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BCAC welcomes new reports which show that nearly 41,500 more women aged 50 to 69 have taken part in the Government’s free breast cancer screening programme in the 24 months to December 2010 than in the previous period.
The percentage of Maori and Pasifika women having breast screening has had the greatest increase, with a further 5486 Maori women and 2898 Pasifika women taking part in the programme over the 24 month period to December 2010.
Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, says,“This increase is great news for women’s health. Not only are these women giving themselves the best chance for breast cancer to be found and treated early, but this is a sign women are prioritising their health.
Writing about our lives in a creative way offers a valuable means of expression.
The words written by someone who has ‘been there too’ can comfort and reassure others who are going through the same experience.
Inspired by an Australian collection of stories written by women with secondary breast cancer (Armed with Chocolate Frogs, Kate Carey Productions) over thirty Sweet Louise members have signed up to contribute their creative short stories and poems to a special Sweet Louise book.
BCAC supported the visit of the ASB Visiting Professor Annette Stanton in March 2011 when she presented a public lecture entitled "Survivorship in Breast Cancer What helps and hinders women?".
Annette Stanton is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry/Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, senior research scientist at the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, and a member of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Following her trip to the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in December 2010, BCAC committee member Rowena Mortimer is convinced of the value of the associated advocacy programme.
Rowena was particularly struck by just how much research is currently underway to investigate many aspects of breast cancer and she gained a real appreciation for just how much she didn’t know! For this reason she believes the advocacy programme offered at the Symposium for attendees from around the world and run by the Alamo Breast Cancer foundation, is an invaluable way of upskilling.
This year the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) combined its 2010 Annual Scientific meeting with COSA (Clinical Oncological Society of Australia) in early November in Melbourne, Australia.
Libby Burgess, BCAC chair, attended this conference as a member of IMPACT, the programme for Improving Participation and Advocacy for Clinical Trials associated with ANZ BCTG’s Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP).
As always this meeting provided an excellent opportunity to network and Libby met up with many of the New Zealand and Australian oncologists, breast surgeons, physicians and nurses with whom BCAC communicates on a regular basis.
BCAC Deputy Chair Chris Walsh and committee member Sue Ellis attended a day forum in Wellington in December organised by the Cancer Society and Central Cancer Network.
Titled ‘Survivorship – from discharge through follow up and beyond’ it attracted about 90 health professionals and survivors from around New Zealand.
Chris made the following observations:
As a Māori or Pasifika woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer, you may like to know about support groups in which you can share and talk with other women of your culture. Many Māori and Pasifika women are diagnosed later with breast cancer and/or have more aggressive forms of the disease.
Some Māori and Pasifika women find it an unfamiliar or uncomfortable experience dealing with various health and medical professionals and asking questions. If you find it difficult to talk to your doctor or to understand what they're saying, here are some ways you can help yourself:
For BCAC, the care of our Māori and Pasifika women with breast cancer is of great concern because we are seeing some disturbing statistics.
Recent Ministry of Health reports show that Māori women are 21 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, 30 per cent less likely to be diagnosed early (1) and 72 per cent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Māori (2). Other data suggests Māori women tend to get breast cancer at a younger age(3). Pasifika women also have higher rates of breast cancer than Pākehā/European women.
The deeper researchers dive into the genetics of breast cancer, the more complicated their discoveries. And the latest, and deepest, dive is no exception.
The SOLE trial, involving 4,800 women worldwide, aims to determine whether taking the hormonal drug letrozole for a prolonged period helps to prevent or delay breast cancer recurring.
Studies have already shown that using the drug Letrozole can help to slow or stop the growth of oestrogen sensitive breast cancers. Women usually take hormone therapy, such as Tamoxifen or Letrozole, for five years after surgery. However, there is still a risk of breast cancer returning after this time.
The aim of this study is to determine whether the risk of recurrence can be reduced further by taking Letrozole for a another five years.
The SOLE trial will also confirm whether having a three-month break from taking Letrozole each year helps to improve its effectiveness.
