This week every MP will receive a ‘Black Pearls’ calendar from a group of breast cancer survivors, The Reconstructables. The calendar was produced in response to the Ministry of Health’s decision earlier this year to reduce hospital waiting lists and features images of women who have had mastectomies for breast cancer without reconstructive surgery.

‘1 in 10 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives,’ said Reconstructables Chair, Ms Raewyn Calvert. ‘Many will have a mastectomy. This is how they will see themselves in the mirror every day for the rest of their lives if they are not given the choice of reconstruction within our public health system. Our goal is to ensure that every New Zealand woman who chooses to have a breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery is guaranteed that option.’

National MP and former breast physician Jackie Blue will host Ms Calvert in Wellington on Wednesday (November 8th) and assist with the distribution of the calendar to MPs.

Among the estimated 28,000 people removed from hospital waiting lists were women who had been on the waiting list for 2 years, believing that their reconstruction surgery was imminent. Additional funds have now been allocated for surgery but breast reconstruction has been given the lowest priority and its future remains uncertain while waiting lists are limited to 6 months.

‘The women who posed for this calendar have done so from the heart with the support and blessing of their loved ones,’ said Ms Calvert, chair of The Reconstructables. ‘It has taken immense courage and has not been done for the good of the individuals, but for the well being of all New Zealand women.

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) has supported member group The Reconstructables throughout the calendar’s production. ‘We ask those decision makers to use their influence to ensure breast reconstruction is reinstated as an option for all New Zealand women’ said BCAC Chair Libby Burgess. ‘Breast reconstructive surgery is standard across the developed world and is defined in New Zealand’s breast cancer surgical guidelines as an integral part of the treatment and care of breast cancer in this country.’