Breast Cancer Support Inc. (BCS)

PO Box 90854, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142

Phone Marie (09) 835 1890 or Nola (09) 834 0208

Email Marie Goudge

Who We Are
What We Do
News and Events
Weekend Training Course May 5 & 6 2007

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
C.S. Lewis

Who We Are
The objectives of Breast Cancer Support Inc. (BCS) are to provide emotional support and encouragement to women diagnosed with breast cancer. BCS is a non-profit, Incorporated Society.

This type of support service was first established in Auckland in the early 1970s and became known as 'The Mastectomy Association Incorporated'. The organisation then became known as 'The Breast Cancer Support Service Incorporated' and was closely associated with the Cancer Society for many years.

Now known simply as Breast Cancer Support Inc, BCS is a voluntary organization offering support for women who have experienced breast cancer. BCS women have had breast cancer themselves and offer either one to one contact, or group support.  Women diagnosed with breast cancer can speak to someone who has had a similar breast cancer journey. The contact may be a friendly telephone call, a chat over a cup of coffee or a visit to home or hospital.

Some women prefer to meet in a group situation. BCS has seven Support Groups (Breast Friends) that meet monthly around Auckland for support, encouragement, information and friendship. Meetings are held at Red Beach, Takapuna, Henderson, Central Auckland, Pakuranga, Papakura and Pukekohe. A guest speaker may be invited (who may or may not have breast cancer as a focus) or the group may choose a more social format (shared hobbies, travel etc)

The BCS women demonstrate hope. They are well women leading full lives, two, five, ten or twenty years after encountering breast cancer. Many women survive their experience with breast cancer and go on to live long, fulfilling lives. Newly diagnosed women need to know this.

The women from BCS are not medically trained but they have learned to listen without judging or imposing their views. They know that everyone’s journey is unique, that each woman will have individual concerns and varying times for both their physical and emotional recovery.  BCS women can advise on a wide variety of support available from organizations that offer services such as aromatherapy, counseling, exercise, advocacy, exercise programmes and information on breast cancer. 

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and would like to talk to someone who has had a similar experience then we encourage you to contact the women from Breast Cancer Support.

You are not alone. The women of Breast Cancer Support have been there too. Please contact us.

What We Do
The purposes of the Society are to:

1. Provide opportunities for those diagnosed with breast cancer and those who support them to speak with someone who has experienced breast cancer and had a positive outcome.

2. Provide opportunities for women with a present or past diagnosis of breast cancer to meet in a group setting for mutual support.

3. Provide information about health and support services related to breast cancer.

4. Provide speakers on the survivor's experience and BCS services.

5. Network and collaborate with other people and organisations concerned with issues affecting those diagnosed with breast cancer.

6. Do anything necessary or helpful to the above purposes, or provide other forms of support consistent with the charitable ojcets of the Society.

BCS News and Events
BCS Weekend Training Programme May 5 and 6 2007

Breast Cancer Support Inc (BCS) held a two day training programme for their volunteer group facilitators and telephone support people on Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6 at the Auckland Cancer Society. The programme aimed to provide the volunteers with helpful skills enabling them to give emotional and practical support to women affected by breast cancer.Techniques covered in the course were based upon a one to one contact scenario between a BCS volunteer who has had breast cancer and another woman who has requested support.

BCS had not hosted a comprehensive training course for some time so the two-day programme was intended as a pilot. Feedback from participants and tutors alike was actively encouraged and will be used to help shape future courses. BCS course organiser, Joan Kerr (pictured with Marie Goudge on right), said the main objective of the two day course was to 'establish an excellent benchmark for the future' by providing an effective model for further training programmes.

A Resource Book was developed by Joan for all participants. Intended as a useful reference for volunteers, the book lists information on many topics including types of breast cancer with a general glossary of terms, active and supportive listening techniques, NZ breast cancer organisations and other resource information and helpful hints.

Course facilitator Sandra Newitt (pictured) has a special interest in effective communication. She guided the participants through the programme with empathy and understanding, demonstrating active listening skills and conducting role play scenarios for providing face to face support. Life Line Supervisor Joan James facilitated role plays based upon telephone interaction, touching upon such topics as telephone etiquette, active listening and response, coping with calls and learning how to keep yourself safe.

Breast care nurse Marilyn Bellingham spoke about the breast cancer journey and the role the breast nurse can play in helping women through it.

BCS wishes to thank the ladies from the Breast Cancer Network (BCN) Inc who came both days to prepare morning and afternoon teas and lunch.

The weekend, whilst intensive, was a great success and participants felt well informed, upskilled and prepared to offer their support to other women coping with breast cancer.

Course participants L to R: Christine Rule, Jennifer Terry, Marguerite Riddell,
Jane Bissell

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