Latest News
March 2012
"Selective Use of Postoperative Radiotherapy AftEr MastectOmy (SUPREMO) trial"
A new clinical trial, SUPREMO, has recently opened at Waikato hospital inviting participation from women who have had a mastectomy for breast cancer and may be scheduled to undergo radiotherapy following their surgery.
Radiotherapy treats breast cancer using high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells and the aim of the radiotherapy is to reduce the risk of the tumour coming back. In addition, when given in conjunction with anti-cancer drug treatments, it may also improve long-term survival.
As part of their work around Consumer Engagement, the Health Quality and Safety Commission, is sponsoring 15 people to attend New Zealand’s first health literacy conference. It is being organised by Workbase New Zealand and will be held at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland on Tuesday 1 May 2012.
More information about the health literacy conference is available at: http://www.healthliteracy.org.nz/conference2012/
The Commission is sponsoring attendance for people from each of these categories:
• primary health care – pharmacy and general practice
• mental health
• secondary health care
• aged care
• disability care.
Two courageous women in Waikato are currently turning distressing breast cancer experiences into something positive and beneficial for others who may follow them on a similar journey.
Julie Graham and Marianne Jarvie were strangers until the unwelcome news was broken to each of them, just months apart in 2011, that they had Her2 positive breast cancer. A mutual friend introduced them after discovering they were both dealing with the trauma of this diagnosis and from that moment a lasting friendship has formed.
During 2011 BCAC reported on a research study underway through the University of Auckland designed to look at the psychological impact of fears about cancer recurrence in women who’ve been treated for breast cancer.
The pilot study for this research has now been completed and the main study is well underway. It is being run by doctoral student, Loshni Rogers and she says the response from women has been excellent and many have been happy to share their experiences. One hundred and eight women have been recruited so far and the researchers are looking to recruit a further 22.
1 March 2012
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) expressed some disappointment today at the decision by PHARMAC to fund lapatinib (Tykerb) as an alternative to Herceptin for advanced HER2 positive breast cancer for use as a “first-line” metastatic treatment.
Libby Burgess, chair of BCAC says, “This is a disappointing decision as it will not help the vast majority of patients with advanced HER2 positive breast cancer. The real need for lapatinib is as a “second-line” treatment, to be used after Herceptin, not as an alternative to it.”
Following our feature article about new BCAC member group, Shocking Pink, a group providing information for young women with breast cancer, BCAC committee member, Gillian Wintrup, shares her story. She was just 35 when diagnosed with breast cancer.
BCAC welcomes new figures released by the Government last week (February 10, 2012) that show nearly 40,000 more women aged 50 to 69 have taken part in the Government’s free breast cancer screening programme in the 24 months to October 2011 than in the previous two years.
A total of 344,268 women participated in breast screening through BreastScreen Aotearoa in the two years ending in October 2011, compared with 305,839 women between 2007 and 2009.
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says, "Within the overall increase, the percentage of Māori women and Pacific women taking part on the programme has had the greatest increase. Those numbers increased by 5138 Maori and 3038 Pacific in that time period.
Shocking Pink is a new New Zealand charity dedicated to supporting young women (aged 20-45) through their journey of breast cancer (and out the other side!) and is one of BCAC’s newest member groups.
Shocking Pink was co-founded by Kylie Richardson and Cheryle Robins, who during 2010 were both to embark on something far more unexpected, far more unplanned and far more trying than either of them could have ever imagined. It would be the year they both got the shock of their lives when they discovered their very own boobs were actually ticking time-bombs.
New Zealanders have a good understanding of ‘breast cancer’ thanks to a wealth of information and publicity, but when prefaced by the word ‘secondary’, misunderstanding and fear arise accompanied by hushed comments like ‘terminal’ and ‘lost the battle’.
In response, breast cancer organisations are stepping up to provide more information for the public, as well as targeted services for those diagnosed with secondary breast cancer … and women living with this stage of the disease are making their voices heard too.
The Government announced last week (Jan. 18, 2012) that medical oncology would be added to the cancer waiting time targets from the middle of this year. This means all patients who need chemotherapy treatment should receive treatment within the international gold standard of four weeks.
This announcement came as part of an update to the Government’s six national health targets.
BCAC chair, Libby Burgess says “We are delighted to see the implementation of a four week target for chemotherapy. The announcement gives patients certainty that our health system will deliver timely cancer treatment and it’s reassuring to know that the government is working to ensure that New Zealanders receive world-class cancer care.”
