Tattooing not covered????

GG27

I didn't recieve any advice, so I decided to get the inequalities of the system fixed for the women coming up behind me, so they won't have to put up with this.  

For a copy of the letter I sent, scroll down the page.  

suz45

I have an appointment with my plastic surgeon on the 15th of Dec & with my Onc on Dec 30th I will make a point of asking what is (or is not covered) My plastic surgeon will be Sheina Macadam & so far I haven't heard that anything isn't covered.... Hopefully I will have a dorsi latisimus on both sides mid-April :-). Will post what her response is. Hugs Suz

GG27

Thanks, Suz, I can tell you what her answer will be, because I have since found out that it is only because I of where I live that it isn't covered.  And I'm not allowed to travel to Victoria to get it done.   When I was first diagnosed I was told that everything was covered.  The PS's in Nanaimo have been fighting this for 10 years & the health authority & BC Cancer agency doesn't care.   It's not the money ($300) it's the principal of the thing, that because we live on Vancouver Island, north of the Malahat we don't get treated the same as everywhere else in the province, we pay the same taxes for medical as everyone else. 

I have made it my mission to get this reconstruction available to all women going through this, no matter where they live on the island.  I have started to write letters, first to BC Cancer, all the way up to VIHA, to the Health minister & then I will go to the media.  

Let me know what she says, every doctor I have spoken to about this, is appalled.

suz45

That really sucks and its wrong!! Good for you trying to get the word out that this is needed. I hate that "its an Island you know" attitude that you can get over there. I heard that sooo much when we lived in French Creek until about 1995. I hope you get some good results. I know its not the money.... why would it be covered everywhere else and not there. Good luck & I'll let you know what I here from my surgeon. It should be interesting as I was planning on using the tattoo artist in Nanaimo... hmmm. I also want her to fix up my eyebrows as they didnt come back properly this time. Also want a small ladybug tattoo done, just not sure where yet:) Hugs

GG27

I have an appt with the tattoo artist here & she is very, very highly recommended, Sandra's ink.  She is recommended here & by every PS in Nanaimo.  I'm not on the island, I'm on Gabriola, so I have to travel either way.

They say that it's not covered because there is no RN to do it here & I can't travel to Victoria to the one there because they don't want to overtax her, so if you don't live in Victoria, you're out of luck.   My goal is not to just get the word out, but to get it changed so no woman who comes after me has to concern herself with this at all. 

BTW, good luck with your surgery, it's the same that I had & I was pleasantly surprised at how fairly easy it was. I was really concerned about how to deal with incisions both front & back, but didn't have too bad a time of it at all.  If I can answer any questions, don't hesitate to PM me.

Cheers,Dee

suz45

Yes, it was Sandra's Ink. I think you had posted it & I looked it up. I'm fairly impressed with there work & studio from what Ive seen. Ive got a long way to go before I get to the tattoo stage, but its nice to know that she comes very highly regarded. Sorry, I thought you were in Nanaimo... I'm in Richmond but would rather go to Nanaimo if I can. My MIL lives over there & the rest of my in-laws are almost all in Victoria & Sooke.

I gotta say I'm really impressed with how well her eyebrows turn out once the dark ink has lightened. I would normally have not even thought about it until saw her web-site. After 2 rounds of chemo in 3 years mine came in very sparse & faded looking this time. I think a lightly tattoo'd brow would look really nice. Im still working on trying to get my eyelashes to come back in a little nicer... they are stumpier looking (kinda straight & short, but not in one direction) & have lost their curl. I had nice eyelashes before & after my first round of chemo, but like the eyebrows are rebelling this time, lol. I wondered about the eyeliner to make it seem like I had lashes but think I'll let this one wait a while longer to see if they eventually cycle back in normally.

Oh, for upper body strength & range of motion I just started Bikram Yoga & I LOVE it!! Ive got so many issues since BMX & my shoulders are extremely painful if I try to raise my arms above my head. I guess that working out in such a hot room seems to have eased the pain, increased my stretch & made me sweat (something I havent done in a long time) The sweating is taking that radiated grey toned skin & pinking it up. Ive never really done a yoga class prior to this, but think I will definitely carry on with it as it overall makes me feel better. I have a month membership to the Richmond Bikram studio then I will try a month unlimited of Moksha, also a hot studio yoga (lol I bought that through "social living deals" daily coupons) Hopefully there will be one more deal somewhere after that & that should bring me closer to my surgery date. Ive always associated yoga with meditation, so was very surprised to see this wasn't. Just a lot more concentration on breathing as well as holding the pose as well as you are able.. heh heh, starting to sound like a commercial.

