Battle Undies

Thanks @romla

My main focus at the moment is the lack of funding for a dedicated lymphedema physio at the local Community Care Centre. Its a very narrow agenda of trying to persuade the hospital to fund one allied health professional for one or two days a week. That's it.

The greater problem of lack of exercise programs and facilities is outside my scope at the moment (the hospital does run some classes at the porridge pool but only a couple of times a year)

I have learned in the past that concentrating on achievable goals brings better results. When you diversify you will inevitably fail because it is too easy for the powers that be to say no. Small steps. One thing at a time.

 It's really important to get as much solid information about the current situation--who makes the decisions about funding in those areas, which pot of money could be raided and what, if any, plans there are for the future. The breast care nurses can point me in the right direction there without compromising themselves Then I intend to start a letter writing campaign--once again my BC nurses will accidently get to see my drafts to check for any inaccuracies. Then I'll be waving my dodgy, but still manageable, arm at a couple of media buddies wondering why there is no affordable services to help a poor pensioner avoid being an ongoing burden on the health system.

Lymphedema is not just a cancer issue, it affects all sorts of people with all sorts of different diseases. It's a chronic condition that affects the quality of life for a wide range of people. That is a good lever in itself because it eliminates any arguments about one group benefiting at the expense of others. I'm already lining up a couple of other people who I know struggle with the issue to keep the campaign ticking over; neither of them have had cancer.

The point of my original post was not so much to ask for advice about what I should be doing, it was an attempt to get  people thinking about how they can use their own story as a tool to make positive changes for themselves and their immediate community. You can make a difference, you just have to focus on what is possible with the resources you have available.