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Judith Turner had her very last free mammogram when she was 69 and that mammogram picked up breast cancer.
The 71-year-old was diagnosed in February last year and she was immediately scheduled for a mastectomy.
The Northland woman coped well with the surgery, but a mere seven-months later she noticed a lump in her other breast and immediately sought medical advice.
“I felt this lump and I thought that’s strange and it’s sore, so I saw my GP and I had another mammogram and it was Grade 3 cancer so I had another mastectomy. I went in before Christmas and I was lucky enough to be discharged on Christmas Day,” Judith says.
She was offered chemotherapy and says she didn’t hesitate to say yes to the treatment.
The day after Emma Crowley had organised a fundraising morning tea for a breast cancer charity, the then-24-year-old discovered a lump under her arm.
She asked a friend for advice. They both thought it was probably swollen glands or some other innocent explanation, but Emma went to her GP to get it checked out.
Her GP referred her for an ultrasound, which led to a biopsy and four days later Emma was called to come in and speak with her doctor.
The Human Resources Executive for law firm, Baldwins, was in Wellington for work and told her doctor she couldn’t come in for a few days.
Ally Armstrong was 47 when she was called up to have a routine mammogram as part of the BreastScreen Aotearoa free screening programme for women aged 45 to 69.
Ally duly went for her mammogram, but was asked to come back for a follow-up mammogram and a biopsy.
This didn’t raise a red flag for the Hamilton mother-of-six, who had found a lump in her breast several years earlier which turned out to be nothing.
But that all changed when she was called in for her results.
As part of this year's BCAC fundraiser, Show Your Heart for Women Living with Breast Cancer, you can be in to win a beautifully designed ceramic plate and a delicious hamper of Arnott's Tim Tam products.
The limited edition plate has been designed by renowned printmaker, Penny Stotter, who is thrilled to be joining forces with BCAC to help support Kiwi women with breast cancer.
Says Penny of her design: "To me this imagery represents some of the qualities I most admire in New Zealand women: femininity, grace, joyfulness and a sense of feeling supported and connected.”
This year the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) will hold its 36th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Wellington, New Zealand, from 16-19 July.
The ASM attracts leading national and international researchers who come to hear about recent advances in breast cancer research, share knowledge and research outcomes. They also collaborate and plan for new breast cancer clinical trial research initiatives.
If you have breast cancer you’re eligible for a free influenza vaccination and now is the best time to be immunised before the coming season of winter ills sets in.
The annual immunisation can protect you from influenza and the health complications this serious disease can cause when you’re vulnerable due to cancer treatment.
“People with ongoing medical conditions are especially at high risk from influenza complications which can lead to the development of pneumonia, a stay in hospital or even death,” comments Dr Lance Jennings, virologist and National Influenza Specialist Group (NISG) spokesperson.
BCAC’s new Metavivors NZ group is pushing to see the chemotherapy drug, Abraxane, funded so that women with secondary breast cancer no longer have to pay privately for it.
BCAC recently helped to set up the Metavivors NZ group for women with advanced breast cancer to advocate for better treatment, support and care for this group.
The term ‘Metavivor’ refers to women who are living and thriving with secondary breast cancer and recognises that many women can live for years with metastatic cancer.
There is a strong ‘Metavivor’ movement in the United States where women with secondary breast cancer are extremely vocal about the need for research into advanced breast cancer.
BCAC is fighting to get Sovereign Insurance to change its policy and reimburse women for the full cost of a breast reconstruction.
BCAC was recently contacted by Carolyn Kane who was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now seeking a breast reconstruction following her mastectomy.
Carolyn thought she would be able to get her breast reconstruction covered by her health insurance with Sovereign Insurance, but unfortunately Sovereign will only pay $15,000 towards a breast reconstruction after mastectomy because it is deemed to be a cosmetic procedure. You can read more about this issue here.
NZ House and Garden House Tours
Event Dates: 7 – 28 March, 2014
Where: Auckland Friday March 7
Wellington Friday March 14
Christchurch Friday March 21
Auckland Country Tour Friday March 28
