BCAC stressed the importance of including breast cancer in the Ministry of Health’s new Women’s Health Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand (read our submission here). We identified three key issues: 1. Modernising the current breast cancer screening programme, 2. Ensuring greater access to new medicines, and 3.  Increasing precision by using modern gene-based techniques to improve detection, diagnosis and treatment. Read more here.

BCAC is alarmed by Pharmac’s proposal to review a rule that currently allows children with cancer to have free access to unfunded medicines. Pharmac’s reasoning is that by restricting this access, it would bring treatments for child cancers into line with those for other children’s diseases, where medicines access is limited. Read BCAC’s submission here. Read more here.

BCAC has grave concerns about the Therapeutic Products Bill and has written a submission to the Health Select Committee. Enactment of the Bill could result in adverse consequences for all diagnosed with breast cancer in Aotearoa, as well as many other New Zealanders with various health conditions. As currently worded, the Bill would prevent cancer patients from importing medicines for their own use, would extend the definition of ‘advertising’ so that even sharing of information on medicines by patient advocates would be prohibited, and would impose new restrictions on patients’ ability to participate in clinical trials. Read BCAC’s submission here and more on this topic here.

BCAC is aware that the breast cancer experience presents some unique challenges for LGBTQI+ people. We were pleased to see that the Cancer Council of New South Wales has produced a new online resource to help. You can read more here.

Precision health and precision medicine present huge opportunities for improvements in breast cancer care. BCAC’s Fay Sowerby has written a comprehensive submission to the Ministry of Health on this topic. Fay says that we are on the cusp of seeing a growing range of new tools to predict breast cancer risk and identify who needs greater surveillance using new technologies. This increased precision will direct tests and treatments to those that need them most, at the time they most need them, and result in significant improvements in both quality of life and survival. Read more here.

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ (BCFNZ) is inviting those who have completed their treatments for early breast cancer to participate in a survey looking at possible long-term side effects of treatment. This is an under-researched area and BCF encourages women to look out and seek help for any long-term side effects they may experience. Read more here and click here to complete the survey.

Otago University PhD student Hui Yee Yao is collaborating with Auckland-based medical oncologist Dr Catherine Han on a research project to provide insights on how New Zealanders diagnosed with breast cancer choose their treatments. Hui Yee is looking for survey participants now. Click here to learn more.

Join Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga Trust in the challenge and clock 100 kilometres in 30 days either on foot, on wheels or in the water this May. Get fit, have fun and raise much needed funds for breast cancer support services across Aotearoa. We would love to have you involved! Join us at www.100ksin30days.nz

You can support the Breast Cancer Research Trust annual appeal by visiting their bucket collection stand at the Chartwell Shopping Centre in Hamilton from Monday 15 May to Friday 19 May 2023 (coinciding with International Clinical Trials’ Day celebrated on the 20th). For more information visit www.breastcancerresearch.org.nz

Join Sweet Louise this May as we walk 50K to raise funds to support Kiwis diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. This 50K walking challenge is designed so you can walk when you want, where you want, and with whoever you want! ! The money raised will help Sweet Louise to continue to provide practical and emotional support to women & men with advanced breast cancer. Simply sign up today, invite your friends, and start walking from May 1.

Breast Cancer Foundation’s very popular annual Pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign kicks off again this May.  By hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast on 25 May you can get together with friends, workmates and whanau, enjoy some yummy food and raise much-needed funds to support BCFNZ’s vital work. All money raised goes to supporting patients, ground-breaking research, and education campaigns to promote the importance of early detection. Head to www.pinkribbonbreakfast.co.nz to register.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based mindfulness training course that can help you deal with the anxiety, emotions and pain of recovering from cancer. Mindfulness Aotearoa's next 8-week MBSR course will be held on Wednesdays 17th May – 5th July; 6.30pm-9pm. Full day of Mindfulness Sat 24th June; Location: Epsom, Auckland; Cost: $650 – special BCAC member discount please write “BCAC” as where you heard about the course on your registration form (full price $725); Visit www.mindfulnessaotearoa.com/mbsr to find out more.

April 2023 has been the culmination of a long-held dream by the Taranaki Pinks who entered both the Nationals and the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Dragon Boating Festival at Lake Karapiro. Read more about their adventures and find out how you can join them here.

Liz Pennington was appointed to the Breast Cancer Support Chair position in early April and is looking forward to working as part of the organisation to enhance and strengthen the support of women with a lived experience of breast cancer. Read more here.