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We had a fabulous opportunity to look back at everything we have achieved this year at our AGM in Auckland recently. A wonderful group of women came together from different parts of the country to share their perspectives and discuss the opportunities ahead.
Our chairperson Libby Burgess gave an update on all that has been achieved by BCAC this year – and it’s a lot. Work has included seeking funding for new medicines, making applications for medicines, meeting decision makers to push for positive change and working to finalise a new 4th edition of BCAC’s Step by Step support pack.
Medicines applications
Three people who are fighting to have important medicines funded for women with advanced breast cancer appeared before Parliament’s Health Select Committee hearing on 4 December to strongly put their case.
Terre Nicholson, Wiki Malton Mulholland and Malcolm Mulholland were all leaders in a march to Parliament in October, and did a magnificent job on 4 December explaining the urgent need for action. A number of Metavivors attended the hearing in support while others watched online.
To see media coverage of the hearing, and watch the hearing itself, see links at the end of this article.
It was amazing to see so many wonderful, inspiring women march to Parliament recently to present petitions calling for funding of important medicines for advanced breast cancer. The women were joined by their whānau, family, friends and supporters on 16 October, carrying banners with strong messages and sharing powerful stories.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition chairwoman Libby Burgess says: “It was such an amazing turnout of women from all over New Zealand who need these vital medicines. These passionate and inspiring Metavivors were there representing not only themselves but many other women, including some who had already passed away and some who were too unwell to attend the event.”
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition media release, 16 October 2018
Women marching to Parliament today, to present two petitions calling for Government funding of vital medicines, have 100% support from a coalition representing more than 30 breast cancer organisations.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) chair Libby Burgess says people should not have to go to politicians begging for their lives. “It’s tragic that our vulnerable women have to march on Parliament to call for access to treatments that they would get as a matter of course in other developed countries. All people in New Zealand should have the medicines they need,” she says.
We note that PHARMAC reported in June 2017 that the special $3.2 million fund they set up in 2007 to fund the SOLD Herceptin trial to see if 9 weeks of Herceptin could be as effective as 12 months, still had a balance of $319,000 unspent. They noted that recruitment was complete and that ‘future payments relate to publication and administration costs’.
Women with breast cancer, their family, whanau and supporters are marching to Parliament on 16 October to present petitions to MPs – calling for the funding of breakthrough advanced breast cancer medicines Ibrance and Kadcyla.
The women and their supporters are joining together in numbers to make their voices heard. The Ibrance petition has more than 29,000 signatures and is still gaining support. It calls on the Minister of Health Hon Dr David Clark and PHARMAC to work together with the petition signatories to fund the medicine. The Kadcyla petition has over 1,500 signatures and also asks for Dr Clark and PHARMAC to fund this life-extending medicine.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition media release, 7 September 2018
New Zealand needs to stop treating people with advanced breast cancer as second class citizens, Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) says.
The coalition of more than 30 breast cancer-related group says a report out today by the Breast Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (BCFNZ) reveals the shockingly high mortality rates for New Zealand women compared to other comparable countries.
The Government must increase funding for medicines desperately needed by people with breast cancer and other cancers, Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) says.
“Women with breast cancer are going overseas, selling the family home and going into significant debt to get access to the medicines they need. A lot of women don’t have that option. This means if you have money or the ability to fundraise, you have a longer healthier life. That is a terrible inequity in our society today,” BCAC Chair Libby Burgess says.
Women with breast cancer of all types are denied access to medicines that are well proven in saving lives and giving women better quality of life to spend time with their families, do their jobs and engage with communities.
Watch this powerful video of people with breast cancer explaining why they desperately need access to medicines that are currently unfunded in NZ - to stay alive and get more time with their families: Click here to watch: What price do you put on life?
Please write to the Minister of Health and the Prime Minister asking them to fund the medicines New Zealanders desperately need- email: d.clark@ministers.govt.nz and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - email: j.ardern@ministers.govt.nz
A wealth of knowledge has been brought back to New Zealand by two Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition representatives following the Breast Cancer Trials Australia New Zealand annual scientific meeting in Australia.
Committee members Louise Malone and Fay Sowerby attended to gather the latest intelligence to contribute to BCAC’s work supporting, informing and representing women with breast cancer.
Louise says it was impressive to see the huge amount of research underway and the big advances in understanding of breast cancer.
A key out-take from the meeting is the growing awareness of the complexity of breast cancer and how to best manage the different types of cancer.
