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BCAC's May fundraiser, Show your heart for women living with breast cancer, has raised more than $60,000 to help New Zealanders battling the disease.
Conducted with the support of Arnott’s Tim Tam, the month-long campaign saw 20 cents donated to BCAC for every pack of Tim Tams sold during May from Countdown, Super Value or Fresh Choice supermarkets.
BCAC deputy chair, Dr Chris Walsh, says “This is a fantastic result and we are extremely grateful to our longtime supporter Arnott’s. Without their commitment and backing, BCAC simply could not do what it does for New Zealanders with breast cancer. Also, this year we must acknowledge the great support of Progressive Enterprises Ltd, the owners of the supermarkets involved.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition is backing an international move to see psychological and social care recognised as an integral part of cancer treatment.
BCAC has endorsed a statement on standards and clinical guidelines in cancer care issued by the International Pscyho-Oncology Society (IPOS).
The IPOS International Standard of Quality Cancer Care states that:
• quality cancer care must integrate the psychosocial domain into routine care
• distress should be measured as the sixth vital sign after temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and pain.
A new study shows that younger women aged 40 to 49 who undergo screening mammograms are diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier stage and with smaller tumours.
The research, carried out by University Hospitals in Cleveland, USA, also found that screening mammograms were more likely to identify lesions on the breast that are not cancerous, but are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
The study was recently published in the American Journal of Roentgenology and supports BCAC’s view that women should start getting regular mammograms from the age of 40.
Latest figures show that 71 per cent of New Zealand women are taking advantage of the free breast screening programme available to those aged 45 to 69 through BreastScreen Aotearoa.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is particularly pleased to see that screening rates for Māori and Pasifika women appear to be on the rise.
Latest figures from BreastScreen Aotearoa show that in the two years to March 31, 2012:
The inaugural meeting of the Cancer Consumer Representative Advisory Group was held on 29th March 2012. This group has been set up to provide advice on the support, recruitment, development and training for cancer consumer representatives across the cancer spectrum. BCAC committee members Dr Chris Walsh and Rowena Mortimer are members of the group whose membership is made up of representatives of the regional cancer networks, NGO's, cancer groups and Māori.
At their first meeting the group reviewed the terms of reference and a work plan to promote CCR activity. Dr Chris Walsh, the group’s newly elected chair, says "the group is united in its desire to improve the representation of cancer consumers across the cancer spectrum and make a positive impact on cancer services."
A new study shows that even moderate weight loss could reduce the risk of breast cancer by lowering the levels of oestrogen in the body.
The new research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in the USA is the first randomised, controlled clinical trial to test the effects of weight loss on sex hormones in overweight and obese post-menopausal women.
Medical researchers have long noted a link between obesity and increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. A relationship between body fat and oestrogen production is thought to contribute to this risk.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition applauds new funding in Budget 2012 for cancer nurse co-ordinators to help alleviate the stress faced by New Zealanders with cancer.
The Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, has announced an additional $33million over the next four years for better and faster cancer services. This includes funding for dedicated nurses to co-ordinate cancer patients’ individual care and support.
BCAC chairperson Libby Burgess says those with cancer will welcome the opportunity to deal with one person throughout their treatment programme.
“New Zealanders with cancer often deal with a shifting cast of health professionals and this can add to the stress and anxiety they are already struggling with as they go through treatment.
Judith Butler’s story.
If someone was to tell me I was going to be bald like Bull Allen for a summer, wear pink and sit naked in a bin covered by kiwifruit, I would have told them they had forgotten to take their medication.
But that is exactly what did happen. I kept a diary of the first five months which has been quite emotional reading back on it.
On Friday the 3rd of August 2001, age 40, I found a lump in my left breast in the shower. I just couldn’t believe it; it felt like a marble so hard and round.
By Anne Hayden, PhD
BCAC member Anne Hayden shares her treatment story to highlight that there may be alternatives to the usual options of palliative chemo and radiotherapy when newly discovered breast cancer metastases are found.
Enjoy Arnott’s Tim Tam during May and help support women living with breast cancer.
May marks a month-long fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC). Supported by Arnott’s, the fundraiser asks you to ‘Show Your Heart’ by buying Tim Tam during the month from Countdown, Super Value or Fresh Choice supermarkets to help BCAC support thousands of women and their families as they tackle breast cancer.
Every year 2750 women (and 20 men) are diagnosed with breast cancer ... and thousands of husbands, boyfriends, fathers, sons, daughters, mothers, aunts, partners, grandmothers, friends, cousins and sisters are affected by someone special to them tackling the disease.
