Key Issues Arise At Breast Cancer Forum

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) held its second Forum at the University of Auckland Tamaki Campus on Saturday June 10th. The theme for the Forum was, ‘Awareness, Advocacy, Action’.

Over 40 delegates representing thirteen breast cancer related organisations attended the all day Forum to consider national progress and determine new issues for advocacy.

‘The aim of our Forum was to update members on our progress and to collectively decide on our future priority issues,’ said Libby Burgess, Chair of BCAC.       

Keynote speaker, Lyn Swinburne, CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia, said BCAC had the right balance of ‘head and heart’ and congratulated the group on 18 months of effective and credible advocacy.

The BCAC advocacy agenda for 2006/7 will include three existing initiatives: improve access to drugs for breast cancer treatment; support the development of best practice guidelines in New Zealand for the treatment of breast cancer; support the national breast screening programme. Two more have been added: support the improvement and development of psychosocial services within the public health system for women with breast cancer and their families; and to network and identify advocacy targets to improve the rate of diagnosis and treatment for Maori and Pacific Island women with breast cancer.

The Forum was opened by MP Maryan Street, with a mihi and welcome given by Ngati Whatua o Orakei kaumatua Grant Hawke. Speakers at the Forum included breast surgeon Mrs Belinda Scott, Auckland oncologist Richard Sullivan, Australian oncologist Nicole McCarthy, and Pru Etcheverry, Executive Director of the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand.