Mastectomy Bill in Congress

[gothicmom]

Please sign this bill for yourself, your wife, your mother or sister.

Takes about 10 seconds. Click the site, scroll to the bottom of the

article and sign your name and zip code.

Thanks!

This bill is very important, and was introduced by Senator Mary

Landrieu. Even if you don't normally forward these things on, please do so to everyone you know. It's such an important issue... it's really

easy--takes two seconds!

Mastectomy Bill in Congress

NOTE: WHEN YOU SIGN-UP, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ZIP CODE ONLY...

Other info is OPTIONAL....please pass this on to all your friends and

family...

Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all

women.

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a

time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those

times. If you are receiving this it's because I think you will take the

30 seconds to go and vote on this issue...and send it on to others you

know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which

will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the

"drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition

drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!!!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/reallife/bc/pled...ast_pledge.html

[Brenda Starrr]

I signed this. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer just before my daughter was born 9 years ago. For those who are able to get a mastectomy, to have to leave the hospital literally hours after such major surgery is pathetic. If I ever get it, I will pitch the biggest fit about leaving early (if things don't change). That's too much of a life-altering experience to go through, just to have someone say "Alright, it's time for you to leave. Tough shit if you're not done recovering yet. Have a nice day."

[gothicmom]

I don't know anyone personally that has had breast cancer, but I wouldn't want to have to leave the hospital hours later! Let alone with tubes still in me! That just doesn't seem right.

[Rose]

I don't know anyone personally that has had breast cancer, but I wouldn't want to have to leave the hospital hours later!  Let alone with tubes still in me!  That just doesn't seem right.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well I will sign for sure, but I just wanted to say that lots of surgeries you have to leave with drains still in you... my mom had kidney surgery and spent 5 days in the hospital, and still had drains for a few days when she came home.

she had a double mastectomy though and was discharged the same day... sucks.

[Ginevra]

I know that some surgeries require that you keep drainage tubes in or some other medical equipment.

My birth mother had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer. While I'm not sure of the time she stayed in the hospital, I do know that she wasn't prepared when she left. (Didn't help that her home life was for shite, but that's a completely different topic.) Aside even from the physical aspects, the mental aspects of losing your breasts to something like this are completely devastating.

[Hermine]

Definitely will talk to my representatives. Will sign up but what am I pledging to do? I'm always cautious abt. legislative stuff but this makes sense + the Susan G. Komen foundation is behind it.

BTW, on a lighter note, something in the disclaimer made me giggle .

Lifetime will not use the information for any commercial or other purpose. However, Lifetime cannot be responsible for the use of this information by Congress.

(emphasis mine)

[nodrew]

Well, I signed it. I think the "drive through" mentality with many modern-day surgeries is absolutely redicules. Any opportunity I can have to make the insurance companies actually do what they're supposed to do and fork over the billions of dollars that they horde away annually, I take.

Here's to no one ever actually having to leave the hospital before they can be observed by the doctor for a few days, to ensure the surgery was a success.