Why not join the Living with metastatic private group? Access group via the link here.

Breast reconstruction costs.

Silba
Silba Member Posts: 115
edited October 2018 in Metastatic breast cancer
Hi, just navigating the wonderful world of breast reconstruction need to have bilateral mastectomy, ( getting done next couple weeks) haven't made up mind about reconstruction due to financial costs. I have private health insurance and currently going privately through treatment, but have hit the reconstruction hurdle.  Any one can give me an idea of out of pocket costs and advise as to wether is time to go public and how do you jump from private to public., and has anyone had a "goldilocks" mastectomy ???? Thank you .
«1

Comments

  • Glemmis
    Glemmis Member Posts: 343
    Hi @silba, I had a mastectomy in 2016 and am now booked for a skin sparing prophalactic mastectomy on the other side & double reconstruction. I am going private & I will about 17,000 out of pocket. I haven't investigated the public system but there are other ladies who have. I think there is about a 2 year wait for public. You can also join the Reconstruction group where you will get lots of advice.
  • Silba
    Silba Member Posts: 115
    Thank you I will look into it.
  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,540
    edited October 2018
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/1-choosing-breast-reconstruction

    www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au

    Hi welcome to the forum.  There's a wealth of information on the forum and the BCNA website.

    As to costs that is variable. Your specialist will give you the costs prior.  Does your specialist work in the public system as well as private? 

    Best wishes with your research.  Take care 

  • Vallerina
    Vallerina Member Posts: 183
    Hi silba just wondering what is a goldilocks mastectomy ?? 
  • Silba
    Silba Member Posts: 115
    My surgeon says it's a mastectomy but they take the majority of the breast tissue and nipple but fold the skin flaps over each other to leave a slight bump rather than a concave chest.a but smaller than a A cup. He's only done a few so wondering if anyone else has had it done.
  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392
    Oh that sounds very interesting and you would then have more time to consider which type of reconstruction you would have. 
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    Hi @Silba. There's a lot of discussion on this over in the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group so do join and check it out. But to summarise, the price varies enormously, and waiting times in the public system vary from state to state. K  :)
  • Harvey1903
    Harvey1903 Member Posts: 189
    Hi @Silba. I had mastectomy, reconstruction, and reduction all at the same time. 8 hour op 5 days in hospital.  I went public and haven't paid anything. Peter Mac Melbourne.  There are lots of posts in choosing breast reconstruction and the breconda website was also helpful.  Big decision all the best. J
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    I have private cover and my surgeon has told me there would be approximately $500 gap for his services but it wasn't a definitive discussion so I haven't asked for a breakdown of costs. And that was for one side.  He is well-known for keeping his costs down for BC patients where possible so this probably impacts.
    As for public or private, I don't think there's any difficulty switching but be aware that there appears to be massive differences in waiting times from state to state.
  • Jemima2018
    Jemima2018 Member Posts: 5
    HI @Silba.  I also went public for a bilateral masectomy and diep reconstruction.   I had this done at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and it was about a 7.5 hour surgery and I was in hospital for six days.    The surgery and the care whilst in hospital and also post op as an outpatient was absolutely faultless.  All this did not cost me anything.
  • Silba
    Silba Member Posts: 115
    Thank you all for your feedback ,

     I am having surgery through the public system with my private treating surgeon only bilateral mastectomy at the moment since I'm also going to need radiotherapy ( as if 6 mths chemo wasn't enough) , have spoken to PS , his assistant does reconstruction Diep through public , so that will be the way I will be going when I have the go ahead.

    But not having worked for six months , not having to pay GAP costs for these surgeries is a load of my shoulders and a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. 

    Just had to be blunt and said I have no money left over.
  • ScarlettFever
    ScarlettFever Member Posts: 1

    Hi Everyone....new to this site.  Can someone please tell me how I can join the breast reconstruction group?

    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/1-choosing-breast-reconstruction

    I clicked on join and answered the question with my story but nothing happened?

    Thank you so much.

  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,540
  • Jane221
    Jane221 Member Posts: 1,193
    Thanks @iserbrown, have followed up with BCNA re @ScarlettFever's application to join the group as she is not showing up as having applied. There are also some problems accessing the photo stories etc too so think there must be a technical glitch with the group. Hopefully it will be sorted soon.  
  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,540
    Thank you!