Home & People A society to help those who have suffered a mastectomy

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 16

Home & People A society to help those who have suffered a mastectomy

Bv

TUI THOMAS

After a woman has had a mastectomy she must face up to wearing a prosthesis — a breast replacement form. She lies in hospital worrying about it and other problems, full of qualms about her future. At this time she needs to talk to someone who has also had a breast removed. who understands the post-operative anxieties, has learnt to cope and can show the patient that with determination a person who has had a mastectomy can maintain her dignity and femininity. The patient may not know that visitors from the Mastectomy Rehabilitation Society are available to give her the psycological .support and the practical help she would welcome. The society has adopted the term “mastectomee” for a person who has had a mastectomy. The voluntary visitors are specially selected and trained by Dr Jane Chetwynd and her committee for the confidential free service. They are all former mastectomy patients. They are reassuring friendly women who can answer questions naturally and having been through the experience themselves. “It is most important to emphasise, however, that visitor from the Society can call on a mastectomy patient only by request and with the consent of

the surgeon and charge nurse,” says Mrs Sybil Tye. secretary of the service. The visitors are counsellors and do not discuss medical matters. They inform patients about prostheses, where these are available, and the approximate cost. They recommend that a permanent breast replacement is not bought until three months after surgery and will help a patient get a temporary well-fitting form that will look natural, Sybil Tye said. “V/e are now looking into the possibility of getting temporary prostheses given free to every patient before she leaves hospital.” Mrs Tye, who had a

mastectomy about 11 years ago. says there is now a good variety of breast forms available in Christchurch and that the Department of Health reimburses the cost of a prosthesis up to $3O. "We feel strongly that

every patient should have departmental reimbursement for two prostheses for hygienic reasons,” she said. “And if a woman has a second mastectomy she should be eligible for a reimbursed replacement for an existing prosthesis as well as the new one, to

provide balance and a natural look.” The president of the Christchurch service. Dr D. Liddell, is seeking higher Government subThe Christchurch executive believes. Mrs Tye said.

that mastectomy patients should have the same financial assistance as other amputees. The executive also wants to make the visiting service more widely' known to heip women who have undergone breast surgery. “We would like to reach

out to women who have had a mastectomy 10 or more years ago. hose who have not had the opportunity we provide to ciscuss their problems or have been too embarrassed to talk about them." said Mrs Tye. Husbands of patients are also encouraged to help their wives by con(acting the servi-e tor assistance. Mastectomy Rehabilitation Society visitors have been given honorary hospital staff status in the North Canterbury Hospital Board's area and this entitles them to see pa’ients outside visiting hours. "After a slow start, we have received excellent cooperation from everyone concerned — surgeons,

nursing and paramedical staff." said Mrs lye. Ihe service has only present lime. Since S. ptember last, when they were first given authority to see patients in public and private hospitals, they have helped 14 patients Home visiting is done if needed. "I feel we should look more closely at posthospita! visiting." Sybil Tye said. "In this field, as in the hospital situation, the same rules of basic good counselling would apply-' Anyone who wishes to get iii touch with the service should phone Mrs 1. Woolmore-Goodwin at Sumner 5132.