Hugs & have a great day  Suz

GG27

I can't even imagine going to hot yoga, just the thought gives me hot flashes! LOL, but then everything gives me hot flashes.  I'll have to look into eyebrows when I'm at Sandra's, since chemo they've never really come back & my eyelashes are pathetic, I wear eyeliner now.

We have a yoga place here, but I've never really wanted to do the group thing, so I do stretching etc at home in my dressing room, I will start to do weights again next week, just had my exchange so wasn't allowed for 6 weeks.  I had a lot of pain in my arms & shoulders & ended up taking anti inflammatories which completely took away the pain that I had had for almost 1 year. 

GG27

There seems to be quite a few people reading this thread, so I thought you might like to see the letter I have sent to the BC Cancer Agency.  I am determined to get this stupid rule changed for the women coming up.

Dr. David Levy, President    
BC Cancer Agency                               
675 West 10th Avenue                      
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3


Dear Dr. Levy,

I am writing to you today regarding my concerns about my reconstruction, following my treatment for breast cancer.  It is my understanding that your agency is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that everyone in British Columbia who has cancer is afforded the same level of treatment & reconstruction. 

My treatment has included a bilateral mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemotherapy & 6 weeks of radiation.  This treatment was followed by reconstruction with the insertion of tissue expanders, followed by 8 months of saline fills of expanders, exchange surgery to remove the expanders & replace with permanent implants.  I will be having nipple reconstruction in January, followed by tattooing.  This last procedure is where my problem arises.
You are probably unaware of the inequality in coverage for tattooing that exists for patients who live north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island.   If I lived in Victoria my tattooing would be covered by my BC medical plan, but apparently because there is no one in Nanaimo or surrounding area who is medically qualified to perform tattooing, I am required to pay for this procedure myself.  I would be happy to travel to Victoria or even the lower mainland if need be, but they will not accept patients who do not live in their area.

Given everything that one must endure along this journey, it seems unfair that some women must pay out of pocket and visit a tattoo parlour to complete this last vital, yet relatively simple step in their recovery.  Coverage for the tattooing procedure should be available to every affected person on the island, and should not be based on where one happens to reside.  The Victoria clinic that performs this procedure should be allowed to accept patients from everywhere on the island or someone should be certified to perform this task in Nanaimo.
I am looking forward to hearing from you regarding this matter.
 

GG27

So for those of you reading this thread, here's the update.

I received a response from the BC Cancer Agency, they say they have no control over this & have shuffled me off to the Patient Care Quality Office, Vancouver Island Health Authority.

So I have sent them a letter & await the response.

GG27

I received a phone call from Patient Care, Quality office.  It does not sound promising that VIHA is willing to do anything about this without being embarrassed about it.  I will have to wait 6 weeks to get a decision in writing.  In the meantime, I am drafting more letters.  My MLA & the Health Minister are next.

GG27

For anyone who is still reading this thread & for the women on Vancouver Island north of the Malahat, I finally received word today that we will be allowed to travel down to the Breast Health Clinic in Victoria & have our tattooing covered. 

It's been a struggle talking to various gov't types, but I am glad to make this annoucement.

Snobird

I'm not Canadian but good for you! Wishing you the best!

mrsnjband

I am sorry that you had to jump through so many hoops to get this approved.  I understand you did it for others as well as yourself.

I am doing the happy dance that you got them to approve it!!! You rock!!!

Sending love & support from the USA!  NJ

GG27

Thank you both, glad someone took the time to respond! 

You're right Mrsnjband, it wasn't really for myself, but for the other women unfortunately coming up behind me.  The PS's have been fighting this ruling for 10 years & I really feel like I accomplished something.

I have an appt at Sandra's ink in Nanaimo for next Friday, but the director is trying to get me an appt quickly, so we will see whether I pay at Sandra's or whether I go down to Victoria.  Either way, I'm good!

GG27

So just to wrap up this thread, for those who are still reading.  I was fast tracked to be the first one who is allowed to travel to Victoria to the Victoria Breast Health Clinic for tattooing on April 29th. 

My PS finally received a letter from VIHA stating that they have changed the policy & they will accept patients from all over Vancouver Island starting on May 1st.