Anna Eshoo: “first, I thank my colleague Rep. Rosa DeLauro for organizing this special order during National Breast Cancer Awareness…”

“first, I thank my colleague Rep. Rosa DeLauro for organizing this special order during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for her unwavering advocacy on behalf of breast cancer patients. Breast cancer touches the lives of thousands of American women, their families, and their friends every year, forcing them to confront both death and disfigurement. Over 180,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and 44,000 of them die from the disease. Another 85,000 American women have mastectomies as part of their treatment each year, 25,000 of whom choose to have reconstructive breast surgery because of the tremendous damage that mastectomy does to a woman's body. Fear of losing a breast is one of the main reasons many women do not have preventive examinations for breast cancer--many don't know about the possibility of reconstructive surgery. Unfortunately, many insurance companies don't recognize the importance of breast reconstruction. A recent survey shows that 84 percent of plastic surgeons had up to 10 patients denied coverage for reconstruction of an amputated breast. The unwillingness of some insurance companies to pay for reconstructive breast surgery following a mastectomy defies all sense of reason and compassion. Reconstructive surgery in these cases is not cosmetic--it's part of the continuum of case necessary for the complete recovery of patients.”