Mitch Landrieu: “approximately 211,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. No doubt, you know one of these women. In…”

“approximately 211,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. No doubt, you know one of these women. In fact, they may be your sister, mother, aunt, cousin or dear friend. In most cases, the doctor will prescribe immediate and often times aggressive treatment in the hopes of stalling further progression of the disease. The quality of care that breast cancer patients receive is critically important to their survival. Despite the urgent need for Federal protections to ensure that breast cancer sufferers receive appropriate treatment, very few exist. It may shock you to learn that women who have undergone surgical treatments such as breast removal mastectomy--or lymph node dissections are being sent home within hours of having surgery because insurance companies are unwilling to reimburse recovery time in hospitals, a practice referred to as ``Drive-Through Mastectomies.'' These women have reported being sent home still drowsy from anesthesia, weakened from hours of surgery, and with drainage tubes attached to their bodies, while simultaneously experiencing the immense emotional trauma associated with the removal of a breast or lymph nodes. To this end, I am pleased to have worked with Senator Snowe to introduce the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005.…”