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

It害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渧ery private害羞草研究所� life in an effort to help other women like herself 害羞草研究所� those who害羞草研究所檝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 害羞草研究所渢errifying.害羞草研究所�

It 害羞草研究所渃ame as a huge shock,害羞草研究所� Morosan said.

害羞草研究所淲hen I read this 害羞草研究所� the fear that went through me.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渦nless there is proven clinical pathology.害羞草研究所�

Morosan said she knew immediately that she wanted her implants removed, even though she害羞草研究所檚 had none of the described symptoms.

But she害羞草研究所檚 frustrated that the surgery doesn害羞草研究所檛 qualify for MSP coverage, particularly given that the reconstruction 害羞草研究所� which took four operations 害羞草研究所� following her cancer was.

害羞草研究所淚f I害羞草研究所檇 had it done for cosmetic reasons, I could see their point,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣ow they find out that what they paid for isn害羞草研究所檛 working害羞草研究所� You害羞草研究所檝e left us.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 get my head around, this is Canada and we have to deal with this.害羞草研究所�

Morosan害羞草研究所檚 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 Allergan害羞草研究所檚 licences for Biocell implants, a move intended 害羞草研究所渢o protect Canadian patients from the rare but serious risk害羞草研究所� 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 Morosan害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渋s an exception to the payment schedule.害羞草研究所�

However, 害羞草研究所減hysicians can follow the established process for exemption requests by submitting a pre-approval for payment request to MSP (through Health Insurance BC),害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淗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.害羞草研究所�

Removal and replacement 害羞草研究所� if replacement is desired 害羞草研究所� of textured implants done for medical reasons will be covered by MSP, the statement adds.

Morosan said PAN害羞草研究所檚 April story about Sayers hit home when her June 28 letter arrived. She害羞草研究所檇 read the story while out of the country, and 害羞草研究所渢ook a photo of that because I thought I might need to talk to this lady one day.害羞草研究所�

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

The pair connected a week later. Sayers said she took the call 害羞草研究所� sharing with Morosan what she害羞草研究所檇 learned about treatment and options through her own journey 害羞草研究所� despite having pledged to herself to focus only on her own recovery for the next two months.

害羞草研究所淪he was gracious enough to talk to me,害羞草研究所� Morosan said. 害羞草研究所淪he saved me a lot of time. Time is not on our side when you have this.害羞草研究所�

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 husband害羞草研究所檚 paintings, The Pier, to raise funds to help women who can害羞草研究所檛 afford the procedure.

害羞草研究所淓verybody knew Voja. They know me. I might just be heard,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 know that painting, because of what害羞草研究所檚 happened with the pier, is very important right now.害羞草研究所�

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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 害羞草研究所渨e still have to fine-tune害羞草研究所� the fundraiser and, she is still trying to find a surgeon for her own procedure.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 want to get sick, as I see more and more women coming forward, with ailments from these implants. Once I害羞草研究所檝e recovered from this I will intend to help other women in this predicament.害羞草研究所�

Anyone interested in being notified of the fundraiser害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭his is probably one of the hardest things I害羞草研究所檝e had to do, is let people into my personal life,害羞草研究所� Morosan said. 害羞草研究所淏ut if I can help one woman the way Shannon has helped me, it will be worth it.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渙pen to anyone touched by breast cancer in the past or present,害羞草研究所� 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 surgeon害羞草研究所檚 perspective and support resources, the letter states.