Hi, Has anybody got any information about people with CLL being out in the sun?

[john133]

Any tips about travel insurance for people with CLL

[Oleboyredw-uk]

Hi,

My approach, I cover up, bought a Tilly Hat (maybe not chic, but I like it). I also got some walking shirts/trousers that have UV ratings. Finally, I use spray-on non-oily factor 50 on face, neck and backs of hands.

Insurance, been through this twice in the last year. After looking at maybe 10 sites and speaking to companies on the phone I went to World First (I have no association with them). Started off with the Macmillan Travelling with Cancer booklet (exact title I'm not sure but you'll find it on their site).

This is what I found:

Some of the 'sympathetic' companies set up specifically for Cancer sufferers asked very intrusive questions and ended up twice the price ... and with an attitude of 'doing you a favour'.

Saga would only quote if within 30 days of travel, I like to plan a bit earlier than that so gave up on them

Be clear on what you want, including USA, Canada or Caribbean hikes price up significantly AND I could only get single trip quotes

Doing 'Rest of world excluding USA, Canada or Caribbean' dropped the price AND I could get a full year multi trip quote. Europe would be even lower I suspect.

I went to the USA in October for two weeks, the single trip insurance was the same as the multi-trip I just took out for rest of world, well within a tenner or so.

Another thing to consider, as we now plan more than one trip a year while I'm well my wife refused to go on any holidays until I got a medic-alert bracelet. There are a variety of schemes which all do similar things - mine cost £30 per year and they hold information about my condition, medications contact numbers etc. Bracelet has an international phone number and my personal id number. I wear it right where my pulse point is on my wrist.

Finally, if you are going to Europe don't forget to get an EHIC card (replaces the old E111 if you are as old as me).

That's my personal penneth worth, let me know if you have any questions, I'm sure others have other advice for you.

Rob

[Myrddin]

There is a Travel Insurance section at cllsupport.org.uk with links to some useful information

Those will cll are more prone to skin cancer so just take reasonable precautions, cover up and use sun block.

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

This is a very popular discussion topic and has been recently discussed here in the community many times. Here are a few threads from the archive that offer recent findings of members and offer some CLL specific feedback:

Travel Insurance healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Travel Insurance - Update (sorry about the delay)

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

I was diagnosed last week with CLL. I intend to go to India for Christmas and New Year. How will this affect my travel insurance? healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Hi everybody Ill be 18 months clear after my chemo next July &want to go on holiday- has anyone been able to get worldwide travel insurance?

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Multi trip insurance healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Holiday Insurance - my recent finding healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

I have CLL and am travelling to Kenya in Oct to work in a school. What precautions/immunisations should I take? healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

immunisations-should-i-take

A timely question about the sun as it is starting to strengthen here in the UK too.This is a useful article and thread about skin care, if you use the search box and key in sun protection & skin care you will find much earlier discussion:

Care For Your Skin This Summer - from the CLL Global Newsletter - July Issue Care For Your Skin This Summer - from the CLL Global Newsletter - July 2013 Issue healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

[jangreen]

Hi have just come back from hols. We get free EEC travel insurance with our Nationwide Account and carry our EHIC wherever we go. To upgrade to world wide it cost £20.00 per account so that covered the two of us. My husband has Diabiets and Parkinson's. I have chemo induced pain in my feet and so take nerve pain tablets every day. We declared everything and covered everything. The total cost was £90.00 for the whole year. Worth checking out if you have a credit card or similar bank account. Good luck.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Here is a good link for people with compromised immune systems and travel. Hard to know where we fall, certainly after treatment with FCR, bendamustine/rituxan BR etc, we would be in the HIV group, since our CD4 T cells have been clobbered... and it takes a year or more for levels to rise...

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow...

One important note... if you have had FLUDARABINE, you should have only irradiated blood in transfusion FOR LIFE. There are cards you can get that states this fact from the NHS