Q. What are my options
as a breast cancer survivor?
A. The Women's Health and Cancer
Rights Act of 1998 legally ensures that all women with insurance, have benefits
that will cover any reconstructive process necessary to make them feel whole again.
For many women, this means having reconstructive surgery, and for others,
it means having a custom made reconstructive breast prosthesis.** Anecdotal
reports indicate that women who do nothing have a more difficult time healing,
and have more incidences of the cancer returning because of their poor psychological
health.
Reconstructive Surgery involves the following:
|
- Pain
- Risk of complications
- Risk of infections
- Side effects
- Death
|
- $30-40,000.00
- Surgical updates every ten years (more of the above)
- Final result is patient's own body tissue
|
Custom made prosthesis: |
- Non-invasive procedure
- Custom fit around contours of irregular tissue mounds
- this allows for complete freedom of movement for normal activities
- The Radiant Impressions prosthesis can be worn
with or without a special mastectomy bra
- The Radiant Impressions prosthesis is 50% lighter
than other products on the market - which is beneficial to balance and
back pain
- The Radiant Impressions prosthesis is made from
a new silicone foam that does not leak, maintains a cooler and more
comfortable temperature, and is breathable
- The Radiant Impressions prosthesis is more durable
than most other products on the market (i.e., can be worn in chlorinated
water; punctures do not destroy the product)
- The Radiant Impressions prosthesis can be worn
in direct contact with the skin with or without adhesive, with no adverse
reactions
- The mirror image (shape and color) that is created is
beneficial psychologically
- Cost of the Radiant Impressions custom and non-custom prostheses are within Medicare "allowable" rate. Please call for details at 303.973.8482.
|
**Some people mistakenly confuse the terms "non-custom"
and "custom." A non-custom product is designed as an interim product
to be used while a woman is healing, yet is sometimes used longer when a woman
has no insurance, or thinks she has no insurance coverage, or when the custom
product costs over and above what her insurance coverage allows. Non-custom
prostheses are very limiting and cumbersome for most patients.
<< back to FAQs