Hi, I haven’t written before on this forum but on the subject of holidays and holiday insurance I felt it might be helpful to offer some advice. My husband has Lymphoma and I was diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 2021 during a routine blood test. Huge shock as you well know. The one thing we both love are our holidays and with Covid, it seemed we would never get out of the UK again! So, we bought a Campervan and now we travel by ferry (with a cabin) to Spain or France and we usually stay in rented houses. Travelling this way means our interactions with Covid and other general bugs are limited. As for travel insurance, we both have Royal Bank of Scotland health and travel insurance with our Premiere Account and only had to declare our conditions. There was no extra cost for this. We feel this is adequate for driving holidays in Europe.
This is my first post on the forum although I have been reading it for a while now. My Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (or MBL/pre Stage 1 Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)) as it was described to me also came about through a routine blood test for cystitis! However at the time I was being screened for osophageal and bowel cancers (negative thank goodness) so when this was what was left on the table after months of mind numbing fear, it was almost a relief! As my husband had been through chemo for follicular Lymphoma and is still very much alive and kicking at 72 I at least had company and a good example of “living with” not “dieing of”
I do have one question. My Lymphosyte levels were initially 6.8 and are now 5.4. I have no idea what this really means! Consultant just says “very, very stable” I think if it hadn’t been for Covid and all the “high risk” letters and extra vaccines etc (much welcomed BTW) I would have just carried on much as my dear husband did and does still. I am 62 and was diagnoses May 2021. Oh! and the night sweats! Since I was 50 I had menopausal hot flushes that just never went away so I never really was able to distinguish “flushes” from “sweats” I do however, occasionally get that bone numbing fatigue that feels like you soul has been hollowed out after we have over exerted ourselves or been too emotionally stressed. Gosh! I haven’t half rattled on! Will stop now. Hope some of this was of interest or use. Take care all.
Hi Marge
Good to hear from you and you haven’t rattled on at all 
. We have quite a lot in common. I was diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)) in June last year also on an incidental blood test although my lymphocytes had been high on every blood test for 2 years previously and no one had picked up on it. I was 61 on diagnosis. On diagnosis my lymphocytes were 7.93 and at my first review in December they had gone up to 8.92 so not too bad. Like you I get very fatigued and have sweats that are much worse than the menopause ever was I carry a hand held battery operated fan with me everywhere it’s a life saver 
. We love our holidays we have 4 booked this year and are at this minute shopping round for travel insurance which isn’t as bad as we thought it might be with a company called Allclear. You and your hubby stay well and stay in touch x
Hi @Marge a great big welcome from a fellow Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)’er.
What a coincidence that you and your husband both have blood cancers.
I was diagnosed 19 yrs ago and my blood test results do fluctuate.
I was diagnosed through routine blood tests by a gynaecologist, I also had many, many urine infections which stopped when I had a hysterectomy about 10 yrs later.
I will never know which condition caused my flushes/sweats, now I just say my inner thermostat doesn’t work, I can also feel very cold.
As for my fatigue I have got to manage it over the years and I do not do evenings, I am a ‘lady that lunches’.
There is information on fatigue on the Blood Cancer UK website Blood cancer and fatigue | Blood Cancer UK and on this forum.
