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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.
2024
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.
The Taranaki Dragons have been busy! Valda McBeth has posted this update:
Carol Coad was awarded Life Membership of Taranaki Dragons at our recent AGM. Carol has been an active, reliable and committed member since our Club was founded in 2008. Carol was our treasurer for 14 years.
Taranaki Dragons' annual Pink Walk and Paddle was held in early November. Although we had two boats out, we had to paddle in the basin which adjoins the Waitara River (our normal training venue) as the wind and river current was not safe for dragon boating. However, paddling in the basin meant that trainee sweeps had an opportunity to practice and our "newbies" enjoyed the gentle paddle. Shared (mostly pink) kai was enjoyed after the walk and paddle.
This international trial is looking at whether a new way of delivering lidocaine, a commonly used local anaesthetic drug, will help reduce the occurrence of moderate or severe chronic post-surgical pain for women undergoing breast cancer surgery. Nearly half of women who have breast cancer surgery experience some chronic pain after surgery and there is currently no best way to manage this.
Breast cancer is uncommon in men, but it does happen. About one per cent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand will be in men, with around 25 men diagnosed each year.
Initial symptoms of breast cancer in men can include:
• a lump or lumpiness around your nipple
• a change in the shape of your nipple or breast area
• bleeding from the nipple
• pain in the nipple or pectoral area
• skin changes such as redness, rash, ulceration, puckering or dimpling
• a lump in your armpit.
One of the biggest challenges in any diagnosis, and treatment journey, is finding positivity during very worrying and difficult times. It’s easy to be afraid and get stuck in a negative spiral.
Being positive and thinking positively can help you cope with cancer, but it is natural to also feel upset and frightened sometimes. People with cancer are often encouraged to be positive. But it’s not always easy. It’s important to acknowledge there will be some very difficult days and allow ourselves to feel and express emotion.
If positivity doesn't feel right for you, or doesn't feel right in a specific situation, or on any given day, that's okay. Acknowledge how you’re feeling, allow it to be, and then think about some actions you might take to feel differently.
