The Australia Federal Government will fund free breast prosthetics for women who have had a mastectomy to treat breast cancer, thanks to the hard work of two New South Wales, women, according to the Camden Advertiser. Kitten Kaboodle Lingerie owners Kerry Paul and Megan Donnelly were outraged that women had to pay up to $430 per prosthetic, with each prosthetic usually lasting two years.
"Because I do prosthetic fittings here I would see these girls coming in and paying all that money when this isn't a condition they chose to haveit felt almost like they were being disadvantaged even further for having cancer," Paul said.
The two went to Federal Macarthur MP Pat Farmer in June and, after five months of lobbying, Health Minister Tony Abbott announced a $23.8 million national program to pay for each woman's first two prosthetics. Federal Labor has promised $41 million over four years for breast prosthesis, specialist breast cancer nurses, and additional funding.
"It feels like we kicked the ball over the goal line but the National Breast Cancer Foundation worked really hard to get it close to the line," Paul said.
As well as improving the self-confidence of women who have had a full or partial mastectomy, breast prosthetics also help women's bodies stay aligned; without them women can suffer from neck, back, hip, and knee problems.
