Qld Health fail: Cancer survivors wait combined 2343 days for surgery

A breast cancer survivor waiting nearly 800 days for reconstructive surgery has been booked in after The Courier-Mail questioned the minister.

Tracy Chapman and Sharyn Washington are still waiting for reconstructive surgery.

Breast cancer survivor Sharyn Washington, who shared her unacceptable delay for reconstructive surgery with Courier-Mail readers in July, has been told her operation will finally take place on December 20.

Mrs Washington, a mother of three from Mareeba in Far North Queensland, has been waiting 765 days to “feel whole again” after her right breast was removed on November 2, 2021.

She was given the good news by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman’s office on Wednesday after The Courier-Mail put questions to the minister about the delay.

Mrs Washington said she had only been told, via text and in writing, that she had a phone appointment with Cairns Hospital on December 20.

“I had no idea it would be my surgery date and when I got the call from the Minister’s office I was in complete shock. I’m just over the moon,” she said.

Tracy Chapman also shared her heartbreaking story with The Courier-Mail in July.

The 57-year-old has been waiting 1578 days for reconstructive surgery since her bilateral mastectomy on August 12, 2019.

“The communication from Queensland Health has been disgusting – you pluck up the courage to tell your story to the world yet you keep getting fobbed off,” she said.

Tracy Chapman has been waiting 1578 days for reconstruction surgery after having a double mastectomy. Picture: Tara Croser.

“The emotional toll is horrific.”

In November Ms Chapman had an appointment at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, at which she said a surgeon told her “my best advice is go off and live your life for another year”.

“I didn’t take that well, and then I was told they’d try to get me back in 100 days for another chat. I don’t want to chat, I want a date for surgery.”

Ms Fentiman said: “Thanks to brave women like Sharyn and Tracy sharing their stories, Queensland Health has developed treatment pathways.

“Since Sharyn contacted me there has been ongoing communication between her and the clinical teams at the Cairns Hospital regarding her surgery options.

“I am advised that Sharyn is booked in for her surgery later this month.”

Ms Fentiman said Ms Chapman was placed back on the wait list in May after being cleared by clinicians to proceed with the surgery, with an expected wait time of six to nine months.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ms Chapman attended a health crisis town hall in Nambour led by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and she called on the government to “put resources in the correct place – our hospitals”.

Sharyn Washington has been waiting for over 700 days for surgery. Photo: Brian Cassey