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There's growing concern about breast cancer survivors being mistreated during security screening at Australian airports.
Breast Cancer Network Australia has been contacted by more than ten women who were distressed about their treatment this year, but the true number is believed to be much higher.
Some women who had undergone a mastectomy were asked to remove their prosthesis.
The advocacy group is now calling on all airports to train their staff about how to sensitively screen survivors after Canberra Airport implemented training last month.
Full body scanners pick up items worn under clothing, such as prosthesis, which then triggers the need for a secondary screening.
The organisation says airport staff should not remove any prosthesis and only pat down a person over their clothes in a private area by someone of the same gender.
Breast cancer survivor Sue was very distressed when she was patted down in public and asked to remove her prosthesis while travelling between Perth and Melbourne in October.
"Although the staff were not blatantly rude, they seemed to lack sensitivity and compassion to my situation," she said.
"It took me by surprise, and I didn't know I could ask to be patted down in a private room, and they didn't offer."
