At the age of 39, I was thrown into a battle against breast cancer. As a survivor, I am grateful for modern medical advancements that have offered a lifeline to many. However, my journey has illuminated a critical gap in treatment options available to those like me—nerve restoration and nerve-preserving surgeries for breast cancer survivors confronted with permanent loss of sensation.

Neuropathy isn’t just discomfort; it’s a life-altering condition that impairs quality of life. According to the American Cancer Society, over 3.8 million women with a history of breast cancer are alive in the United States. Approximately, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

Most of the women who choose to undergo a mastectomy experience complete or partial numbness in their chest area and sometimes throughout their entire abdomen and back. 

This nerve damage can also cause intense pain. A very large majority of women who have had mastectomies are unable to feel a hug the way they used to, a scratch or a cut, or feel the warmth of the sun in the operated area any longer. It is a life-long issue that breast cancer survivors suffer from which can be prevented through nerve preservation by a qualified surgeon during a mastectomy and even repaired through nerve grafting or restoration afterwards.

Nerve grafting and restoration procedures are proven to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with nerve damage. Studies indicate that patients who undergo these operations report a recovery of sensation and a significant reduction in pain. Despite the benefits, many breast cancer survivors currently do not qualify for these potentially transformative interventions due to restrictive eligibility criteria that prioritize other types of nerve damage over cancer-related cases.

This petition calls for re-evaluation and expansion of eligibility criteria to include both nerve restoration and nerve preservation for breast cancer survivors through revision of The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) of 1998 passed 28 years ago. Under this federal law, insurance providers are currently required to cover breast reconstruction surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis or a genetic mutation which strongly increases lifetime risk, such as, BRCA. However, nerve repair or sparing surgeries are rarely ever covered. Since the inception of this legislation, incredible advancements in medicine and technology have been made. It is time that these advancements be utilized for breast cancer survivors in need.

Expanding these criteria does not only offer healing and relief to those affected by this condition but recognizes the unique medical journey breast cancer fighters endure. 

The shift requires collaboration from healthcare providers, insurance companies, and most importantly policymakers to ensure that no breast cancer survivor is denied an enrichment to their quality of life after a harrowing battle.

By signing this petition, you are advocating for an amendment of the federal law WHCRA passed in 1998 to not only include breast reconstruction be mandatory after a medically necessary mastectomy but also nerve restoration and preservation surgery. This inclusion can offer hope and healing to countless individuals affected by breast cancer. Join us in urging the powers that be to include this much-needed procedure in the roster of available options for those who have fought bravely against breast cancer. Sign the petition and stand with us in solidarity.