A mum who could have just one year left to live fears her bucket list dream of visiting Mexico is going to be ruined by unaffordable travel insurance.
Denise Greig, from Nottingham, is desperate to make precious memories with her family before time runs out.
The 51-year-old has been battling breast cancer for more than a decade and has now been told its incurable after it spread to her bones.
Not knowing how much time she has left, the heartbroken mum-of-two wants to tick off as many bucket list items as she can – including a dream holiday to Cancun.
But the business adviser was left in tears when she realised she was facing sky-high insurance costs – with some quotes as high as an eye-watering £5,000.
“It could well be my last holiday,” Denise told Need To Know.
“I just burst into tears when I saw the prices.
“It’s costing the same as another person to travel – we’re basically paying for another person to come on holiday and I might not even need it.
“I just knew we wouldn’t be able to afford it.
“They’re stopping people from having these holidays and building memories because people can’t afford it.
“It’s just so unfair. I’ve got so many places I want to visit before I die – and insurance is going to be through the roof.”
Denise was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 after being fobbed off by doctors for nearly two years – despite her mum having died from the disease at just 50.
She underwent chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiotherapy, fighting hard to be there for her children – Luke, 17, and 14-year-old Alex.
Sadly, the cancer returned to her other breast in 2021, leaving her facing more gruelling treatment.
But Denise’s world came crashing down last March when a broken leg revealed the cancer had spread to her bones, meaning her condition is now stage 4 and terminal.
She said: “It just felt like the end of my world. To know I’m not going to be able to see my kids grow up – I’ve got certain milestones I want to reach.
“My eldest is 18 in September, I want to hit that milestone. My youngest is 15 in October. I want to hit that and I want to see Christmas through. I just give myself little timeframes.
“It’s just a complete waiting game as to what’s going to happen. It’s a death sentence.”
Denise currently has chemo every four weeks and is now focused on making the most of life with her partner John, who she married this May, and her two sons.
Mexico was a part of that – and now the devastated mum fears she won’t be able to make her ‘family-moon’ dream a reality.
Having booked the trip back in January and the cheapest premium being £1,300, Denise fears she will no longer be able to go this October.
And she’s not alone in her situation.
Cancer patients are increasingly being “priced out” of overseas holidays due to “extremely unfair” travel insurance costs, a charity has warned.
Maggie’s, a cancer support charity, said patients and those with a history of the disease were “frequently” being quoted premiums of thousands of pounds, while some were being refused cover altogether.
The charity’s chief executive Dame Laura Lee said: “We know how stressful a cancer diagnosis can be, and the last thing people should have to think about is inflated insurance costs when they should be focused on recovering from treatment and living well with cancer.
“Travelling and taking holidays can be so important for someone’s wellbeing and recovery, and it is extremely unfair that people with cancer are being priced out of the opportunity to visit family and friends abroad or simply explore the world.”
Denise is now trying to raise funds to help her family pay for the travel insurance so she can enjoy what could be her final holiday later this year.
The mum says she was staggered when she first saw the prices.
She said: lI thought the travel insurance was going to be £500 or £600.
“One of the quotes I was given was well over £5,000.
“I need cancellation cover, so when I add that, I’m sure it will go up even more.
“I just started crying because I knew we wouldn’t be able to afford it. Why do they charge so much?
“Places like Mexico are on many people’s bucket lists when they’re facing the end of their life.
“It’s where people dream of going. It’s heartbreaking. The costs feel like exploitation.”
READ MORE: ‘Doctors gave me six months to live and can’t explain why I am still here 10 YEARS later’
