A Victorian woman, Melanie Kuyl, is urgently requesting assistance after enduring a 21-month wait for breast reconstruction following a cancer diagnosis. At 42 years old and residing in Eynesbury, Victoria, Kuyl encountered an aggressive form of breast cancer in August 2020 amid stringent COVID-19 lockdowns.
Kuyl opted to forego immediate reconstructive surgery subsequent to undergoing a lumpectomy, lymph node clearance, and double mastectomy. She now aspires to regain a sense of normalcy, but the procedure necessitates $20,000 and could span several years.
Kuyl has been on the surgical waiting list since 2022 with no resolution in sight, despite being classified as a ‘category three’ patient necessitating treatment within 12 months. The surgery, branded “medically necessary” by her surgeon, currently demands an out-of-pocket expense of $20,000.
With a fundraiser initiated for financial backing, Kuyl is striving to collect ample funds to cover the surgery by November 2024. She delineates her firm stance against withdrawing $20,000 from her superannuation, as she anticipates substantial taxation penalties.
Kuyl, grappling with the emotional and psychological aftermath of the double mastectomy, pines for restoration and a sense of wholeness. Overwhelmed by the impact on her young daughters and the toll on her family, she yearns to reclaim her former self.