Woman DENIED breast reconstruction after cancer due to funding cuts.

[HelenaDove]

inews.co.uk/news/mum-denied-breast-reconstruction-nhs-cancer-mastectomy-funding-cuts/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=ijp&fbclid=IwAR2SK1n5MW35jGdA4cT9g1XwPA3tw2POnqhW3O3v0Z3Poo8bmjtoLkCI4DM

and some of the comments on the fb page are fucking disgusting misogyny.

Aaahh. I see. Ok.

Millions of women treated by removal of breast... millions!!

This is transgender-related in that gender dysphoria is protected and gold-plated under clinical commissioning rules - local CCGs are not allowed to make their own value-for-money-based policies for transgender surgeries and must follow NHS England policies. Transgender surgeries are therefore protected from the 'postcode lottery'.

Meanwhile things affecting women such as breast asymmetry, breast reconstruction, etc are set on a local level and are as a result targets for money saving because they are ways for CCGs to save money.

The stated rationale for protecting GIDS is that it can be very expensive to treat so by taking it out of general expenditure it protects the individual NHS Trust from the burden. Obviously a specialist £20k breast reconstruction surgery is also very expensive, but this is not something they have thought to protect because well that only affects cancer patients and we've all been told that gender dysphoria is far more serious

This is transgender-related in that gender dysphoria is protected and gold-plated under clinical commissioning rules

Surely only relevant if this trust has closed this list in order to divert money, or resources (beds, theatre time) in order to perform surgery on trans men or women?

So it doesn't bother you in theory if there is priority there

Only if it happens in practice

But if it's OK in theory why not in practice?

That's not logical at all sorry.

Surely only relevant if this trust has closed this list in order to divert money, or resources (beds, theatre time) in order to perform surgery on trans men or women?

No.
The discussion has opened out as clearly the issues extend beyond one woman and her NHS Trust.

Please don't derail this important discussion.

I've seen Weetabixandshreddies derail a number of threads in this way by demanding clarifications etc
There's not much point in engaging as they rarely listen to what others have to say and demonstrate little care for women and girls.

Then maybe start a general thread to talk about it?

I feel very uncomfortable about one woman's situation being used for a different purpose than highlighting her case.

Its only you who are derailing this discussion.

And note that is a general issue in terms of the way the same operations are commissioned for transgender people and everyone else - Surrey Downs CCG will fund breast reduction if you fit a set of criteria, whereas Mid Essex will not. Obvious elective mastectomy for transmen is subject to no such restriction - for example to even be considered for breast reduction in Surrey Downs you'd need to have

It can hit very hard at the heart of ones sense of gender, and I would think that all trans people can understand that very easily.

At least those who have gender dysphoria. I had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, and it took me a good few months to bring myself to properly look at and accept my scarred breast. I cannot imagine how this poor woman feels, having been told that she'd have reconstruction and then being turned down.

Are you asking someone else to start a thread because you want them to weetabix? Don't you want to go and start a separate thread if that's what you want?

Gids get surgery, women get post code lottery, despite the devastation caused and consequent impact on MH.

QuietContraryMary

Absolutely. It is important to recognise that many of the resources that are relevent are for any form of NHS breast surgery whether breast reduction, elective mastectomies or those required as part of breast cancer treatment.

Are you asking someone else to start a thread because you want them to weetabix? Don't you want to go and start a separate thread if that's what you want?

So in order to discuss the fact that I need to start a thread asking why Broomfield hospital has had to close it's waiting list for post mastectomy reconstructive surgery?

At least those who have gender dysphoria. I had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, and it took me a good few months to bring myself to properly look at and accept my scarred breast. I cannot imagine how this poor woman feels, having been told that she'd have reconstruction and then being turned down.

Absolutely, my cancer treatment was for gyny cancer and the impact of the surgery and chemotherapy had a similarly profound effect on how I saw and related to my body.

I also recognise her description of how she hung on to the thought of reconstruction and this helped her get through gruelling chemotherapy etc.

It really is best not to engage with Weetabix demands and questions.

(in my opinion)

I also recognise her description of how she hung on to the thought of reconstruction and this helped her get through gruelling chemotherapy etc.

Absolutely, R0. The impact this refusal must have had on her mental health can't be underestimated.

The reluctance to give breast reduction on NHS even when size of breasts is

Causing physical pain / long term damage
Causing massive loss to quality of life (some of which can be attributed to how others react to big boobs)
Causing loss of confidence and mental health issues
Preventing a woman participating in sport etc

Yes it's seen as optional, not important.

It's becasue it's women and breasts, I think.

Reconstruction is part of the treatment cycle for cancer. Cancer treatment isn’t just ‘remove/halt/remission/manage’ its ‘retire the body as much as possible to working form and function.’

Just as if you had a car wreck and had life saving surgery as an emergency and are stable but need further surgery. You don’t get stabilised and out on the street . So reconstruction should be a fairly high priority. As should, if clinically possible, gamete preservation. These are not ‘frivolous’ procedures.

The impact of cancer diagnosis and treatments & emotional aftermath of a cancer diagnosis is often not processed unto;after the busy business of treatment dies down and you're trying to work out what to do next.
THere's a really good article by Dr Peter Harvey:
www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

Its within this context that that the impact of the decision has to be understood.

I also recognise her description of how she hung on to the thought of reconstruction and this helped her get through gruelling chemotherapy etc.

I found this heartbreaking. She was led to believe that reconstruction was part of the treatment, and then it was taken away from her.

We need to trust the nhs, but many people are having to battle with battling it.

We need to trust the nhs, but many people are having to battle with battling it.

Retire - should read restore

i think its bloody cruel I can imagine women in my area wanting it confirmed that they will have reconstruction now or even asking for it in writing before they go ahead with any treatment.

Zutt i agree with your comment about trusting the NHS. I dont , especially after reading this.