Stage 4 lung cancer that’s spread.. what to do?

[AmberHiker]

Hi everyone,
I could really use some advice because I’m feeling torn about what to do.

We’ve got a holiday booked with Virgin Holidays for March 2026 — total cost £4,500, deposit £350.

But we’ve just found out that my brother-in-law (who lives in Turkey) has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that’s already spread to his legs and rib cage. Obviously, it’s devastating news and my husband may need to fly back to Turkey at short notice to be with him.

Now I don’t know what to do about the holiday. If I cancel now, we’d probably just lose the deposit (£350). If I wait until closer to the date, we could lose a lot more money. But I also don’t want to risk my husband needing to go home and our son being left with a family member and me so far away

Has anyone dealt with Virgin Holidays or other companies in similar compassionate circumstances? Did they allow you to cancel or postpone without losing everything?

Would you cancel now and take the £350 loss, or hold off and hope things settle?
I just feel stuck and not sure what the most sensible thing to do is 💔

I'd cancel the holiday. Oops sent too soon, I think it would be such a stressful time if he went downhill whilst you were on holiday and I'd feel too on edge to enjoy myself.

I'd cancel the holiday too

Your insurance should cover you

I’d cancel the holiday. It’s something you can control in a world full of stress that you can’t.

Cancel now. And next time you book a holiday take out insurance as soon as you’ve booked it.

No, it wouldn't.

Cancel and only lose £350 op.

Sorry but I’d cancel. Its worth asking about saving your deposit but in this situation i wouldn’t use a lot of energy on £350.

Best wishes to your family. You can take the trip another time.

Ask if it can be changed to March 2027.

I doubt it.
Why would they?
The op husband hasn't made any decisions yet and if he chooses not to go then that won't be covered.

Definitely cancel it now.

Insurance won't cover this situation.

@AmberHiker
I would just cancel, take a hit on the £350
Let your husband be with his brother and rebook later

Why wouldn’t it? Mine would.

Take out all the insurance you want.
Choosing not to go away because of your sibling being ill will not be covered

Are you sure?

My husband wasn’t coming on the trip it was meant for me and my older daughter. Our son was meant to stay home with his dad, I just think in reality if I was that far from home and my son was caught up in his dad needing to go home urgently it would stress me so much. I obviously would want to be here for my husband too. I’ve talked to him as the sooner I cancel the less money I’ll loose but he’s adamant we can’t live life like that… his brother has only just been diagnosed after his rib broke from coughing that how they found it so I suspect it’s quite bad already. He’s 50 and a heavy heavy smoker. They have their initial meeting with the oncologist Monday. All that’s been mentioned is likely chemo/ radiotherapy

I'd check a few things before cancelling - what's the latest date that you can cancel and only lose the deposit, do you have travel insurance and if so would it cover having to cancel, and what are the options re moving your trip to the year after. I'd also see how your husband feels. If it's very new news, I'd not do anything imediately (take a few days) unless you're about to hit a deadline re what you can get refunded if you cancel.

Had you bought insurance prior to the diagnosis?

Have they given any idea of how long he has OP? My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and died 4 months later. If you will only lose £350 I would cancel now, and book something after he’s gone. I’m sorry you’re facing this.

eta- just seen your last post. Hopefully they can keep him comfortable and offer him
more time.

Stage 4 lung cancer isn't usually a prolonged illness and so you also need to think how you would feel going away shortly "after".

If the answer is probably not very good, especially if DH is looking to be involved in arrangements, then you absolutely need to cancel.

You could ask to move the date?

I also don't think insurance would cover a sibling being ill, maybe if they were part of the party traveling, but not otherwise.
I’d ring/email and see if you can postpone, if you can’t I’d probably cancel if you think DH will want to travel at the same time to see his brother.
I would bear in mind though that cancer treatments have improved significantly, my friends husband got lung cancer that had spread when discovered and he lived about 3yrs after diagnoses, mostly in reasonable condition until the last few weeks.

Being completely mercenary.... What's the prognosis?

The only way to know if it’s covered by the insurance is to ask the insurance company. I would be surprised if it was but worth a phone call.

When dp's sister was in intensive care and we didn't want to travel we claimed our holiday insurance and it paid out.

In this case though I'd either cancel or move the holiday to march 2027.

Travel insurance does not cover you for canceling due to a sick relative.