Over the past four years, local women Dulcie Hoggan and the late Pamela Moulden advocated to parliamentarians for a statewide lymphoedema compression garment subsidy after developing the debilitating condition in their arms during treatment for breast cancer.
“Lymphoedema is caused by an accumulation of fluid in parts of the body. If it’s not looked after using specially fitted compression garments that can cost thousands of dollars each year, it becomes a chronic disease which can cause serious complications if left untreated,” Ms Hoggan said.
“I have experienced ill-fitting sleeves which make my condition worse and the high cost meant I could not replace them when needed. “It’s something that happens and there is no discrimination of age, gender or whether or not you have got finances to support yourself or not.”
Both Ms Hoggan and Ms Moulden saw the injustice the garments were subsidised in other states, but not in South Australia.
In conjunction with the Lymphoedema Support Group of South Australia and the Mount Gambier Breast Cancer Awareness Group, the pair lobbied tirelessly to help ease the huge financial burden for cancer patients.
“I undertook most of my treatment in Victoria and if I lived in Portland, I would have received the garments for nothing through the Medicare system,” Ms Hoggan said. “I thought, I’m going to go and talk to Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell about this and so did Pam and he realised the extent of the problem.”
Ms Moulden’s husband of 48 years Ian Moulden said his late wife was determined to get the subsidy through parliament, even when she herself was ill and fighting the return of cancer. “Pam worked so hard to push for it, she wrote lots of letters, she was like a dog with a bone if she got her teeth into something and she would not let go,” Mr Moulden said.
Ms Moulden bravely fought breast cancer for five years and sadly passed away in April 2020.
As a result of both the women’s efforts, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell campaigned for a subsidy to be introduced in South Australia, a motion which was given the go ahead in State Parliament in September 2018.
In July 2020, the Federal and State Governments announced a joint commitment of $4.5m to boost current schemes to subsidise compression garments for lymphoedema and establish a scheme in SA with a focus on delivering better services closer to home.
“The subsidy was Pam’s mission and I’m so proud of her. She would be proud too, but she did not ever think about the glory, she just went out and did it,” Mr Moulden said. “I zoomed in on her behalf for the official announcement and the Health Minister brought it up in parliament and acknowledged how much Pam contributed to the decision, so she was recognised.”
The Lymphoedema Compression Garment Subsidy Scheme is now offered to South Australians and includes ongoing, sustainable access for eligible individuals to receive up to two sets of ready to wear custom made garments, every six months.
“This is a win for everybody, this is for the state. Both Pam and I had that same view of how important the subsidy is and now other people can have a better quality of life,” Ms Hoggan said.
Ms Hoggan is now in remission from cancer and enjoys a busy life with a job at Bunnings and her two children, their partners and three grandchildren.
