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We Support

We provide a wide range of support and information to New Zealanders and their families who are experiencing breast cancer.

We Inform

We provide up to date information to empower those with breast cancer to make informed choices about their treatment and care.

We Represent

We provide a voice for those with breast cancer to ensure world-class detection, treatment and care is available in New Zealand.

Latest News

My Life Matters campaign launch

Breast cancer was well represented at this morning’s launch of the My Life Matters campaign. Twenty patient advocate organisations turned up representing over 1 million NZ patients needing unfunded medicines. With the tagline ‘You are one diagnosis away from moving to Australia’, the campaign is a call to action that aims to raise awareness, promote policy changes and engage politicians to ensure there is equitable access to essential medicines for all kiwis. The campaign will hold a series of events throughout the country over the next few weeks.

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Treating advanced breast cancer in New Zealand – do we match other countries?

BCAC Committee Member, Metavivor and medical writer Marion Barnett recently reviewed all the latest information on the treatment of advanced breast cancer in New Zealand and overseas. Marion has written an excellent article describing our current situation for each sub-type, including which treatments are recommended internationally and which are available here. Unfortunately, New Zealand is still a long way from providing the standards of care recommended in international guidelines and currently available in many other countries. Access to modern medicines to treat advanced breast cancer remains alarmingly restricted for kiwi women, and this is reflected in our poor survival statistics.

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Gold nanoparticles could make chemo work better

Researchers have engineered gold nanoparticles to target blood vessels in tumours and make them leaky so that chemotherapy drugs can get in and do their work more easily. Tumours have their own blood supply and it is already known that these blood vessels behave differently from those in normal tissue. 

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Do you have a birthday coming up?

If you do, and you don’t really need any more stuff, why not set up a Gift Registry with The Good Registry? That means your family and friends can celebrate your big day without fuss and you can all support BCAC at the same time. It’s easy to do – here’s how:

Step 1: Head to thegoodregistry.com. Click the button for Registries.

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Understanding DCIS better: gene study looking for predictors of progression

New research, examining genes in tissue samples from women with DCIS, has identified a set of genes which could be used as markers to predict if the DCIS will progress to invasive cancer or not. 

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Losing weight to help prevent breast cancer recurrence: positive results from a telephone-based weight loss program

Women with obesity when diagnosed with early breast cancer have a higher risk of recurrence or a second cancer compared with women whose weight is in the normal range, but losing weight after a diagnosis can be difficult.

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Ribociclib effective for treating early breast cancer too

Ribociclib (Kisqali) is already used to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) breast cancer. Now new research has shown it can also reduce the risk of recurrence when used in early breast cancer. 

Ribociclib is known to improve survival when given to people with advanced HR-positive breast cancer. It belongs to a group of medicines called CDK 4/6 inhibitors; palbociclib (Ibrance, which is funded in New Zealand) and abemaciclib (Verzenio) are others in this group. 

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Pharmac Herceptin switch to Herzuma safe but too little too late

BCAC is confident that Pharmac’s switch of breast cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) to Herzuma, a biosimilar version, will be safe and effective, but we wonder why it took so long to fund this cheaper alternative. BCAC is also disappointed that access has not been extended to those who need retreatment in advanced breast cancer. 

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Fun fitness event raises awareness

Jess Coate (Ngapuhi), fitness instructor and bodybuilding pro, organised a hugely successful fun fitness and learning event for BCAC, attended by 80 women in Kirikiriroa Hamilton recently. Jess teamed up with BCAC to raise awareness of the danger breast cancer poses to young women. Watch this awesome video of the event with some vital messages!

Jess’ best friend, BCAC’s Deputy Chair Emma Crowley, was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 24. Jess’ cousin was diagnosed at 35 and her grandma at 82, so she’s well aware that breast cancer can affect you at any age.

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Local research tackles post-chemo nausea

While drugs given during chemotherapy can help to combat nausea, more than half of patients also suffer from delayed nausea and vomiting. This kicks in after chemo has finished and can last for days. Some oncologists had reported that pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor which reduces stomach acid, was helpful for these patients. However, others were not convinced.

A recently completed New Zealand-based clinical trial (called PantoCIN) has provided proof that this treatment has benefits.

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Upcoming events

Dr Jo Prendergast - Cancer and Cartwheels
24 May, 2025 - 4:30PM

Q Theatre Loft, 305 Queen St, Auckland.

Dr Jo has boobs behaving badly! Laugh through the tough stuff with an hilarious night of meaningful comedy! A light-hearted show about Dr Jo’s victory over cancer and her cartwheeling ability. Illness, menopause and aging! A comedy show about coping with change. 

"A cracker of a show with an important message" - Glam Adelaide

"A… Read more


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About Us

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) provides a united voice for NZ women who are experiencing breast cancer. We support, inform and represent those with breast cancer so they can make informed choices about their treatment and care. Formed in 2004, BCAC is a registered charity run by breast cancer survivors. If you would like to join us to help improve breast cancer treatment and care in Aotearoa, New Zealand please email us to find out more. 

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