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.
Check out all the latest news from the Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust in their February newsletter.
26 February 2018
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is supporting World Cancer Day today (February 4) and its focus on what each of us can to do help reduce the global burden of cancer.
This year’s campaign has a tagline of “I can. We can” and aims to encourage people to take action to save lives, improve equity in cancer care, and make fighting cancer a political priority.
Women in Auckland who have received treatment for early stage breast cancer are needed for a trial investigating whether a Mediterranean diet improves health outcomes.
The trial is the first of its kind in New Zealand and is run by the Department of Nutrition at the University of Auckland.
Observing how well-trained and engaged patient advocates are in the US was inspiring for BCAC Committee member Melissa Bell who attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in the US in December 2015.
For children coping with losing a special person in their lives, they often lack the opportunity or knowledge to express how they are feeling. Kenzie’s Gift’s latest “Memories are Forever” packs have been designed to help and support bereaved children and their families so that they do not have to grieve alone.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is urging more women to participate in the free breast screening programme after a review found that it saves lives.
The University of New South Wales review of BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) reveals that women who have been screened are a third less likely to die from breast cancer.
BCAC chairperson Libby Burgess, says the results highlight the true value of the free breast screening programme for women aged 45 to 69.
More than 2 years have passed since Jessica Weller received her breast cancer diagnosis and she is grateful she made the decision to stay and be treated in the UK.
Jess was 12,000 miles from home and living in London when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer at age 27. “I had just got back from a trip to Croatia when I noticed a constant pain in both breasts. It was so painful, I couldn’t even touch them.”
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is calling for urgent action following three recent studies which highlight inequalities in access to screening and treatment for Māori women with breast cancer.
The three studies, all published this year, show that Māori women have higher rates of advanced cancer; experience longer delays in getting surgical treatment; and have lower rates of breast cancer screening.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition has dismissed Pharmac’s claims that cancer medicines funded in Australia but not New Zealand lack “meaningful” health gains.
The charity notes at least six breast cancer medicines that have significant health benefits for women with breast cancer that are funded in Australia, but not in New Zealand: Kadcyla, Perjeta, Abraxane, Faslodex, Afinitor, and Halaven.
The first-ever New Zealand forum dedicated to expanding knowledge about advanced breast cancer takes place in Auckland this week.
The Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Forum aims to provide “knowledge, support and empowerment” to those who have been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, also known as secondary or metastatic breast cancer.