Breast cancer survivor launches campaign
A BREAST cancer survivor is leading a fight to see women automatically granted insurance coverage should they decide to seek specialised medical treatment overseas.
Suzanne Hooper recently went to battle to secure payment for reconstructive surgery following a double mastectomy at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She became motivated to have the current policy changed following her experience with a local surgeon who insisted he could adequately perform the mastectomy she required, and feels every female should have specialist treatment as an option.
"Bermuda does not have the services and the medical in place, for women to have a mastectomy," she said. "If you have diabetes, you're going to go to somebody who knows about diabetes. If you have cancer you want someone who knows about cancer, not a general surgeon who's going to lop off your breast.
"I want women to have the right to automatically go overseas to a cancer institute and get a second opinion. I just want to encourage other women to stand up for their right to have their bodies made complete. There is a way to do it."
Ms Hooper's comments come amid worldwide recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a major fundraiser by the Bermuda Cancer & Health Centre to enable the purchase of state-of-the-art digital mammography screening equipment and the announcement that the PartnerRe Women's 5K Run & Walk will assist the charity to reach that goal.
"As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate the progress which has been made against this devastating disease that affects women and their families in our community," said Pauline Girling, the charity's marketing and fundraising director. "Breast cancer touches an average of 90 lives every year in Bermuda - and that is 90 families whose lives are turned upside down by this disease."
Ms Hooper said she discussed her plan to sway insurers to her way of thinking with Ms Girling, who promised her help, as had her plastic surgeon in Boston.
"Pauline was so excited when I told her I wanted to take it further, that I wanted to take it to the insurance companies. She said she would get a group of women together who have had reconstructive surgery and see how they feel and how they were treated and what ideas we could come up with together. And she said she would set up a meeting with the powers-that-be in the insurance companies, so that we can fight for women's rights.
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