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.
Women in the Rodney region, north of Auckland, will now have easier access to breast screening and more choice, thanks to a new digital mobile breast screening unit now operating in the area.
BreastScreen Waitemata Northland, screens about 35,500 women a year and the new mobile unit will operate from up to six sites throughout Rodney, replacing fixed breast screening sites in Orewa and Warkworth.
BCAC welcomes new reports which show that nearly 41,500 more women aged 50 to 69 have taken part in the Government’s free breast cancer screening programme in the 24 months to December 2010 than in the previous period.
The percentage of Maori and Pasifika women having breast screening has had the greatest increase, with a further 5486 Maori women and 2898 Pasifika women taking part in the programme over the 24 month period to December 2010.
Writing about our lives in a creative way offers a valuable means of expression.
The words written by someone who has ‘been there too’ can comfort and reassure others who are going through the same experience.
BCAC supported the visit of the ASB Visiting Professor Annette Stanton in March 2011 when she presented a public lecture entitled "Survivorship in Breast Cancer What helps and hinders women?".
Following her trip to the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in December 2010, BCAC committee member Rowena Mortimer is convinced of the value of the associated advocacy programme.
This year the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) combined its 2010 Annual Scientific meeting with COSA (Clinical Oncological Society of Australia) in early November in Melbourne, Australia.
Libby Burgess, BCAC chair, attended this conference as a member of IMPACT, the programme for Improving Participation and Advocacy for Clinical Trials associated with ANZ BCTG’s Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP).
BCAC Deputy Chair Chris Walsh and committee member Sue Ellis attended a day forum in Wellington in December organised by the Cancer Society and Central Cancer Network.
Titled ‘Survivorship – from discharge through follow up and beyond’ it attracted about 90 health professionals and survivors from around New Zealand.
Chris made the following observations:
The deeper researchers dive into the genetics of breast cancer, the more complicated their discoveries. And the latest, and deepest, dive is no exception.
The SOLE trial, involving 4,800 women worldwide, aims to determine whether taking the hormonal drug letrozole for a prolonged period helps to prevent or delay breast cancer recurring.
New Zealand women are invited to participate in the LATER study, which looks at whether a particular drug can prevent breast cancer from recurring.
More than 1,700 post-menopausal women who have been treated with hormonal therapy for more than four years are invited to take part in this clinical trial run by the Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG).