Comments (4)

By Jillies, April 12, 2010 10:12 am

A mastectomy is the surgical removal of a woman’s breast in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. The operation is both physcially and emotionally devastating for patients. Women experience a lot of pain, discomfort, loss of range of motion and have to deal with uncomfortable drains for several days. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Women need at least 2 days in the hospital to recovery properly.

The Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill is important legislation for all women and in Congress right now. There is 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 masectomy. It is about eliminating the concept of the “drive-thru mastectomy” where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, with the drainage tubes still attached. I can tell you from my own experience that is it difficult enough going home directly after a lumpectomy. I can’t even imagine the condition a women is in after having a full mastectomy.

Lifetime Television has put the Breast Cancer Protection Act bill on their webpage with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. Please sign the petition by clicking on the website listed here. http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

Comments (2)

By Jillies, April 7, 2010 9:38 am

We are confused. JILLIES participated in a fundraiser to support the Massachusetts General Hospital last spring. 100 generous supporters paid for JILLIES treatment garments to be donated to the hospital and given to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. A team from JILLIES presented the hospital with the garments. We waited a month or so for feedback but nothing came. Then we started calling. We finally got a resoonse and the feedback was not very positive. We were told that the nursing staff offered the garments to patients but the patients were not interested in them. We found it hard to believe that women would prefer to sit in a waiting room clad in a johnnie that exposed their private parts, did not fit properly and was worn and tattered rather than wear a JILLIE which is soft, comfortable and provides complete privacy. Today, I was told by a trusted source that the oncology nurses were and I quote “pissy” about handing out JILLIES and never actually offered them to patients. The nurses either didn’t want to be bothered or thought the hospital johnnies were just fine. Shame on them. These garments were made expecially for breast cancer patients. They were donated by very generous people who had the best of intentions. We know from the feedback we have recieved to date that women love JILLIES. Patients who have worn then find then comfortable, functional and stylish. These women appreciate that someone took the time to do something nice for them at such a difficullt time.

So we ask the nurses, why would you deny a woman the opportunity to feel better while undergoing treatment? We can’t come up with a single valid reason. Be assured that we at JILLIES will continue to crusade for the comfort and wellbeing of breast cancer patients everywhere. We will not allow the medical establishment to put a damper on our mission. We would love to hear from you if you agree that hospitals need to take notice. Hospital garments are horrible and need to be redesigned.