A WOMAN who claims the weight of her boobs will kill her has told of her misery at being refused a breast reduction operation.

Lucy Anderson, 31, was turned down for the op at Basildon Hospital despite suffering a host of medical problems caused by her size 38k breasts.

The mum says her breasts weigh a total of one stone, and have caused her spine to curve, given her rheumatoid arthritis in her ribs, and breathing problems at night, prompting her GP to recommend her for the procedure.

However, despite losing weight as advised by the hospital, she still does not qualify for the operation and believes she is being treated unfairly.

She said: “I have no muscle left in my upper chest. I can’t breathe at night because of the weight and I often pass out because of a lack of oxygen.

“If I wanted a sex change to become a man, I could have them cut off for free on the NHS.

“If I was 18 and I wanted bigger breasts for my self-esteem, they would probably do that too. I’ve seen it on documentaries.

“I am fighting to get them smaller because of medical problems, and I am told no because it’s cosmetic. It doesn’t seem fair.”

Mrs Anderson from Chapel Close, West Thurrock, originally applied for the operation six years ago.

She has managed to get down from 22 stone to 17, taking her BMI down from 54 to 31, but when she went back to the hospital in March, they said her BMI must be 30.

She added: “I am not big because I eat a lot, I am big because I am six foot two inches tall and I have an under-active thyroid.

“Hardly anyone who is my height could get to a BMI of 30 with a thyroid problem, as it actually makes you put on weight.

NHS South West Essex said it could not comment on individual patient cases, but Tom Abell, its acting director of commissioning, said surgery was always a last resort.

He said: “The BMI indicates healthy weight ranges that are in proportion to a patient’s height. For this procedure the upper limit is a BMI of 25.

“Surgery of this type should always be a last resort as it carries a number of risks, such as infection, blood clotting and adverse reactions to a general anaesthetic. These risks, as well as a slower healing process, are increased for patients who are overweight.”