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Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is tough. It takes a toll on you physically and emotionally, but it can be easy to ignore your emotions or feelings because you're so focused on your physical health.
Please don't ignore your mental health. Women who have experienced breast cancer are at increased risk of depression so it's extremely important to get professional help if you think you might be suffering from depression.
Any combination of the following symptoms can be a sign you have depression:
New Zealand artist, Penny Stotter, is ‘showing her heart’ for women with breast cancer this month with the release of a limited edition ceramic plate featuring a stylised heart.
The printmaker is joining forces with the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and Arnott’s Tim Tam to support the annual Show Your Heart for Women Living with Breast Cancer fundraiser.
As part of the campaign, 20 cents from every pack of Arnott’s Tim Tam biscuits sold in Countdown supermarkets between May 12 and June 8 will go to BCAC. A handful of lucky winners will receive one of the artist’s beautifully designed heart plates.
Ms Stotter says she was delighted to create a limited edition work to support Kiwi women with breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition is asking you to "show your heart for women living with breast cancer" by buying Arnott's Tim Tam biscuits from Countdown supermarkets for the next month to help us support New Zealand women with the disease.
Between May 12 and June 8, 20 cents from every packet of Arnott's Tim Tam biscuits sold in Countdown supermarkets will go to BCAC to help us continue to provide support and information to the thousands of Kiwi women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
The Tauranga-based Boobops have had another successful dragon boating season winning six gold medals and one silver in the space of five weeks! They competed in three festivals including the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival, the Auckland Regionals Dragon Boat Festival and the National Championships in Ashburton.
The team now take a well-earned break during April and May before getting back into some winter training. Towards the end of the winter this will become training for the IBCPC International Breast Paddlers Commission World Festival which is taking place in Sarasota, Florida, USA in October.
Marcia Sinclair had never had a mammogram and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, she tells all women, young and old, to get regular mammograms.
“When I got breast cancer, I’d never been for a mammogram because I’d been put off after hearing about the experiences of some other women so I was devastated when I was first diagnosed. Now, I tell every woman to get a regular mammogram – it could save your life,” she says.
The 71-year-old breast cancer survivor was first diagnosed nearly 20 years ago after discovering a small lump in her breast about the size of the pea.
Marcia Sinclair had never had a mammogram and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, she tells all women, young and old, to get regular mammograms.
“When I got breast cancer, I’d never been for a mammogram because I’d been put off after hearing about the experiences of some other women so I was devastated when I was first diagnosed. Now, I tell every woman to get a regular mammogram – it could save your life,” she says.
The 71-year-old breast cancer survivor was first diagnosed nearly 20 years ago after discovering a small lump in her breast about the size of the pea.
BCAC is blown away by the efforts of Azia Tua who vowed to shave off her hair once she raised more than $1,000 for us in memory of her Aunty who died of breast cancer in 2010.
The 32-year-old set up a facebook page and asked people to donate to BCAC - in return she would shave her hair off. Last week it all came off!
The mum-of-two says she’d do anything to help provide support for the breast cancer cause.
“The main reason for me doing this was my Aunty Elma. Sadly, we lost her to breast cancer in April 2010 and later that year my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer as well,” Azia says.
Following her usual free mammogram in January 2012, Nell Rowarth was given the all clear. However, a note accompanied her results which read “check in one year to be safe.”
A year later Nell received a reminder notice for another mammogram and, as a full-time teacher aide, waited until the school holidays in May to make the appointment.
This time things went differently. Following the mammogram and then a biopsy Nell, then aged 59, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She didn’t hesitate when it came to her treatment. She immediately had the recommended lumpectomy and this was followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
The experience has prompted the Papamoa woman to speak out in support of Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC).
BCAC is thrilled at the results of a New Zealand study that found a special silicone dressing can help to dramatically reduce skin damage during radiation therapy for breast cancer.
The research, carried out by the Department of Radiotherapy at the University of Otago, has found that placing a special silicone film called Mepitel Film over the area to be irradiated can reduce skin reactions to radiation therapy by more than 90 per cent.
Dry, red and burnt skin is a common side effect of radiation therapy and in some women this can develop into a weeping wound known as "moist desquamation".
