There are claims hundreds of New Zealand women are missing out on the latest technology to significantly speed up the treatment of early stage breast cancer.’ This article and video from One News says ‘The treatment (Intra-Operative Radiotherapy) provides a one-off, single dose of radiation to the cancerous breast at the time of lumpectomy surgery, eradicating the need for patients to travel to hospital post-surgery to receive the radiation necessary to prevent the cancer’s return.’
In New Zealand there are currently six health insurers who cover this treatment for their members, however the country’s largest insurer Southern Cross does not.