Travel has always been a huge part of my life. I’m 59, married with four children, and I’ve always loved discovering new places. But in September 2021, while I was away on holiday with friends, everything changed.
I started to feel a tugging pain in my breast. When I returned home, I went to see my GP and was referred to my local NHS hospital for a scan. I wasn’t expecting anything particularly worrying, so hearing that there was cancer in my right breast came as a complete shock. Initially, the medical professionals I met seemed positive that it was treatable. I had private health insurance and went on to have the cancer removed, along with a lymph node that was also cancerous. After the operation, my consultant was very positive about how things had gone, and tests suggested that the cancer was slow-growing. I was advised to have a full-body scan to make sure everything else was clear.
My husband and I went back to see my consultant on 1 December 2021 feeling relatively upbeat. Within minutes, that optimism disappeared. The cancer had spread to my spine. I had metastatic breast cancer. I remember hearing the words “incurable but treatable”, and both my husband and I wept. My world came crashing down. My head was filled with questions. How long did I have? When should we tell our children? What would treatment involve? Why me? Shock, horror and fear probably describe my emotions better than anything else.
Over the next couple of months, I moved to a new consultant for my cancer treatment and started immunotherapy, alongside bone-strengthening injections and quarterly scans. For a while, travel was pushed completely to one side. My husband and I normally plan our holidays well in advance, but suddenly holidays didn’t feel important. Then we were invited to the Dubai World Cup. After lots of discussion – and encouragement from friends and family – we decided to go. I’m glad we did. It felt different. Everything was still very raw, and I didn’t feel like the same person I had been before my diagnosis. I was nervous too, particularly as Covid was still around. But in the end, I had a great time.
It was the beginning of finding my confidence again.
I had actually wanted to try cruising for years. My husband was less convinced. His idea of a cruise involved enormous ships carrying 5,000 passengers, all-you-can-eat buffets, rough seas and a much older clientele! Eventually, I persuaded him.
For our first cruise, we chose Regent Seven Seas Cruises because we liked the idea of a smaller ship and a more luxurious experience. We sailed from Fort Lauderdale, visiting Mexico and several Caribbean islands. We absolutely loved it. Since 2011, we’ve been on more than 25 cruises and travelled to some extraordinary places around the world.
There are so many things I enjoy about cruising. I love the quality of the service, but I also love being able to visit several destinations in one trip. A day in a particular port can give you a taste of somewhere and help you decide whether you’d like to return for a longer holiday. Then there are the people. We’ve met fascinating people from all over the world and from all walks of life, and we’ve made some wonderful friends along the way. And, of course, there is the convenience. Once you’re onboard, there is so much to see and do.
Interestingly, cruising became even more relevant to me after I was diagnosed with cancer. Accessibility is a huge benefit. Cruise ships can cater for people with different levels of mobility, and the fact that there is usually a medical facility onboard, with trained doctors and nurses, gives me additional reassurance. Before we travel, I also tell the cruise company about my dietary and other requirements so that arrangements can be made in advance.
For excursions, the level of mobility required is normally clearly explained, which means I can make an informed decision about what will work for me. That said, one thing I would always recommend to anyone travelling with cancer is to speak to your consultant first. I make sure my consultant is happy that I’m fit to travel and agrees with my plans.
It is very difficult to choose a favourite cruise after more than 25 of them.
One that really stands out was a 14-night Alaskan cruise with Regent Seven Seas. We’ve also sailed around the Mediterranean with Regent, Seabourn and Explora. I love the combination of history, culture, good weather and the onboard experience.
Australia and New Zealand was another particularly special trip. New Zealand was spectacular, especially sailing through the Sounds and along those incredibly narrow waterways. Perhaps my most memorable day of all, though, was sailing down the Mekong River and docking in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. I love excursions too. In Alaska we’ve been whale watching, zip lining and searching for brown bears.
Shopping is another pleasure of mine, and I like to buy something that reminds me of my favourite ports. I particularly enjoy supporting local sellers in places such as the Caribbean, where communities can be badly affected by hurricanes. There is still plenty left on my bucket list. I would love to visit South America in the next couple of years, and Japan is another destination I’m considering.
One of the biggest practical changes after my diagnosis was travel insurance.
For years, my husband and I had robust health and travel insurance through our employers, our bank and well-known insurance brands. After my cancer diagnosis, everything changed.
My husband contacted our existing providers and discovered that I wouldn’t be covered for claims linked to my cancer. He also found that his own cover could be affected if we had to cancel a holiday because of something cancer-related involving me. We started looking specifically for travel insurance providers that could cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. After completing a number of medical questionnaires and providing information about the stability of my cancer, we chose Insurancewith.
There were several reasons. Firstly, the people we spoke to were very friendly and helpful when we were completing the questionnaires. Secondly, the cover suited our needs. We travel several times a year, so a multi-trip policy works well for us. We also found the price and overall cover competitive for our circumstances. But there was something else that mattered enormously to us.
My husband spoke with Fiona Macrae, and her personal journey was so relevant to ours. That conversation gave us confidence that Insurancewith understood what we were going through and genuinely cared about us. I didn’t feel as though I was simply a policy number. For us, travel insurance is now the first consideration when we’re planning a holiday.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are wondering whether you can travel again, my biggest piece of advice is not to give up hope. Travel has enormous benefits for my wellbeing, and I’ve found that cruising in particular can be tailored to my needs. Preparation is key, though. I like to research everything in advance and have a checklist so that nothing important gets forgotten. Before I travel, I make sure I’ve spoken to my consultant and have suitable travel insurance that covers my medical circumstances. I take plenty of medication for the whole trip and tell the airline and cruise company in advance if I have any particular requirements. I also check my passport and the latest FCDO travel advice, and I research excursions carefully – especially their timings and mobility requirements.
If you’re booking excursions independently rather than through the cruise company, it’s particularly important to make sure you’ll be back at the ship well before it departs. And then there is the more enjoyable preparation: what to wear! Different cruise companies have different dress codes and there can be themed or smarter evenings. My advice is to pack with flexibility, flair and joy.
Immediately after my diagnosis, I was distraught. I thought my world would never be the same again and that cancer would destroy everything. Slowly but surely, my confidence came back. I started travelling again, and I discovered that cruising still ticks so many of my boxes. It gives me the comfort and convenience I want, while allowing me to keep experiencing new destinations, cultures, people and adventures.
My circumstances have changed. I have to think about things I didn’t need to consider before cancer, from medication and medical facilities to making sure I have appropriate travel insurance. But I still have places I want to see and experiences I want to have. For me, that’s what travel is all about.
Travel gives me the opportunity to experience what a diverse, beautiful world we live in, and allows me to enjoy every day in a special way.