Look after yourselves and please keep posting
Hello Erica, I have read many of your responses to others and I thank you for replying to my post! Yes, I felt I went through most of my shock and fear with blood cancer when my husband was diagnosed in 2014. As a Professor of Microbiology he took a rather detached approach especially as most of the Heamatology Team at our hospital knew him from joint studies. “If you could buy a cancer at Walmart, this is the one you would choose” He was told! He had / has Follicular Lymphoma and I was the one that went into Find Out Everything I Can Mode (I am a retired teacher) He was initially put on Watch and Wait but 5 months later he had 6 months of Chemotherapy because his consultant said he was fit enough to withstand it. Meanwhile I was in a forum called “Lymphomaniacs” - I kid you not! That was a very eclectic mix of British and American folk. If ever you want to know how fantastic our NHS is have a look to see how every stage of worry and diagnosis you have, the USA system charges you a lot of money for even a simple blood test and with out full health cover, lots of people are literally limping from one treatment to another sometimes having to save for months to get to the next stage of treatment. So far my husband has remained in remission and we had all but forgotten about it all bar the yearly blood check until Covid… Of course! Although he didn’t get any “shielding” instructions from the Government we instinctively hunkered down in the countryside and like everyone else, hoped for vaccines and treatments. It came as a shock when we realised that the vaccines may not be as affective even for Follicular Lymphoma 8 years in remission then a double shock when I got this “incidental” diagnosis of MBL. Immediately I was sent every shielding letter from our lovely Scottish Govt and sent for numerous vaccines! Once I understood fully (after initial 3 and 6 month blood tests) that this was potentially as indolent as FL I had my husband as a very good example of keeping calm and carrying on although we are much more aware of food hygiene, sneezing and sniffling friends and relatives, cuts, teeth, moles and insect bites than we were before! And of course Covid! So far we have avoided it but we decided that we were not going to be reclusive and have started to go back to restaurants and even the theatre. We have a very fetching supply of rather expensive but so far very effective face masks and because its both of us we just get on with finding ways to make things work for us. We now have a canoe and E bikes and we go hill walking and swimming in the sea. I doubt if we will ever enjoy a crowded pub or Ceilidhs or even crowded wedding parties etc (unless they are outdoors) but we have done a lot of that and enjoyed every minute. No regrets. Erica, I have no idea what I am trying to say, hopefully soneone will take some sense of “life going on in a meaningful way” I also want to say what respect I have for you and what you bring to this Forum. You are always there to welcome and reassure and put people in touch with relevant information. Thank you Erica.
Hello KayC, our stories do sound quite similar! I think my blood count raised a red flag with my GP so quickly as it seemed to be reaffirming her belief that I had a bowel cancer. As I said before, I had very mild cystitis that I felt had come on after a rather awful bot of constipation when I stupidly decided to try The Atkins Diet again. 
My urine sample was clear but in an abundance of caution she ordered stool samples and blood tests. The " slightly odd" blood reading was set aside due to the very high blood content in stool sample (not surprised after the horrendous Atkins induced ********!) I had ultra scans to rule out problems with kidneys, uterus, ovaries etc then a CT scan. Nothing was getting ruled out and when I got a letter telling me I had a shadow on my gullet and needed to have a camera down my throat and potential cancer of the oesophagus I was in a serious funk! When I was told my blood pressure was sky high I am afraid I gave the nurse a gimlet eye and said “Is anyone really surprised!” At this point my “smorgasbord of nasties” included “odd” blood, bowel cancer, osophogeal cancer and drop dead blood pressure! My GP helpfully said “You CAN have more than one cancer you know!” Hmmmmm Lucky me! 3 months of stomping about my local forest shouting and crying but wierdly feeling very fit and healthy! We were digging a pond for our garden! ( COVID project No 3) such a horrid time I am sure everyone on this forum shares! I do remember though on Covid project 1 and 2 suddenly feeling very, very tired. Just not able to even think! I have already mentioned the never ending 12 year hot flushes but I have never felt ill. Do you have tiny single red dots on your body? So the very long story of finally not having BC or OC was that the “odd blood” was pre Stage 1 Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)) “Don’t get hung up on the word Leukaemia, they call it that because what you have is Monoclonal B cell Lymphosytosis and no one can remember that” said the young Heamatologist who was an ex pupil of mine! 2 years on and I am still not sure how serious my condition is but I take it very seriously but like you, I want to live my life to the full (within reason!) We also have a month in Portugal and a month in Brittany booked for this year. Maybe a “wee dander” around the Outer Hebridies and for the first time we are seriously thinking of flying next year to Barbados where my husband used to work with UWI. That may be a wish too far but I do feel you have to have goals! Covid has been the real downer. We felt no limitations at all for my husband pre Covid other than giving away ideas of India and any “live vaccine” countries. I am also very sad that working with young people in my retirement is not a great health choice for now. As a retired Art Teacher this was a great joy but Hey Ho… Things may change. All the best for your lovely holidays! Let me know how you are getting on.
Oh @Marge I think I do know what you were trying to say and I also thank my lucky stars every day for our wonderful NHS service, we are so, so lucky to have it.
A canoe and E bikes sound impressive to me, I just use my feet for exercising.
Your fetching supply of face masks seem definitely trend setting to me, I have a Blood Cancer UK one and a spotty one, both have been worn and washed so many times.
