We believe it is important to cover all your options when it comes to cancer diagnosis and care. Remember, you will be away from familiar surroundings with all the cultural and language difficulties that can bring. The last thing you need when faced with a medical problem is wondering about what will or won’t be covered.

Make sure you know exactly what tests will be covered when it comes to getting to the root of a problem you may be having. Diagnostic tests, MRI scans and PET scans may be needed to find the cause, all are covered by Allianz Worldwide Care core plans.

If cancer is found; treatment can take many forms. Long-term hospital stays may not be necessary, the option to attend hospital for the day or as an outpatient could work for you. This allows you to recuperate in the familiarity of your own home between treatments. Of course if the cancer is more serious a stay in hospital may be needed so it is important that is covered too. All Allianz Worldwide Care core plans cover in-patient, day patient and out-patient oncology treatment.

It is worth considering the impact cancer treatment may have. A common side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss. Allianz Worldwide Care understand the toll this can take on patients at a time when they are already feeling vulnerable. This is why we have recently covered the purchase of a wig in our international health insurance plans.

Cancer is caused by a mutation in our DNA that allows damaging cells to grow without control. Although some factors are linked to a predisposition, we do know there are lifestyle choices that can contribute to our likelihood of getting cancer. They include:

This is the biggest single risk factor when it comes to cancer. It is linked to lung cancer but can lead to a number of other forms of cancer including mouth and oesophageal cancers. Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to reduce your chance of getting cancer.

It can cause various forms of melanomas on the skin. In many parts of the world this is the most common form of cancer. It’s of particular concern if you are taking out International Health Insurance to move to a country that may be significantly hotter than the country you currently live in.

The best way to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer of any kind is:

• Always wear high factor sun screen (factor 30 and above)
• Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (this can vary from country to country)
• Cover up with long sleeves
• Always wear a hat to protect your head and face

It is thought extra hormones produced by fat cells in your body can contribute to the growth of cancer cells. It is important to eat well to maintain a healthy body weight, exercise regularly and limit our intake of red meat.

Following these steps in no way guarantees you will avoid cancer while you are abroad which is why it is really important your expat medical insurance covers you no matter what happens.

If you are not sure which option is right for you, contact us, our multi-lingual team of experts are happy to help.

Read our guide on choosing an international health insurance plan