Sue Was Not Cruising In Quarantine - Type 2

Cancer survivor Susan Lister, 70, shares her experience of cruising in the time of a pandemic with type 2 diabetes

- Ellie Griffiths

Susan Lister is a true survivor, living with type 2 and beating cancer. She is also recovering from an Achilles tendon operation this year and has problems with her other foot. None of this stopped her from embarking on a cruise with friends which departed Dubai on March 12 this year. However, the global pandemic forced Sue to return home on March 29 for two weeks of quarantine at a Sydney hotel.

I CAN BE STUBBORN

“I’d paid off the cruise over 18 months. When coronavirus came along, they told us there were no refunds if we cancelled. The travel agent and cruise operator told us everything was fine.”

Her family tried to talk her out of her travel plans. But, “I can be a pretty stubborn old thing,” she says ruefully. “After paying all that money and being reassured that the cruise would stay on schedule, I wouldn’t listen.”

Sue was travelling with nine girlfriends she’d met through a running club. “I used to love a good run or walk, but I lost part of my right lung after surgery for bi-lateral lung cancer in 2017,” she explains. “I also had radiation, which has caused problems with swallowing. When all of this was happening, that’s when they found out I had type 2.”