Latest News
BCAC is deeply disappointed by a report on cancer medicines released by the Cancer Control Agency, Te Aho o Te Kahu. We’re stunned to see that Te Aho o Te Kahu has identified only one breast cancer drug as needed but not funded in New Zealand. This is completely out of step with Australia and other countries and disregards international guidelines on breast cancer treatment. There are eighteen breast cancer medicines funded in Australia and not in New Zealand. These all have clinical benefit and many are recommended to New Zealanders with breast cancer, but only those who can afford to pay privately can be treated with them.
Dragon boating is a great way to increase fitness and have fun with other breast cancer survivors. BCAC member groups, Busting with Life (based in Auckland) and Waikato Treasure Chests (based in Hamilton), are both on the look-out for new team members. Contact details and latest news from these two teams can be found here:
21 April 2022
BCAC sends huge congratulations to former Committee Member Irene Kereama-Royal who has been awarded a scholarship by Hei Āhuru Mōwai (Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa) and the Cancer Society. Irene’s PhD research looks into the reasons for mistrust among whānau Māori with participating in genetics research and identifying the potential of genomics health to lift Māori health inequities in cancers. Irene (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto) will use her own whānau’s personal journey with cancer and achieving whānau wellbeing through the knowledge of genomics health as part of her research.
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.
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.
2025
Terrier Race Against Time (a charity set up to provide support to all people diagnosed with breast cancer in the Tairawhiti area) was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to sell PYO Sunflowers in February 2025. Geordie and Caroline Witters (longtime supporters of our charity) have planted sunflowers in between their young citrus trees for four years running and allow us to set up a stall to sell them for $3 per stem. It’s such a fun day for families to come and roam around the sunflowers, take photos and take a few sunflowers home with them! We made $6500 over the two weekends, which is a great help towards our packs that we provide to every person with breast cancer upon diagnosis.
We're thrilled to announce the launch of the Kenzie's Gift "Grief Podcast”.
This heartfelt podcast is for rangatahi (young people), by rangatahi who have experienced the death of a significant loved one. Hosted by the inspiring Sasha Douglas, who first connected with Kenzie's Gift after her mum died of breast cancer when she was only 17. The podcast creates a compassionate space for young people across Aotearoa to share their stories.
Sasha and her guests dive into:
• the challenges of grief
• what helps (and what doesn't)
• how sharing stories can make grief feel less lonely
“As long as you are breathing, there is more that is right with you, than wrong with you.” – Jon Kabat Zinn
I was so sure the lump I found was nothing that I went to the hospital alone for my results. At 36, healthy, and a mum to a busy toddler, cancer was something that happened to other people—definitely not me. When the doctor said, ‘You have breast cancer,’ I actually laughed and said, ‘You’re joking'. It turns out breast cancer surgeons don't tend to joke about these things, and that I had a triple negative, grade 3 cancer that had reached my lymph nodes.
With 7 weeks training under our belts, Auckland’s Busting With Life headed to Lake Rotoroa, Hamilton to participate in the Waikato Dragon Boating and Waka Ama Association Super 12 regatta. This annual, out-of-region event is the first in the regatta calendar for the team. The regatta is always a fun day (in spite of the early start) and this year did not disappoint.
Though the weather on arrival brought back memories of a very wet, rainy event the year before (not helped by our leaky gazebo - which thankfully we have now replaced!), the sun did make its way out to give us a gorgeous day for paddling. The atmosphere was buzzing, the commentators awesome, and the organizers did a great job keeping the racing on time. Well done Waikato.
