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Speaking with other women who have breast cancer can be a great support as you go through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Now, you can now connect with others who have had breast cancer on the BCAC website – thanks to a joint initiative between BCAC and the Cancer Society of New Zealand.
The breast cancer thread of the Society’s internet forum, CancerChat, can now be accessed on the BCAC site.
BCAC committee member, Gillian Wintrup, says the forum means that no matter where you are in New Zealand, you can connect with other women who have breast cancer.
I am 54 years old and six years ago when I was doing a breast self examination , I realised that something had changed in my right breast.
It had always been “harder” than the left but I had that checked years before. However, for the last few years, my GP had flagged the upper part of my right breast as an area to ultrasound after my mammogram.
I had started having mammograms at 45 paying for them myself as I had large breasts. However, mammograms and ultrasounds were always clear.
SNAC-2 is a trial comparing two operations for detecting cancer cells in the lymph nodes of women with early breast cancer.
The two operations are:
- axillary clearance
- sentinel node biopsy.
You can find out more about these two techniques on our surgery page.
The status of the axillary or armpit lymph nodes remains the most important indicator of outcome for women with breast cancer and helps predict the need for further treatment (e.g. chemo or radiotherapy).
Women aged 40 years and over who have had surgery for early stage invasive breast cancer are invited to take part in this research study, called RAPID.
Research has shown that breast conserving surgery (removing part of the breast) followed by radiation treatment is as effective as mastectomy (removing the entire breast).
Radiation treatment after surgery improves the chances of not developing further cancer in the affected breast.
In an effort to improve the convenience and the quality of life of patients who receive breast radiation, researchers have looked at shorter radiation schedules. The RAPID study compares two different schedules of radiation treatment.
The shock of a new diagnosis; the challenge of treatment; and the relief of survival make for powerful viewing in a new series of web videos exploring Kiwi experiences of breast cancer.
Kiwi Stories of Breast Cancer has been produced by the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and features 15 women and men talking candidly about diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer. You can view their stories here.
BCAC deputy chair, Dr. Chris Walsh, says the web videos are a first - giving New Zealanders the opportunity to see and hear the breast cancer stories of fellow Kiwis at the click of a mouse.
Cancer patients are being urged to get their free seasonal influenza
vaccination before the Government’s subsidised campaign ends on July 31.
Health officials from the National Influenza Strategy Group (NISG) say that many
vulnerable people are still not protected from this serious disease.
NISG spokesperson and virologist, Dr Lance Jennings says it is particularly important
for a large percentage of people to be vaccinated this year to minimise the spread of
influenza, including the pandemic HINI 09 (swine flu) which is still in circulation, H3N2
and B viruses.
Dr Jennings says the usual peak for influenza is in July and August.
“Although we’ve had a quiet season so far, the situation could change very quickly
28 June 2011
In early May BCAC re-launched their website following several months of research, writing and development. The new website is a comprehensive resource supplying detailed information about breast cancer - the most common form of cancer to affect New Zealand women.
As well as explaining who and what BCAC does, the website provides information about the early detection of breast cancer, the diagnosis and treatment of the disease and support if you have been diagnosed.
Breast cancer survivor and director of a breast prosthesis importing company, Mary McAvoy, tells us what we need to know about breast prostheses.
A diagnosis of breast cancer arrives with an overcoat of confusion. Processing information, dealing with health professionals at the same time as prioritising emotions both of oneself and of others close is an unimaginable and unique process.
It begins with a threat to immortality and your being as a woman and in the quest for knowledge, words, explanations and well meaning support it is natural to feel anxious and alone. ”No one can truly understand how I feel” and the truth is that they cannot.
Three Maori women have broken their silence and shared their personal stories of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery in the hope that they can encourage more Maori women to go for breast screening which could save their lives.
The ‘Women to Women’ DVD was launched at Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae (Auckland Airport Marae) in April.
The DVD was developed by the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) with the support of Tainui Mapo and Maori health promoters in Manukau and is titled ‘Women to Women: Our Ups and Downs’ (Wahine kit e wahine Nga Piki Nga Heke).
“Welcome to my Blog. My name is Susan and I am going to write about my first chemotherapy experience with Taxol.”
When Sweet Louise Member ‘Susan’ approached Support Coordinator Sinda Hall to see if Sweet Louise would host her blog on the website, the answer was a resounding ‘Yes!’
“We were very keen to feature Susan’s blog,” said Sinda. “Her personal story, shared with helpful tips and told with irrepressible humour, is a fantastic resource not only for Sweet Louise members but for all women with a breast cancer diagnosis.”
