This election year, BCAC has joined forces with the Breast Cancer Foundation and 15 other patient advocacy organisations to publicise New Zealand’s shockingly poor access to publicly funded medicines. The Forbidden Pharmacy campaign aims to raise public and political awareness of the distressing situation many New Zealanders find themselves in - having to privately fund medicines to improve and extend their lives.
Auckland’s two breast cancer dragon boat teams are joining forces to take on the world at the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Dragon Boat Festival in France August 2026. While fierce competitors on the water during the NZ dragon boating season, both the Pink Dragons and Busting With Life are great mates off the water.
BCAC Chair Libby Burgess has welcomed Minister Seymour’s latest Letter of Expectations for Pharmac, in which he encourages the medicines funder to continue on its path of reform.
As a member of Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group over the last 12 months, Libby witnessed at first hand Pharmac’s efforts to reset its culture and processes.
University of Auckland School of Nursing PhD student Xuanyue Zhang is looking for women to participate in a study looking at wellbeing, coping and support among Chinese immigrant women after breast cancer treatment in New Zealand. Xuanyue’s goal is to learn more about the experiences and needs of these women, so that future recovery and support services can be better tailored to their needs.
The first results from the OPTIMA trial were presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in May.
This trial tested the idea that the results of a specialised laboratory test (Prosigna (PAM50) Assay) of breast tissue could be used to identify people with early ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer who could safely avoid chemotherapy because there is a low risk of the cancer coming back.
Breast Cancer Trials’ free brochure explaining clinical trials and their benefits is now available in nine different languages.
BreastScreen Aotearoa is preparing for the careful introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into mammogram reading. BCAC’s Fay Sowerby explains why AI as a second reader should be seen as a sensible and practical tool, not as a replacement for radiologists or clinical judgement.
Every year about 450 New Zealand women are diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC). Unlike most invasive breast cancers which begin in the milk ducts (ductal), ILC starts in the milk lobules and then spreads to the surrounding tissue. ILC cancer cells grow in single file or in single-cell layers that are harder to detect by touch or on a mammogram than the masses (lumps) that form with ductal breast cancers.
Already well known for their community classes in skincare and beauty to boost confidence after cancer, Look Good Feel Better has a new name, Cancer Support New Zealand, better reflecting the broader practical, non-medical support they now provide.
BCAC advocates Libby Burgess and Fay Sowerby enjoyed the recent Breast InSIGhts conference, an educational and networking event for breast cancer clinicians held in Auckland. The conference is held every two years, aiming to update local clinicians in international best practice treatment and care so this can be offered to NZ patients. There were indeed many insights shared by the local and international expert speakers.
