On these pages you can check out the latest breast cancer news from BCAC and our member groups. We also provide up-to-date information and links to current breast cancer research and clinical trials. Read latest stories below, or use the filters or the pager below for other stories. Use the form to the right of this to subscribe to our e-News.
New research has found that estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients who have radiation therapy before surgery are less likely to develop a second primary tumour.
The Moffit Cancer Center research was published in the journal, Breast Cancer Research, and examined the impact of neoadjuvant radiation therapy (radiation before surgery) in early stage breast cancer.
A new study has estimated the ages at which women with BRCA 1 and 2 mutations are most at risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
The UK research found that the highest rates of breast cancer in women with the faulty BRCA1 gene were seen between the ages of 30 to 40. This peak occurred a decade later for those with a faulty BRCA2 gene.
BCAC is pushing for breakthrough breast cancer drug, Kadcyla, to be publicly funded in New Zealand after a “monumental u-turn” in the UK which has seen the drug funded there.
UK authorities had refused to fund the medicine, which is used to treat people with advanced HER2- positive breast cancer, because it was too expensive.
A new study has found that neuropathy or nerve pain brought on by chemotherapy can continue for many years after treatment has finished.
The US study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, followed more than 500 female cancer survivors (75% of whom had been treated for breast cancer).
A new study shows that the number of women living with advanced breast cancer in the USA is growing and BCAC believes the situation is likely to be the same in New Zealand.
The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, also looked at survival rates for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), which is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
New research shows that women taking Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) as part of their breast cancer treatment have a two to four fold increase in bone loss compared to the usual rate associated with menopause.
AIs are often prescribed for women with hormone-receptive breast cancer and work to block the production of oestrogen in post-menopausal women.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) welcomes new funding for the Government’s drug-buying agency, PHARMAC, but warns that it is not enough to make a real difference.
The Government has announced a $60 million increase in funding for PHARMAC over the next four years as part of Vote Health in Budget 2017.
The risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphoedema is associated with a range of factors, not just axillary (armpit) node surgery as is widely believed, a new study reveals.
Lymphoedema is a well-known side effect in women who’ve received treatment for breast cancer. It results in a swelling of the arm and chest area and is often associated with surgery to remove lymph nodes from under the arm.
New guidelines have been published to give breast cancer patients evidence-based advice on the most worthwhile and helpful complementary therapies.
Complementary medicine is intended to be used in conjunction with (not instead of) standard medical cancer treatments and includes techniques such as meditation, acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, support groups, and yoga. Research shows that up to 80 per cent of breast cancer patients use some form of complementary therapy.
The Pink Dragons dragon boat breast cancer survivors’ team celebrated their 10th Anniversary last year with a special Regatta joined by many other dragon boat teams. All the teams dressed up for the ‘Swashbucklers’ themed afternoon but unfortunately the weather had other ideas about the teams getting out on the water to race!
