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FDA Press Release - Feb 11, 2011
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Selenia Dimensions System, the first X-ray mammography device that provides three-dimensional (3-D) images of the breast for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
A mammogram is a safe, low-dose X-ray of the breast that is the best tool for early detection of breast cancer. However, with the limitations of conventional two-dimensional (2-D) imaging, about 10 percent of women undergo additional testing after the initial screening exam for abnormalities that are later determined to be noncancerous.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer to affect New Zealand women, with one in nine of us receiving this diagnosis at some point in our lives. Even so, the causes of this disease are not yet known.
On this page we list the known risks for breast cancer and give an indication of their relative importance. We also look at steps you can take that could lower your chances of getting breast cancer.
Risks
Factors that are known to increase your risk of getting breast cancer are, in order of magnitude:
• Being a woman - some men get breast cancer, but they represent less than 1% of all cases.
• Getting older - 50-year-old women are 10 x more likely to get breast cancer than 30-year-olds.
A diagnosis of breast cancer is a life-changing moment for more than 3000 New Zealand women every year.
If you are one of these women - BCAC and the Step by Step support pack are here to help. Step by Step provides information and resources for women at the difficult time of a breast cancer diagnosis. BCAC’s members know from personal experience that this is the beginning of a challenging journey, and we have developed this pack specifically for New Zealand women.
The information contained in each pack will help you understand your diagnosis, empower you to ask questions of your medical team and so make informed choices about your treatment options.
Each Step by Step pack contains:
Telling family and friends of your diagnosis can be one of the hardest parts of dealing with breast cancer.
Before you start treatment, you will need to decide who will make up your medical team.
Your team of cancer specialists could include:
- a surgeon
- a breast care nurse
- a medical oncologist
- a radiation oncologist
You will probably be referred to a surgeon in the first instance. Make sure you feel comfortable with this person. Things to consider include:
Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can be challenging and frightening.
On these pages, you'll find more information about how to cope with and understand your diagnosis. We hope this will help you to make informed decisions about your treatment programme.
11 August 2008
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) issued the following statement in response to issues raised in the current Herceptin debate:
Media Release from Dr Richard Isaacs, Medical Oncologist, Palmerston North and ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group, Chair Breast Cancer Special Interest Group of the New Zealand Association of Cancer Specialists and Associate Professor Fran Boyle, Medical Oncologist, University of Sydney and ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group.
12 August 2008
01 September 2008
The UICC (International Union Against Cancer) World Cancer Congress held last week in Geneva provided breast cancer advocate Dr Chris Walsh with a platform to present the plight of NZ women needing Herceptin to the international oncology community.
Dr Walsh explained that the NZ drug funding agency PHARMAC considers 9 weeks Herceptin good enough and refuses to fund the international standard 12 months. She told delegates that New Zealand women diagnosed with early stage HER2 positive breast cancer are mortgaging their homes to pay for Herceptin.
October 23, 2008
John Key’s announcement today that a National-led government will fund 12 months of Herceptin could bring immeasurable relief to women and their families affected by early stage HER2 positive breast cancer.
The National health policy has brought new hope to Herceptin campaigners who have battled PHARMAC with petitions and legal proceedings in unsuccessful attempts to overturn the current situation of funding for only 9 weeks of treatment. Twelve months of Herceptin is the current standard treatment publicly funded for women in 33 other countries.
