As the healthcare debate swirls around us, an important bill protecting the rights of women receiving mastectomies is now pending in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Senators Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) recently re-introduced the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act.  The Act was originally introduced in 1996, but failed to garner enough support for passage and has languished for nearly 14 years.  During that time, women across the country have be subjected to the insensitive and medically dangerous practice of being discharged from hospitals only hours after receiving a mastectomy.

Lifetime Advocacy & Public Affairs, a division of Lifetime television has supported the act for 13 years and continues to advocate for its passage.  By going to their website http://www.mylifetime.com/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition  you can add your signature to a petition being submitted to the House of Representatives urging them to bring the act to a vote and pass it. 

You can also call or write your Congressperson letting them know you support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act. You may reach your member of Congress by calling the U.S. House of Representatives switchboard at 202-225-3121. To find your representative in Congress, go to: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml .

Losing a breast to cancer is devastating.  Being discharged within hours of the surgery is unacceptable and can be dangerous.  Please lend your support to this important cause so that mastectomy patients aren’t lost in the shuffle of the healthcare debate.