Toby Sinbad Walker

I’m 100% in support of the trans community but if a trans person claimed that their top surgery was more important than my mom’s mastectomy we’d have a problem. Do you have any idea how fast breast and lymph cancer spread? Weeks can mean the difference in life or death.

We haven’t. My father died of cancer, I’m aware of the importance of cancer treatment. That doesn’t mean trans people should be a casualty of this system where not everyone is getting the care they desperately need and have waited for for 18 months or more.

Then blame the system but don’t act like mastectomies aren’t important. Not getting a mastectomy will lead to death faster than not getting a top surgery.

I never said they weren’t? If cancer mastectomies are under threat, as trans people have been told, then this protest highlights an unnecessary strain on both sets of patients by cuts that should never have happened and cannot be allowed to continue.

I don’t want to get in a conversation about who dies faster, because it changes from patient to patient. Breast cancer and gender dysphoria are both potentially fatal and both are dramatically improved with surgery. That should be enough to warrant both being funded.

It wreaks of emotional blackmail to equate someone taking their own life with someone having their life taken by cancer.

Suicidal ideation is not something people choose. It is a potentially fatal illness that takes people bo matter how satisfied you believe they should be. My dad died of cancer three years ago. The NHS shouldn’t choose who lives or dies, they should try to help everyone.

I have depression and social anxiety. I’ve considered suicide in the past. But why am I alive? Because I chose not to take my life. My friends Nan has a bone disease that has left her wheelchair bound. This is something that she didn’t choose. It’s that simple.

A couple years ago I was pretty up to date on the literature around gender-affirming procedures for people with dysphoria, maybe things have changed, but can you point me to studies that say surgery reduces long-term suicidal tendencies or increases mental well being? Idk of any.

Yes! Check out studies by Stonewall (there’s more than the one), the Williams Institute (backed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), Washington University and recommendations by the Care ad Quality Commission at our own NHS. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/AFSP-Williams-Suicide-Report-Final.pdf …

A lot of studies in the UK (one by Stonewall) have been criticised for their smaller sample sizes, but this is largely due to lengthy questionnaires filled with medical jargon, that rely on respondents knowing a is study happening and filling them out. I hope this changes soon.

Thanks for the responses! I'll try to get through this today at some point.

I've had cancer. If you don't get treatment you die. Definitely. If you are trans and your surgery is delayed there is a 'chance' you will die by taking your own life. The NHS has to look at the risk levels. Let's put the blame where it really lies - The Tories.

There should not be a choice to be made between two types of patients with a high mortality rate.

no there shouldn't. In a decently funded, well run NHS these decisions should never have to be made but unfortunately as things stand under the Tories these decisions get made every day and the decisions are tough and often do come down to statistical analysis of risk.

If you understand that the cuts are bad and the tories are bad, why are you willing to accept it when those cuts effect trans people? If it were another kind of surgery, or another minority distressed by these cuts, would you be so critical?

I'm not sure what I'm meant to be 'accepting' I don't have a say in how the NHS chooses who to prioratise and I certainly didn't vote Tory. I just said I understand the probable reasoning behind the decision.

I’m not willing to accept these cuts, so I’m organising a protest with a specific goal to stand up for the people in my community. You seem to agree the cuts are wrong, that the care of one patient should not put another in jeopardy. So why exactly are you criticising the demo?

that's the first mention of a demo I've seen.... *checks thread above* yup...first mention of a demo

The name of the demo is #WontDieWaiting, have a look