Most people with cancer are able to carry on driving. But the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) say that you should notify them if your cancer causes any of the following
- problems with your nervous system
- treatment or weakness preventing normal daily activities
- medication that causes side-effects likely to affect safe driving
If you notify them the DVLA will send you a medical questionnaire. This includes permission for them to contact your doctors for medical reports and may mean you having a medical examination. Once they have all the information they need the DVLA will decide whether it is safe for you to drive, and continue to hold a driving licence.
The DVLA questionnaire can be downloaded from their website at www.dvla.gov.uk.
Alternatively they can be contacted in the following ways
- email: eftd@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
- telephone 0870 600 0301 - Monday to Friday 8.15am-4.30pm
- fax: 0845 850 0095.
There are special regulations for people who have brain tumours and these are described in a separate cancer question.