August 24th 2024.
A woman from the Victorian era is reaching out for help as she shares her struggle of waiting for 21 long months to receive a breast reconstruction surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Melanie Kuyl, a 42-year-old mother from Eynesbury in Victoria, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in the midst of the state's strict COVID-19 lockdowns in August 2020.
In an interview with 9News, Kuyl reveals that she initially decided not to undergo reconstructive surgery immediately after undergoing a lumpectomy, lymph node clearance, and a double mastectomy. She wanted to wait until she was physically stronger from chemotherapy before considering the surgery. Her breast surgeon also advised her to prioritize getting rid of the cancer first before focusing on reconstruction.
Now, Kuyl yearns to feel "normal" again, but the cost of the surgery, which is estimated to be around $20,000, and the long waiting list have made her journey even more challenging. "I was told that the surgery is medically necessary by my surgeon, but I've been on the waiting list since 2022 and there seems to be no end in sight," Kuyl shares.
Despite being categorized as a "category three" patient, which means she should receive treatment within 12 months, Kuyl has been waiting for close to two years due to a backlog of surgeries caused by the pandemic. As a result, she has turned to crowdfunding in hopes of raising enough funds to pay for the surgery as a private patient in November 2024.
Kuyl is determined to find a way to pay for the surgery without dipping into her superannuation account, which would incur a high tax rate. "I don't want to burden my family's future with the financial impact of my cancer," she explains.
In addition to the physical and financial toll, Kuyl also shares the emotional and psychological impact of not having her breasts reconstructed. "I don't feel whole anymore. Every time I see my scars in the mirror, it's like reliving the trauma all over again," she says. Her young daughters, aged eight and five, also ask her when she will get her "boobies" back, reminding her of the person she used to be before cancer.
Aside from the breast reconstruction, Kuyl also needs to undergo a hysterectomy and oophorectomy in the future due to a BRCA2 gene. The Department of Health Victoria has acknowledged the challenges patients face while waiting for surgery and has implemented reforms to improve the delivery of surgical services. These efforts have resulted in a 33.6% decrease in the waitlist since 2022. However, for Kuyl and many others, the wait continues.
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