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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

BreastScreen Aotearoa Programme

BreastScreen Aotearoa is the free national breast screening programme for women aged between 45 and 69.  

You can have a free screening mammogram every two years through BreastScreen Aotearoa if you meet the following requirements:

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Question and Answer

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Stories

On this page you can read about the experiences of other women who have had breast cancer. Feel free to submit your own story to provide hope and inspiration for other women.

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News Article Archives

On this page you'll find older BCAC news articles and press releases.  If you're looking for something specific, please use the search function.

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Newly diagnosed

A diagnosis of breast cancer is a life-changing moment for more than 3000 New Zealand women every year.

If you have just been diagnosed, you will be on an emotional roller coaster and you're probably feeling quite overwhelmed. 

We hope we can help - by helping you to understand breast cancer and providing you with information that will assist you to make the best decisions about your treatment and care. Below you'll find some tips on coping with a new diagnosis. 

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Surgery Side-effects

Unfortunately, side effects are part-and-parcel of any treatment for breast cancer. Be sure to tell your medical team about any side-effects you experience because there are often steps that can be taken to dramatically reduce the impact of these.

Below are some of the more common side-effects associated with breast cancer surgery and some tips on how to deal with them.

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Recovery from surgery

If you’ve had a mastectomy you will probably have spent one to three days in hospital.  If you have had breast reconstruction or complications, your hospital stay is likely to be longer.

Immediately after surgery:

Waking up from a general anaesthetic, you are likely to feel groggy and possibly confused, but this soon wears off. 

You will usually have some numbness in the chest, armpit or upper arm area.  This may be the result of reactive swelling in the surrounding tissue putting pressure on the nerves or nerve damage during surgery.  You may also feel some odd sensations in these areas – burning, tingling, itching etc.  Tell your doctor about any side effects of surgery.

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Thermography

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) does not support the use of thermography as a breast cancer screening or diagnostic tool as we believe there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness. We continue to recommend screening and diagnostic mammograms for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer in New Zealand.

The following detailed information on thermography was presented in the recent position statement jointly written by New Zealand’s National Screening Unit (NSU), the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand, entitled ‘The use of thermography as a breast cancer screening or diagnostic tool’.

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BreastScreen Aotearoa

 BCAC recommends all women aged between 45 and 69 participate in the BreastScreen Aotearoa free screening programme.  Under this programme, you are entitled to a free mammogram every two years. If you are younger than 45 or older than 69 you can ask your doctor to refer you to a private radiologist.  You will have to pay for your mammogram.

BreastScreen Aotearoa  

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MRI

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is able to produce a detailed cross-sectional image of the inside of the body.  It does this using a combination of a magnetic field and radio waves.  There is no radiation involved.
It is most often used:



  • to gather more information about an area of suspicion.  A breast MRI can help to accurately identify the size and number of breast lesions or abnormal areas 

  • for women with a strong family history of breast cancer

  • to monitor for recurrence after treatment for breast cancer.

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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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