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BCAC is excited to see two of its member groups join forces to launch an initiative to fund research into breast cancer in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Trust have joined with the Health Research Council of New Zealand to distribute $400,000 to breast cancer research.
BCAC is thrilled that two breakthrough breast cancer drugs – Kadcyla® and Perjeta® - have recently been approved for use in this country by MedSafe New Zealand.
These two medicines were listed as being among the top advances in cancer treatment and care for 2012 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
MedSafe approval is needed before New Zealand women can be prescribed the medicines, which have been shown to be effective in helping to treat HER-2 Positive breast cancer.
BCAC this week met with the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, to discuss improvements needed to the health system to ensure women with breast cancer get optimal treatment.
BCAC chair, Libby Burgess, says Mr Ryall was receptive to the issues raised and appears genuinely committed to improving cancer care as is demonstrated by the ‘faster cancer treatment’ initiatives designed to speed up radiotherapy and chemotherapy waiting times.
BCAC congratulated Mr Ryall for convening an expert group, which included patient representation, to develop National Standards of Service Provision for Breast Cancer.
BRA-Day, Wednesday October 16, 2013
Who can have breast reconstruction?
When should I have it?
What kind of surgery is right for me?
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation presents an information evening about breast reconstruction after breast cancer
Leading reconstructive and plastic surgeons present the facts and the options. Real women talk about their surgery.
This FREE session is open to the public and medical professionals. Drinks and nibbles will be served.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is delighted to announce they are teaming up with Storage King NZ during October 2013 to help support New Zealanders with breast cancer.
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer it is not only she who embarks on an unexpected and unwelcome journey – her partner will also inevitably experience their own challenging cancer journey.
During 2013 Breast Cancer Support (BCS) established a support group in Auckland for younger women. The group is for women aged 20 - 45 years who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. All are welcome and there is much fun, laughter and open sharing of experiences about what it's really like to be a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer.
Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month until November and a guest is often invited to speak about issues relevant to younger women with breast cancer. The next meeting will be on Monday July 28, 2014 at 7 pm.
Meetings are from 7 - 9pm and take place at Domain Lodge, The Cancer Society - Auckland Division, 1 Boyle Crescent, Grafton, Auckland.
The Louise Perkins Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Austin to the position of CEO of Sweet Louise, the Foundation's charitable arm providing support and services to New Zealand women and men living with secondary breast cancer.
It is with great sadness that BCAC farewells and pays tribute to Mangalika Mendis, one of the tremendously brave women who fought for full access to the breast cancer drug Herceptin.
Sadly, Mangalika died in Australia in July 2013, leaving behind her husband Ruchitha and daughter Medhavie.
BCAC chair, Libby Burgess, says Mangalika was a special person who fought hard to see New Zealand women receive a fully-funded treatment programme of 12 months of Herceptin.
Mangalika, a trained doctor, worked with BCAC from 2006 when Herceptin was not funded in New Zealand, despite the fact it had been shown to be hugely effective in treating women with HER2-Positive breast cancer.
It has been very exciting to track down Dr Elizabeth Iorns – a scientist who is conducting ground-breaking experiments in America to reduce the genetic transmission of BRCA – and realise that she grew up in New Zealand!
Dr Iorns (pictured right) has qualifications from around the world, including a PhD in cancer biology from the University of London. As the wife of a BRCA carrier, she now has a personal reason to invest time and money into researching this particular gene mutation.
She is currently overseeing experiments on mice to see if giving PARP inhibitor drugs to male BRCA carriers can prevent the transmission of the mutation in their sperm. If this proves effective, Dr Iorns will quickly move on to human trials.
