Statistics
The following information is taken from NZ Ministry of Health records

• 2500 New Zealand women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men.
• Over 700 New Zealand women - two every day - are predicted to die as a result of breast cancer in 2006.
• Māori women have a higher incidence of the disease than non-Maori women, particularly in the under 40 age group and are 72% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Maori.
  

• Treatment involves surgery and some or all of the following: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and other targeted therapy. Breast cancer may be confined to the breast, have spread to lymph nodes near the breast or to other parts of the body (e.g. brain, bones, liver and/or lungs).
• Surgery involves removal of the tumour and often the removal and testing of lymph nodes in the breast region.  The most appropriate combination of treatments is determined by tumour characteristics and the extent of spread.
• Treatment for women with early breast cancer (where cancer has not spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes) aims to kill all remaining cancer cells, prevent recurrence and to cure the cancer.
• Once cancer has spread to other parts of the body (either at diagnosis or as a recurrent cancer), chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and other targeted treatments can extend life.

BCAC Initiatives and Current projects

• National clinical guidelines for breast cancer
• Pharmaceutical treatments for breast cancer
  Submission on PTAC Terms of Reference 20 June 2008
  Submission to PHARMAC on Herceptin funding 9 June 2008
  Tykerb Fact Sheet
  Review of PTAC Appointment Protocol and MOH Meeting Minutes 17 April 2008
  Australian women receive funded Tykerb April 2008
  Herceptin: a Promising Advance in the Treatment of
  Early-stage HER2-positive Breast Cancer September 2007
  Herceptin - How Can I Help?
  Herceptin FAQs
  Herceptin in Early Breast Cancer - ADIS Fact Sheet
  Submission to Pharmac on Herceptin Funding 12 April 2007
  Letter to New Zealanders 18 October 2006
  Response to 60 Minutes Programme, TV3 16 October 2006
  View 60 Minutes breast cancer documentary
  Herceptin Will Save Lives The Press 9 August 2006
  Submission to Health Select Committee re Herceptin Petition 5 April 2006
  Anne Hayden Submission on Herceptin Petitition 5 April 2006
  
  Press Releases:
  PHARMAC continues to disappoint women May 5 2008
  High Court forces PHARMAC to listen on Herceptin April 3 2008
  Biking for Boobs gives thrill at Sky City March 8 2008
  Newly approved drug targets advanced breast cancer February 25 2008
  Herceptin petition sends strong message August 23 2007
  9 weeks Herceptin only a partial subsidy July 1 2007
  Pharmac decision on Herceptin 'unintelligent and reckless' May 3 2007
  It's all about the Money with Pharmac March 20 2007
  Pharmac's 9 Week Trial Offer 'Cheap and Unethical' 15 February 2007
  No more excuses from Pharmac on Herceptin funding 7 January 2007
  PHARMAC Budget Underspending a Crying Shame 12 November 2006
  Cruel Pharmac Decision for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 16 October 2006
  Pharmac Funds Paclitaxel 31 August 2006
  Australian Funding for Herceptin Wins Praise 22 August 2006
  Herceptin Affordable and Safe 16 August 2006
  Breast Cancer Patients Fight on for Herceptin Access 30 July 2006
  PHARMAC Deals Cruel Blow 28 July 2006
  Herceptin Heroes Dismayed by Pharmac Herceptin Decision 28 July 2006
  Herceptin Support from Parliament’s Health Select Committee 15 June 2006
  BCAC Challenges PHARMAC with Updated Herceptin Trial Data 6 June 2006
  Cancer Experts, Patients and Advocates Plead ‘Fund Herceptin Now! 7 April 2006
  Breast Cancer Consumer Advocacy Group Dismayed by PTAC Decision 16 February 2006
  NZ Women With Early Stage Her2 Positive Breast Cancer Face Terrible Choice 3 February 2006
  PHARMAC trades off one patient group for another 13 December 2005

• The BreastScreen Aotearoa programme
  Extended Age Breast Screening Misses Target
• Māori and Pacific breast cancer issues
• Psychosocial support for breast cancer
• Breast physicians
  NZ Medical Council Proposal to Deregister Breast Physicians
  BCAC Condemns Threat to Breast Physicians by Medical Council
  BCAC Submission to NZMC in Support of Breast Physicians
• Breast reconstruction
  Visit our Reconstruction page for latest news
  
• General
  BCAC Congratulates NZ’s First Breast Cancer Research Professor November 8 2007
  Key Issues Arise at Breast Cancer Forum
  Researchers seek cancer survivors to participate in study

Recent Press Releases
Press Releases

BCAC Updates
BCAC Member Update Apr/May 2008 (pdf)
BCAC Member Update Feb/Mar 2008
BCAC Member Update Oct/Nov 2007
BCAC Member Update Jun/July 2007
BCAC Member Update Apr/May 2007
BCAC Member Update Feb/Mar 2007
BCAC Member Update Dec/Jan 2007