I have tended to eat out more and always avoid sitting by people.
Yes, my life is definitely going on in a meaningful (and enjoyable) way too.
Thanks so much for your post and ‘meaningful’ sounds good to me, look after yourselves
Next Oncology visit scheduled for Thursday 16th March and bloods already taken in advance.
Clearly some positives and negatives, the outcome of which I will undoubtedly be made more aware of after the above.
Not something I’m looking forward to, to be honest, unless of course the outcome is I’m told to head back into GP land for ongoing future watch & wait monitoring and to stay away from Oncology for the foreseeable…
I can but hope!
No other symptoms of any kind, in fact feeling like I usually do, “invincible”. Funny though, isn’t it, as it only takes a travel insurance ‘decline to offer cover’ response, to make me feel the direct opposite.
Travel is a must for me/us, however, not at any cost, so once I get through this week, I’ll review what my wife Nicole & I are able to achieve in this regard, where we can enable reasonably priced and appropriately considered insurance.
Got to ensure this happens, as being a bit of a motorcycling nut, I’ve already got a European trip set-up for mid-June with a load of similar minded, varying age, biking buddies.
Watch this space!
Hi @NobbyN please do let us know how you get on on Thur 16th.
You certainly do like your travelling don’t you.
Motorcycling round Europe with Biker Buddies sound wonderful to me.
Yes, watch this space.
My husband and myself love to travel too and have just had a very decent insurance quote from a company called Allclear which covers my Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
Good luck with your appointment let us know how you get on
Yes @NobbyN, be sure to let us know how you get on 
Hi @NobbyN. Was thinking about you today. I hope your appointment went ok ?
Hello again,
Well that went better than anticipated. Nicole & I came out of Oncology @ RUH Bath whooping.
Based on the blood tests, which are always a snap-shot in time, we were advised the situation was indeed positive and I wouldn’t need to be seen again for 12 months.
Wow, what a relief that was, I can honestly say. Even though my approach as a normally ‘glass half empty’ sort of character is to not think about health stuff, I did on the morning of the check up, start to wonder the ‘what-ifs’.
Nic on the other hand, as the always ‘glass half full’ part of the team, was looking forward with heightened positivity as to the potential outcome.
Our combined focus got us to this point, so for the foreseeable at least, onwards and upwards.
We fully appreciate that it, the blasted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), doesn’t go away, so no doubt future issues on the horizon. However, today, after a celebratory pint in the pub at Compton Dando on the way home yesterday, our world is a slightly better place to be.
Now onto travel planning……
Amazing news. Onwards and upwards !
What a great team you are @NobbyN. I can picture you coming out whooping!
I’m so please for you. I can’t wait to hear all about your travel plans and I hope you spend the weekend celebrating!
Whoop whoop! 
Hi @NobbyN wow, that is great news.
Nic and you certainly make a full glass between you and personally I think one celebratory pint is not enough of a celebration, really push the boat out and go out and enjoy life.
For me my diagnosis gave me an opportunity to re look at my life and what I wanted out of it and with whom.
Enjoy planning and going on your travels and please tell us all about them.
Be kind to yourselves.
I agree on the drinking volume, however, as it was en-route home from the RUH, me being the driver, only 1 pint allowed, but really enjoyable all the same.
That said, earlier in the evening, we did imbibe further, me with my usual, 250ml + glass of white wine, Nic with her fave Bread & Butter Pinot.
More to add to later today, whilst watching the rugby fest, after a couple of tasks in the garden. Nic has gone SW to stay with a couple of pals and enjoy a sewing event, so little ole me on my tod with Cookie the Cockapoo over the entire weekend.
Just looking at travel insurance, which I appreciate is a wide ranging subject area on this forum, but being lazy, are there any particular companies that others would recommend unquestionably as having decent coverage and a reasonable price too, before I head towards the specific topic?
Hi @NobbyN I bet you are never alone when you have Cookie the Cockapoo.
Enjoy the rugby fest, it’s like buses you either get loads at once or none at all.
Spoil yourself
We are going to get a yearly travel insurance with Allclear. It’s reasonably priced and gives full coverage for Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
Hi @NobbyN. If you type travel insurance in to the search bar it will bring up the most recent thread. I’ll try and find it for you
Her you go. I managed to find it. Just click on the link and it will take you to the latest conversation