Travel Insurance for Kidney Cancer

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer starts when abnormal cells in one of the kidneys grow out of control and form a tumour. It sits among the cancer conditions we see most often in older travellers, as it is mainly diagnosed in people over 60. A lot of cases are found by chance on a scan for something unrelated. If symptoms do present themselves, this is often as blood in the urine or a dull pain in your side or lower back.

In adults, most kidney cancers are a type called renal cell carcinoma. Treatment depends on the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. It might mean surgery to remove part or all of the kidney, ablation to destroy a small tumour, or targeted drugs and immunotherapy for more advanced cancer. Some small, slow-growing tumours are simply watched with regular scans. The NHS kidney cancer page explains the symptoms, tests and treatments in more detail.

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

Kidney cancer is a pre-existing medical condition whether you’re mid-treatment, on active surveillance or years past having a kidney removed. We ask because it can affect the risk of illness abroad. Living with one kidney can make you more vulnerable to dehydration in hot climates, and treatments such as immunotherapy can cause side effects that need urgent attention. If kidney cancer isn’t declared, a related claim could be turned down or the payout reduced.

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 kidney cancer?

Often you can. For kidney cancer, the things that tend to carry weight are the stage, whether it has spread beyond the kidney, how recently treatment ended, and whether you are waiting on scans or results. Someone a few years past surgery with clear follow-up scans is usually in a very different position from someone currently on immunotherapy.

What we’ll ask about your kidney cancer

Our online medical screening is quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a handful of questions about your kidney cancer, covering the treatment you’ve had and whether your kidney cancer has spread. 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 kidney 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

Cancer care can change quickly. If, before your trip, you start or stop a medicine, you’re admitted to hospital, you’re referred for further scans, or you’re given a new diagnosis, you must let us know. We may have to review your cover and refer your medical details to the underwriters, and sometimes we may not be able to proceed with cover. If changes in your medical go unreported, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can kidney cancer travel insurance cover?

When kidney cancer is accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad connected to it can be covered. Suppose you pick up a urine infection with a high temperature while staying in Portugal and need a few nights on a ward. The hospital bills, and a medically supervised journey home if one is needed, could be included, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Treatment plans don’t always run to the calendar, and a scan result or a new course of drugs can land just before a holiday. If your condition means you can’t go, cancellation cover may let you claim back costs you can’t recover elsewhere.

There are limits. Planned treatment or check-ups abroad aren’t covered, and nor is anything to do with a condition you didn’t declare.

Will kidney cancer affect the cost of travel insurance?

It’s possible kidney cancer will change your price. The deciding factor is your screening result. Our online medical screening may ask how the cancer has been treated or monitored, and how well it’s controlled at present, so have the details to hand. A few general points count as well, such as your age, where you’re going and how long for. You’ll see what it costs before you buy anything.

Single trip or annual cover with kidney cancer

If you are fitting one break in between appointments, single trip cover keeps things simple. Once you are back to travelling more regularly, annual multi-trip cover might suit you better. Whether annual cover is offered depends on your screening result.

Travelling with kidney cancer: practical tips

The advice below is general. It is not part of your insurance.

Drinking enough matters more if you have one kidney or reduced kidney function. In hot weather keep water with you and sip through the day rather than catching up in the evening. Be careful with painkillers bought abroad, too, as anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen are not always suitable for people with kidney problems. A pharmacist at home can tell you what is safe to pack.

Targeted drugs and immunotherapy can cause side effects like tiredness, diarrhoea, sore skin on the hands and feet or raised blood pressure. Ask your oncology team which symptoms need urgent attention and who to call if they appear while you are away. Many hospitals give patients an alert card with a 24 hour number, so keep it with your passport.

Cancer and recent surgery both raise the risk of blood clots, and long flights add to it. Walk the aisle now and then, keep drinking water and ask your GP whether compression stockings are a good idea. If your operation was recent, check with your surgeon how soon flying is reasonable.

Surgery sometimes leaves the remaining kidney working a little harder. If you have been told you have chronic kidney disease as well, mention it in the screening too.

1. carry your medication in your hand luggage in its labelled boxes, with some spare
2. ask your hospital team for a short written summary of your diagnosis and treatment
3. read our guide to travelling abroad with medication before you pack
4. plan a quiet first day or two after you arrive

How to get a quote

Enter your trip details, answer the medical questions about kidney cancer and anything else you need to declare, then choose your cover. The price is shown before you pay.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Cancer Pages

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Anal Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bladder Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bone Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bowel Cancer Travel Insurance
• Brain Cancer Travel Insurance
• Breast Cancer Travel Insurance
• Cancer Travel Insurance
• Cervical Cancer Travel Insurance
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Endometrial, Uterine, or Womb Cancer Travel Insurance
• Kidney Cancer Travel Insurance
• Lung Cancer Travel Insurance
• Melanoma Travel Insurance
• Ovarian Cancer Travel Insurance
• Pancreatic Cancer Travel Insurance
• Prostate Cancer Travel Insurance
• Skin Cancer Travel Insurance

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.