However, Bec experienced countless challenges trying to access risk reducing surgery through the public system. She was told she would need to wait 2 to 4 years for a prophylactic mastectomy and that because she didn't have cancer, she wasn't a priority. This was an extremely emotional journey, and Bec was very confused and conflicted by it all. She didn't feel supported by the health system, which basically told her that she had to wait to get cancer before she would be treated.
After waiting a few years and not wanting to wait any longer, Bec turned to the private health system for her risk reducing care and treatment in 2023. She and her husband decided to use their superannuation to pay $40,000 for a prophylactic mastectomy via the private health system. She knew she wouldn't have been able to afford the surgery otherwise. Bec's request to access her superannuation fund to have the prophylactic mastectomy was denied twice by her super fund, which did not see the surgery as “essential.” Her request was finally granted after Bec's surgeons provided further evidence about why the prophylactic mastectomy was a "life-saving procedure".
It was a huge relief finally having the funds to have her life-saving procedure, but Bec was shocked to discover that she was taxed $10,000 on the superannuation funds that were released. There were other income tax-related implications, and Bec found herself owing the Australian Tax Office another $3,000. Bec believes these tax debts were unfair because she only had the money to access essential healthcare.
It was scary thinking about if or when Bec would finally have her prophylactic mastectomy. She had two young children to worry about. After navigating the private health system and finally being able to access her superannuation to pay for the surgery, Bec had her prophylactic mastectomy in October 2024. She feels that an enormous weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Even though she paid so much money to access necessary healthcare, she has absolutely no regrets at all. Being proactive about her breast cancer risk was the best decision she's ever made.
Bec thinks it's important that women at a high risk of breast cancer have a lot of support when considering their options for risk reducing care. It is critical to have a person, a team, in your corner, confirming that choosing to have risk reducing interventions like a prophylactic mastectomy is definitely the right thing to do.
Read more about the work BCNA is doing in this space at https://www.bcna.org.au/our-impact/prioritising-access-to-risk-reducing-surgery/
