CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga on how travel insurance can be pricey when you have cancer

I AM currently on a break in the US with my twin sister, Maren, and a friend – which we planned on New Year’s Day.

There is always the risk when booking something five months in advance that I might not be able to go, but the risk paid off and I’ve loved jumping in lakes, hiking mountains and discovering quaint towns in New York state.

Now we are in New York city and boy is it a contrast. We’re averaging 20,000 steps per day, which my legs are just about keeping up with.

It’s not just the walking that can be a struggle for someone with cancer.

For a trip to the US that covers anything to do with my breast cancer, it’s almost impossible to get a policy and, when you do, it’s more than £1,000.

I’ve travelled all over the world since my diagnosis, often without any insurance because I can’t justify the price. I hope and pray that cancer won’t be bothersome and, if it is, I have time to hop on a flight back home.

I carry a note from my doctor explaining why I have a bag full of medications which swiftly shuts down any questioning at the airport.

My drug taking schedule is pretty intense so I prepare by making up little pots for each day I am on holiday.

This saves time and space in my bag – although it is important to bring the information sheets from each drug just in case you, like me, forget what a drug is called and what you even need them for.

Declaring all this information to an insurance broker can be stressful as you’re speaking to someone who hasn’t got a clue about your disease.

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However, there are travel insurance companies that specifically cover cancer patients.  One of which is InsuranceWith, who have been amazing for trips to places where I felt cover was necessary.

They understood my disease and what problems I might face which was a relief.

Travel insurance issues is definitely not a side-effect they tell you about when you’re diagnosed, but it hasn’t stopped me seeing the world much like I did pre-cancer.  On that note, I have a bagel to scoff.