Wait for breast reconstruction “unacceptable”

Wait lists in the public health system for breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy are unacceptably high, according to Australia’s leading voice for people affected by breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is responding to data released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) which shows elective surgeries in public hospitals are at their lowest in 10 years, with 17 per cent fewer elective surgeries performed in 2021-22 compared to the previous year.

More specifically, the AIHW data reveals plastic and reconstructive elective surgeries, which includes breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, have dropped significantly since pre-pandemic times, with 540 total admissions in November 2021 compared with 1032 in November 2018.

BCNA is also alarmed to see that indigenous Australians are waiting longer than other Australians for their elective surgeries, with median wait times across all elective surgeries of 50 days compared to 39 days for non-indigenous Australians. This further highlights the inequities we often see indigenous Australians with breast cancer face.

BCNA is calling for greater transparency of wait times, as well as more support and information to empower informed decision making for those waiting for breast reconstruction surgery.

“It is vital that those awaiting breast reconstructive surgery know where they are on the wait list and receive clear and timely information from their hospital in order to make informed decisions,” Vicki Durston, Director Policy Advocacy & Support Services, said.

“The psycho social impact for those waiting for breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy can be devastating, as patients are often left living with a reminder of their cancer, with no plan or resolution to their cancer treatment.”

BCNA’s 2021 Breast Reconstruction in Australia report highlighted long wait times as one of the key issues affecting equity of access to breast reconstruction, alongside insufficient provision of information and high out-of-pocket costs in the private system. It is for this reason that access to breast reconstruction is out of reach for so many.

“We know that many people are now waiting years for breast reconstruction, and in some cases are unable to be referred to a public hospital wait list at all,” Ms Durston said.

BCNA encourages state and territory governments to prioritise clearing the elective surgery backlog to improve equity of access to breast reconstruction.