BCAC this week met with the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, to discuss improvements needed to the health system to ensure women with breast cancer get optimal treatment.
BCAC chair, Libby Burgess, says Mr Ryall was receptive to the issues raised and appears genuinely committed to improving cancer care as is demonstrated by the ‘faster cancer treatment’ initiatives designed to speed up radiotherapy and chemotherapy waiting times.
A revolutionary new radiation therapy technique is now available in New Zealand meaning some women with early breast cancer can have a single radiation treatment rather than weeks of therapy.
BRA-Day, Wednesday October 16, 2013
Who can have breast reconstruction?
When should I have it?
What kind of surgery is right for me?
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is delighted to announce they are teaming up with Storage King NZ during October 2013 to help support New Zealanders with breast cancer.
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer it is not only she who embarks on an unexpected and unwelcome journey – her partner will also inevitably experience their own challenging cancer journey.
During 2013 Breast Cancer Support (BCS) established a support group in Auckland for younger women. The group is for women aged 20 - 45 years who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. All are welcome and there is much fun, laughter and open sharing of experiences about what it's really like to be a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Louise Perkins Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Austin to the position of CEO of Sweet Louise, the Foundation's charitable arm providing support and services to New Zealand women and men living with secondary breast cancer.
It is with great sadness that BCAC farewells and pays tribute to Mangalika Mendis, one of the tremendously brave women who fought for full access to the breast cancer drug Herceptin.
Sadly, Mangalika died in Australia in July 2013, leaving behind her husband Ruchitha and daughter Medhavie.
BCAC chair, Libby Burgess, says Mangalika was a special person who fought hard to see New Zealand women receive a fully-funded treatment programme of 12 months of Herceptin.
It has been very exciting to track down Dr Elizabeth Iorns – a scientist who is conducting ground-breaking experiments in America to reduce the genetic transmission of BRCA – and realise that she grew up in New Zealand!
This international early phase clinical trial, known as the FERGI trial, is testing a new oral chemotherapy drug called a PI3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. These drugs inhibit a protein called “PI3-kinase” that may be involved in the growth and spread of some cancers. This research examines the use of a PI3K inhibitor in combination with the hormonal treatment fulvestrant (given as an intramuscular injection).