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BCAC is speaking out in support of the thousands of New Zealanders with metastatic breast cancer today: Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Secondary breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, brain or liver. It is incurable.
BCAC chairperson, Libby Burgess, says thousands of women in New Zealand are living with secondary breast cancer and they deserve special recognition and support.
“All of us in BCAC are inspired by the women we meet with secondary breast cancer. They live their lives with enormous courage and face many daily obstacles as they navigate the health system.
The Pinc & Steel Cancer Rehabilitation Trust is delighted to be launching their PaddleOn Programme this summer in Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Taupo and Orewa following the resounding success of the pilot programme.
PaddleOn is a stand up paddle (SUP) rehabilitation programme provided free of charge for women following breast cancer treatment. It is delivered over five weeks by certified Pinc & Steel cancer rehabilitation physiotherapists. PaddleOn has been specifically developed to help women gain strength, improve fitness, find balance and learn the components of stand up paddling in a safe, fun, small group environment.
Go to www.paddleon.co.nz to find out more and register online.
A recent study has found concerns about fertility stop one third of young women with breast cancer from taking tamoxifen despite its known benefit in reducing the risk of breast cancer returning.
The study, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute also found one quarter of women who started taking tamoxifen stopped taking it before the recommended treatment period ended.
Study author Dr Jacqueline Jeruss, said the study revealed the importance of fertility to young breast cancer patients. “We need to find a way to bridge the gap between this patient survivorship goal and our concerns as physicians to facilitate the best treatment possible for our patients.”
A Christchurch teacher is urging women to get regular mammograms after an aggressive breast cancer was picked up during her routine scan just prior to the February 2011 earthquake.
Hannelie Bergmann, 56, spoke out in support of the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition’s (BCAC) 2014 Show Your Heart for Women Living with Breast Cancer fundraising campaign.
The funds raised were to help pay for BCAC’s Step by Step support and information pack which is distributed free-of-charge to the more than 3,300 Kiwi women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
BCAC met with the Ministry of Health’s Cancer Team earlier this month for an update on issues raised in our Ministerial Briefing in March. We were pleased to hear that good progress has been made in breast reconstruction and the provision of fertility services. However, we remain concerned about inadequate funding for new medicines and inconsistencies among DHBs in offering lymphoedema services.
Check out all the news from Sweet Louise in their latest newsletter.
It’s amazing how the paddling season only just seemed to come to an end and the Pink Dragons (Pinkies) are now well and truly thinking about the next one! The coming season will be the 10th Anniversary for our team and we will mark the occasion in 2016 with an end of season party, but first there is a lot of work to be done getting our fitness back on track.
Some of the team have continued paddling throughout the winter with weekly sessions on Sunday mornings and monthly winter regattas to keep their fitness up. Our 2016/17 season will commence with our usual twice weekly trainings at Westhaven Marina in Auckland and, as always, we are looking to recruit new team members.
Over the past 18 months Lou James of the Pinc and Steel Cancer Rehabilitation Trust has been involved in a very rewarding and exciting project developing a stand-up-paddle boarding rehabilitation programme for women after breast cancer treatment - PaddleOn. Fifty-eight women completed the pilot programme last summer and Dr Judith Ansell has written a comprehensive evaluation. A summary of the report is outlined below but to view a full copy go to this link http://www.pincandsteel.com/programs/our-programs/paddleon/stand-up-paddle-research/
Fashion for a Cure - Hamilton
Fashion for a Cure is one of the many ways that Breast Cancer Cure fund research into a cure. The event has been delivered successfully in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch since 2012.
Over the course of the evening guests enjoy cocktail function including wine and canapés, fashion show plus a live auction. The event is hosted by one of their celebrity Ambassadors.
The proceeds from the night go directly towards finding a cure for breast cancer.
Book tickets to their exclusive fashion show and join the fight for a cure.
When: Wednesday 29th July, 6-8 pm
Where: The Atrium, Wintec House, Nisbet Street, Hamilton
Ruta Alo was a kind, quiet and humble person. She believed in tradition and ensured her family knew and upheld cultural practice and values - Fa’a Samoa – the “Samoan way”.
It was these cultural values and her belief in God that would help Ruta through dark times with an 11-year battle with cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Ruta chose to have a partial mastectomy and radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The cancer returned some three years later, she had treatment and continued to live her life.
Sadly in 2014, her cancer returned for a third time and Ruta Alo passed away at home on the 8th June 2014 surrounded by family and loved ones.
