Travel Insurance for Bowel Cancer

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer starts in the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and the rectum. You may also hear it called colorectal cancer. It’s one of the more common types of cancer in the UK, and many cases are now picked up early through the NHS screening programme, sometimes before there are any symptoms at all.

Treatment depends on where the cancer is and how far it has grown. Surgery to remove the affected part of the bowel is common, often alongside chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and some people are left with a temporary or permanent stoma afterwards. The NHS bowel cancer page explains the symptoms, tests and treatment options in more depth.

Why do I need to declare bowel cancer for travel insurance?

Bowel cancer counts as a pre-existing medical condition, whether you’re mid-treatment or several years clear. It matters because symptoms following treatment can continue to affect you, and may cause issues abroad. A stoma can lead to dehydration in hot weather, scar tissue can cause a blockage, and chemotherapy lowers your resistance to infection. Any of these could mean hospital treatment overseas or a cancelled trip.

If you do not declare a pre-existing medical condition, a related claim could be turned down or paid at a reduced amount.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with bowel cancer?

Often you can. Whether bowel cancer is accepted for cover rests on your medical screening result, and the things that tend to make the biggest difference are how recently you had surgery or chemotherapy, whether the cancer has spread, any recent hospital admissions, and whether you’re waiting on scans or results.

What we’ll ask about your bowel cancer

Our online medical screening is quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a handful of questions about your bowel cancer, covering the treatment you’ve had and whether you’re still having it. Once this condition is done, carry on and declare any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

When the medical declaration is complete, you’ll move on to the quote page. Where your bowel cancer and any other conditions are coverable, a list of quotes appears, with the cost of covering your medical already built into the premium. If cover isn’t possible, you’ll find out before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Things can move quickly with cancer care. If, before your trip, you start or stop a treatment, you’re admitted to hospital, you’re referred for further investigations, or you get a new diagnosis, you must let us know. Your cover might need another look, your medical situation may have to go to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to continue with cover. A future claim can be affected or denied if a change in your medical isn’t reported.

What can bowel cancer travel insurance cover?

When bowel cancer is accepted on your policy, an emergency linked to it is handled like any other. Say you develop a bowel obstruction in Portugal and need admitting: emergency medical treatment can be covered, as can repatriation to the UK if you need medical help to get home. This is all subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your health takes a turn before departure and your doctor advises you not to go, you may be able to claim back non-refundable costs through cancellation cover.

There are limits. Planned treatment abroad, such as a chemotherapy cycle you arrange to have while away, isn’t covered, and neither is anything linked to a condition you left off the screening.

Will bowel cancer affect the cost of travel insurance?

Having bowel cancer may change what you pay. How much is settled by your screening result rather than the diagnosis alone. When you go through our online screening, expect some questions about the treatment you’ve had and how well the condition is controlled at the moment. As with any policy, age, destination and the length of your trip feed into the quote too, and the price is there to check before you commit.

Single trip or annual cover with bowel cancer

For one holiday, single trip cover keeps things simple. Two or more trips a year may suit annual multi-trip cover better. Whether annual cover is available to you depends on your screening result.

Travelling with bowel cancer: practical tips

The suggestions below are general ones for travelling well. They don’t form part of your insurance.

If you have a stoma, pack roughly double the supplies you’d normally use, split between your hand luggage and hold bag. Pre-cut bags save time, and scissors aren’t always allowed through security. Many stoma charities and suppliers offer a travel certificate that explains your stoma in several languages, which can make a security search less awkward.

Heat and travellers’ diarrhoea can dehydrate you faster than you’d expect, particularly with an ileostomy. Drink bottled or treated water, take oral rehydration sachets, and be careful with salads washed in tap water and ice in drinks. A stoma nurse can talk you through what to watch for.

Chemotherapy lowers your resistance to infection for a time. If you’re having it, or finished recently, ask your oncology team about timing your trip and which vaccines are safe. Some live vaccines may not be suitable. The TravelHealthPro country pages list what each destination recommends.

After bowel surgery, lifting heavy cases can strain the wound or raise the risk of a hernia. Use wheeled luggage, ask for help, and book assistance at the airport if walking long distances is hard for now. On long flights, get up and move about when you can, as surgery and cancer can both raise the risk of blood clots.

Keep any medication in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication covers the basics.

How to get a quote

Enter where and when you’re going, complete the bowel cancer questions along with anything else you need to declare, and choose your cover. The price is shown before you buy.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Cancer Pages

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• Bowel Cancer Travel Insurance
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Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.