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Knowing our genetic risk of diseases such as BRCA-related breast cancer can be lifesaving, but New Zealand insurance companies can use this knowledge to discriminate against us.
BCAC has joined Against Genetic Discrimination Aotearoa (AGenDA), a group of doctors, researchers, lawyers, Māori, Pasifika, medical charities and patient groups to fight this discrimination.
![Mammograms of breasts of low density (L) and high density (R) Image credit www,cdc.gov](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2mammograms.jpg?itok=eOwef_Kg)
European experts now recommend that breast density be reported with every mammogram and that women with extremely dense breasts be advised to undergo additional screening, given their greater risk of breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition makes submissions and applications to Government, Te Whatu Ora, Pharmac and health organisations with the aim of improving the access to, and quality of, treatment for women with breast cancer.
On this page you can view the recent submissions and applications we've made.
2024
This is a Phase II open-label study to assess the efficacy and safety of camizestrant (a next-generation oral selective oestrogen receptor degrader - SERD) compared to standard endocrine therapy (aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen) for patients with early ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer and an intermediate-to-high or high risk of recurrence and who have completed definitive locoregional treatment and have no evidence of disease.
New Zealand sites for this trial will be Auckland, Waikato and Palmerston North.
Read more about this trial here.
29 April 2024
ATNEC is a phase III, open, randomised, multicentre trial comparing standard axillary treatment (either, axillary lymph node dissection [ALND] or axillary radiotherapy [ART]) with no axillary treatment post-surgery, in early stage (T1-3N1M0) breast cancer patients.
This is a randomised phase III trial of adjuvant radiation therapy versus observation following breast conserving surgery and endocrine therapy in patients with molecularly characterised luminal A early breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to see whether a specialised laboratory test (Prosigna (PAM50) Assay) of breast cancer tissue can be used to choose women who can safely avoid radiation therapy because there is a low risk of the cancer coming back. New Zealand sites are Waikato Hospital, Christchurch Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Palmerston North Hospital.
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Clinical trials are an essential part of our health system and are necessary to find out if new treatments are more effective than those currently accepted as standard of care. New breast cancer treatments (e.g. surgery, radiotherapy and drug therapies) and care must be thoroughly tested through the clinical trials or research process before they are made widely available to breast cancer patients. Thanks to trials, we’ve developed effective prevention and treatment strategies and breast cancer screening programmes using mammograms.
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National cancer support service Look Good Feel Better continues to evolve its free programme to offer a diverse range of wellbeing sessions including both in-community and online classes, expert Q&As and podcasts. Navigating cancer can be as daunting emotionally and mentally as it is to physically deal with prognosis and treatment, so the programme is aimed at boosting confidence and provides an opportunity to connect with others who truly understand what you are going through.