Few people know it, but Norma Morosan is a breast cancer survivor.

It91裸聊视频檚 information the White Rock woman says she only ever shared with family, following her 2011 diagnosis.

Until now, that is.

Morosan, the widow of renowned artist Voja Morosan, stepped out of her comfort zone last week to share the piece of her 91裸聊视频渧ery private91裸聊视频� life in an effort to help other women like herself 91裸聊视频� those who91裸聊视频檝e had breast implants following a mastectomy, but now want them removed in light of a link found between the textured implants and Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Morosan received confirmation in a June 28 letter that she was among those potentially at risk, and said the news was 91裸聊视频渢errifying.91裸聊视频�

It 91裸聊视频渃ame as a huge shock,91裸聊视频� Morosan said.

91裸聊视频淲hen I read this 91裸聊视频� the fear that went through me.91裸聊视频�

The letter describes the condition as rare, with a risk ranging from one in 3,000 to one in 30,000. In addition to sharing symptoms to watch for, and that the best treatment for those with BIA-ALCL is removal of the implant and capsule, the letter advises that the explant surgery is not covered by the Medical Services Plan 91裸聊视频渦nless there is proven clinical pathology.91裸聊视频�

Morosan said she knew immediately that she wanted her implants removed, even though she91裸聊视频檚 had none of the described symptoms.

But she91裸聊视频檚 frustrated that the surgery doesn91裸聊视频檛 qualify for MSP coverage, particularly given that the reconstruction 91裸聊视频� which took four operations 91裸聊视频� following her cancer was.

91裸聊视频淚f I91裸聊视频檇 had it done for cosmetic reasons, I could see their point,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淣ow they find out that what they paid for isn91裸聊视频檛 working91裸聊视频� You91裸聊视频檝e left us.

91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 get my head around, this is Canada and we have to deal with this.91裸聊视频�

Morosan91裸聊视频檚 story is a familiar one to at least one other White Rock woman.

Shannon Sayers said she paid US$18,000 to have her textured implants removed in an emergency surgery in California more than a year ago, after developing breast-implant illness and embarking on a desperate search to find a surgeon with the experience to conduct the extractions.

She shared her story with Peace Arch News in April, on the same day that Health Canada announced plans to suspend breast-implant manufacturer Allergan91裸聊视频檚 licences for Biocell implants, a move intended 91裸聊视频渢o protect Canadian patients from the rare but serious risk91裸聊视频� of BIA-ALCL.

(Wednesday morning (July 24), Allergan announced it is of its textured breast implants and tissue expanders worldwide, advising healthcare providers to immediately stop using Biocell saline-filled and silicone-filled textured breast implants and tissue expanders. As well, unused devices are being recalled from all markets.)

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Sitting in Morosan91裸聊视频檚 living room last Monday (July 15), Sayers said she has tried, to no avail, to be reimbursed for the procedure by MSP. She said reasons she was given include that removal of the capsule around the implant is not covered, that the procedure is available in B.C. and that her application for coverage was filed 90 days too late.

Ministry of Health officials said they could not comment on specific patient cases, but confirmed this week that removal of the implants for non-symptomatic patients 91裸聊视频渋s an exception to the payment schedule.91裸聊视频�

However, 91裸聊视频減hysicians can follow the established process for exemption requests by submitting a pre-approval for payment request to MSP (through Health Insurance BC),91裸聊视频� a statement emailed to Peace Arch News Tuesdaynotes.

In cases where a medically necessary procedure that is not readily available in B.C. is required, a specialist physician may apply for out-of-country coverage, the statement adds.

91裸聊视频淗owever, breast surgery is available in B.C. and elsewhere in Canada. When surgery is available in B.C., the patient would be referred to a specialist surgeon, who would determine the medical necessity for surgery and book the appropriate date. The specialist surgeon adjusts the surgery date when surgery is considered to be a medical emergency.91裸聊视频�

Removal and replacement 91裸聊视频� if replacement is desired 91裸聊视频� of textured implants done for medical reasons will be covered by MSP, the statement adds.

Morosan said PAN91裸聊视频檚 April story about Sayers hit home when her June 28 letter arrived. She91裸聊视频檇 read the story while out of the country, and 91裸聊视频渢ook a photo of that because I thought I might need to talk to this lady one day.91裸聊视频�

After receiving the letter, she wasted no time tracking Sayers down.

The pair connected a week later. Sayers said she took the call 91裸聊视频� sharing with Morosan what she91裸聊视频檇 learned about treatment and options through her own journey 91裸聊视频� despite having pledged to herself to focus only on her own recovery for the next two months.

91裸聊视频淪he was gracious enough to talk to me,91裸聊视频� Morosan said. 91裸聊视频淪he saved me a lot of time. Time is not on our side when you have this.91裸聊视频�

It was during their first face-to-face meeting that an idea about how to help other women took root. Sayers says she knows the need is out there, as she has already spoken with another White Rock woman who has had to fundraise to help pay for her own upcoming explant surgery.

Morosan said she plans to use one of her late husband91裸聊视频檚 paintings, The Pier, to raise funds to help women who can91裸聊视频檛 afford the procedure.

91裸聊视频淓verybody knew Voja. They know me. I might just be heard,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 know that painting, because of what91裸聊视频檚 happened with the pier, is very important right now.91裸聊视频�

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While she is currently selling prints of the artwork for business, once the fundraiser launches, going forward, those proceeds will switch over, Morosan said.

She said exactly when that will happen has yet to be determined, as 91裸聊视频渨e still have to fine-tune91裸聊视频� the fundraiser and, she is still trying to find a surgeon for her own procedure.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want to get sick, as I see more and more women coming forward, with ailments from these implants. Once I91裸聊视频檝e recovered from this I will intend to help other women in this predicament.91裸聊视频�

Anyone interested in being notified of the fundraiser91裸聊视频檚 launch may email Morosan at morosan.arts@shaw.ca

She is optimistic that opening up about her own breast-cancer story will ease the journey for others facing the same situation.

91裸聊视频淭his is probably one of the hardest things I91裸聊视频檝e had to do, is let people into my personal life,91裸聊视频� Morosan said. 91裸聊视频淏ut if I can help one woman the way Shannon has helped me, it will be worth it.91裸聊视频�

BRA Day

Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is to be a key topic at a Breast Cancer Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day planned for Oct. 9 at Surrey City Hall. Hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society in co-operation with regional plastic surgeons, the free event is 91裸聊视频渙pen to anyone touched by breast cancer in the past or present,91裸聊视频� according to a letter sent to patients, including Norma Morosan.

In addition to recent news around ALCL, topics to be covered include the reconstruction process, a general surgeon91裸聊视频檚 perspective and support resources, the letter states.