Breast Cancer in New Zealand
Breast cancer touches many New Zealand families, with more than 2,500 women being diagnosed with the disease every year. Below, you'll find the following information about breast cancer:

• Statistics
• Treatment
• Screening
• Psychosocial support
• breast reconstruction
• breast cancer in Maori and Pacific women
• The use of thermography as a breast screening tool
• inflammatory breast cancer
• breast cancer research
• current BCAC projects and initiatives
• BCAC updates

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

• Over 2500 New Zealand women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men.
• 647 New Zealand women died of breast cancer in 2005. This figure may increase to over 700 in 2009 - almost two women every day.
• 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.

Screening
Breast screening is an important tool in the early detection of breast cancer. Find out more about New Zealand's breast screen programme here.

Psychosocial support for breast cancer patients
BCAC believes that it's very important to the address the emotional and social aspects of breast cancer, which are overlooked for many women. Counselling and support may be needed to help women cope. If you'd like to find out what's available, see our page detailing the psychosocial support available to women with breast cancer in New Zealand.

Breast reconstruction
For information on reconstruction options and support, visit our reconstruction page.

Breast cancer in Maori and Pacific women
Maori and Pacific women have higher rates of breast cancer than their pakeha/European sisters. Check out our page examining breast cancer issues for Maori and Pacific women.

The use of thermography as a breast screening tool
BCAC agrees with and supports the conclusion reached by the National Screening Unit, the Cancer Society of New Zealand and The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of thermography as a breast cancer screening tool or breast cancer diagnostic tool. Click here to read more.

Inflammatory breast cancer
To information on this click here or go to www.ibcresearch.org or www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/IBC

Breast cancer research
Research into breast cancer through clinical trials and other projects is important to help improve breast cancer detection, treatment and care. BCAC provides information on:

• clinical trials currently underway in New Zealand
• New Zealand research projects designed to improve the lives of those with cancer
• International breast cancer research

Current BCAC Initiatives and Projects

• BCAC response to review of access to high cost, highly specialised medicines in New Zealand February 2010
• Briefing on breast cancer issues for the Health Minister, Tony Ryall June 2009
• 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 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
  
  

BCAC Updates
You can get more information about BCAC activities and projects by reading our quarterly newsletter.
BCAC Member Update April 2010 (PDF)

BCAC Member Update December 2009 (PDF)

BCAC Member Update September 2009 (PDF)
BCAC Member Update June 2009 (PDF)
BCAC Member Update March 2009 (PDF)
BCAC Member Update December 2008 (pdf)
BCAC Member Update June/July 2008 (pdf)
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