this.
Already have annual travel insurance?
Don’t assume you are automatically covered.
If your health has changed since you took out the policy (diagnosis, treatment, compications, new medication), you usually need to inform your current provider and check your cover is still valid. Some insurers will adjust terms or premiums; others may exclude certain conditions unless you update them.
UK travel vs travelling abroad – what’s different?
Travelling within the UK
Medical care is covered by the NHS, so UK travel insurance is usually about:
• cancellation or curtailment if you become unwell
• accomodation or transport issues
• lost belongings
For many people people after cancer, the bigger challenges are practical rather than medical:
• fatigue and low stamina
• sore or numb hands and feet (neuropathy)
• surgical recovery, hernia risk, or lymphoedema precautions
• needing quick access to toilets
• anxiety, sleep disruption, or sensory overload
Travelling abroad
If you are traveeling outside the UK, proper travel insurance is essential.
A NHS GHIC/EHIC can help you access state-procvided healthcare that can’t reasonably wait (including for pre-existing conditions), but it does not replace travel insurance. It won’t cover everything, such as private care, mountain resuce or repatriation.
Some insurers – or airlines/cruise companies – may also ask for a “fit to travel” letter, particularly if treatment finished recently or there have been complications.
Finding travel insurance if you have had cancer
MoneyHelper provides a Trevel Insurance Directory listing insurers and brokers who can help people with medical conditions find appropriate cover.
You may also come across specialist medical travel insurers. Policies and prices vary widely, so always compare terms carefully and check what is and isn’t – covered.
UK travel tips people often don’t realise they can use
Apply for a RADAR (National Key Scheme) toilet key
If you have bowel or bladder urgency, fatigue, pain, mobility issues, or other treatment side effects, you may be eligible for a RADAR key. It gives access to thousands of locked accessible toilets across the UK.
This can be genuinely life-changing for confidence when travelling.
Caravans, motorhomes, camping & hidden disability support.
Camping and motorhome holidays can work beautifully after cancer treatment – especially if you need rest breaks, quieter spaces, or felxibility.
The Caravan and Motorhome club highlights training around hidden disabilities and encourages people to share needs in advance, such as:
• pitches closer to facilities
• quieter areas
• practical support where lifting, gripping, or hammering pegs is difficult
Many people do not realise that sore hands, painful feet, abdominal surgery, or hernia risk are all valid reasons to ask for help (or don’t realise until they rock up and can’t manage).
Planning for a day out (because this often matters just as much as a holiday)
For many people after cancer treatment – or when living with fatigue, anxiety or ongoing health concerns – a day out can feel more daunting than a week away. There’s no hotel room to retreat to, no clear “rest” built in, and the practical worries can stack up quickly: toilets, crowds, energy dips, cost, getting home if exhausted, or simply the fear of not coping.
The good news is that small, thoughtful planning can make a day out feel more doable, without taking the joy out of it.
Gentle, practical tips for day trips (theatre, city visits, events)
• Plan your exit as well as your arrival. Knowing how and when you leave – or having a back-up plan– often reduces anxiety significantly.
• Choose seats and timings that support your body. Matinees, aisle seats, venues with access lifts and nearby toilets make a big difference.
• Use access support without guilt. Many theatres, venues and transport services offer hidden disability support, accessible seating or quieter entry points – you don’t need to “look unwell” to use them.
• Think in halves, not whole days. One main activity is often enough. Anything extra is a bonus. Fatigue after cancer: why energy works differently now
• Factor in rest and nourishment. A cafe stop, bench, or quiet space can turn a tiring outing into a manageable one.
• Have essentials to hand. Medication, water, snacks, comfort items, and (if relevant) a RADAR toilet key can significantly reduce stress.
• Acknowledge the emotional side. Feeling nervous doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go– it usually means this matters. Gentle self-talk and reassurance go a long way.
Sometimes, success isn’t staying out all day– it’s going out at all, and coming home feeling proud rather than depleted.
You could even start by asking yourself “What would make a short day out feel 10% easier for me right now?” Calming the nervous system after cancer: gentle support for recovery
A question to help you personalise your travel plans
Instead of asking “Can I travel”, try asking:
“what parts of travel feel most demanding for me right now– physically, emotionally or practically?”
A simple example
You might geel fine walking for short distances, but:
• gripping and hammering tent pegs flares hand pain
• lifting bags worries you because or recent abdominal surgery
• fatigue hits hard by late afternoon
• anxiety increases if toilets aren’t easy to find
Knowing this allows you to plan supportively:
• ask for help with set-up
• choose accommodtion near facilities
• build in rest days or breaks in journeys
• use a RADAR key
• take out insurance that genuinely reflects your situation
• Use a travel consultant who will help you plan and have lots of knowledge about places you want to visit and be able to consider your specific needs.
That is not weakness. That is intelligent self-care
Travelling after cancer isn’t about “pushing yourself back to normal”.
It’s about creating conditions where your body and nervous system feel safe enough to enjoy being away– whether that’s a weekend in the UK or a long-planned trip abroad.
There are some downloadable PDFs here to help you