Dialogue: Cut off our breasts? They have to be joking

By CHRISTINE RANKIN

I was incensed to read in the media last week that we are being told our public health system cannot provide radiation treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer for six months.

Do you know what the advice was? Cut them off. Both breasts if necessary. Cut them off.

This is appalling.

Isn't this the 21st century? Isn't this the world of medical breakthroughs, new techniques and less invasive surgery?

What is going on in this country? Where are women on this issue?

The silence following this comment has been deafening.

Is it not really true?

Are we in a state of disbelief or do we just meekly accept our lot in the new nothing for anyone economy?

I don't believe the feminist or women's movements exist any more. They can't because when there are really serious issues like this they are almost completely silent.

Do we just roll over and accept everything that is dished up to us? Cut our breasts off. That's okay, at least we've got women running the country.

I wonder if there was an epidemic of penile cancer what the reaction would be if the surgeons said just cut of their penises, and their testicles for good measure.

I'll bet the reaction would be instant: those male politicians would stop at nothing to save those bits.

Anything this Government does, or allows to happen, seems to be okay.

Are we mad? Have we lost our sense of proportion?

They say the Government cannot afford to meet the increasing demands of New Zealanders for health care and that it needs to be prioritised.

They sympathise with the situation and we say, "poor Helen, poor Annette".

After all, they are under so much pressure, so many decisions to make. But what are they spending the money on? They're busy recreating the 1960s and with the health system it seems they are already there.

While we are contemplating the loss of our breasts, they are busy on other priorities such as deprivatising ACC, reintroducing health boards, replacing community work with the unemployment benefit, building economic development departments, increasing taxes, bringing back the Post Office Savings Bank, removing the work test for solo parents, recreating the Department of Social Welfare and even bailing out Air New Zealand.

Where are we going?

We have among the highest rates of breast cancer in the world and Annette King says she feels sorry for the victims of breast cancer. Minister, that simply will not do.

Whether this Government is responsible for the situation facing us, it is now in control. It is making the calls. It promised it would reduce cancer treatment waiting times and waiting times in general. God help us if this is an example of delivering on this promise.

As many of my friends approach menopause they, in a responsible way, are preparing in advance. They gather all the information to endeavour to remain as healthy as possible. But here we have another example of the scant regard paid to women's health issues.

Many of the treatments available overseas to address the individual needs of women during menopause are simply not available here. Apparently we cannot afford them. Well, that's not good enough, either. The message of "we cannot afford it" is becoming a cover for "it's too hard".

Come on New Zealand women. Look at what we cope with and have fought for in the past.

We cannot and must not put up with this. We should be marching in every city and town, screaming from the rooftops that we will not accept this.

Imagine being diagnosed with breast cancer and coming to terms with all that means. The fear of death looming larger even when your attitude is positive and determined, knowing that there are treatments which you cannot get.

We are not talking about a rare and complex condition. We are talking about an affliction that affects thousands of women and which is probably our No 1 health bogey.

With the fear of losing what for many of us women is a major representation of our femininity, desperate concern about the effect on our relationship with our partners and whether we will survive at all, to be told that lifesaving radiation therapy is not available, whether we can afford it or not, is crushing. Cut them off - that's the option.

Women run this country. Have they lost a grip on what is important. What a disgrace.