For many people, breast cancer treatment comes with harsh, disabling side effects.
Lymphedema is a condition that causes incredibly painful swelling in the arms or legs due to the blocked flow of fluids. It is estimated that two of every five women treated for breast cancer develop lymphedema within five years of surgery.
Patients need compression supplies to control this swelling—butMedicare and some private insurance companies don’t cover the costs of these supplies, leaving patients who can’t afford them to suffer from this debilitating condition.
This is unjust and inhumane.
The Lymphedema Treatment Act is an important piece of legislation that will change Medicare law to cover doctor-prescribed compression supplies—setting a precedent for Medicaid and other insurers to do the same. Now is the time to ask your Congress members to co-sponsor this important legislation that will get patients the supplies they need.
