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Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness experienced by some people during and after breast cancer treatment is known as brain fog or chemo brain. Researchers at Auckland University want to understand whether there are changes in the brain caused by cancer or its treatment. Better understanding will lead to improved management of this condition in future patients.
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This webinar is a comprehensive, in-depth presentation by NZ medical experts that answers questions about pain and its management from NZ women with advanced breast cancer.
‘We recommend this for anyone with questions about pain and pain management. It provides a lot of valuable information about pain in general and pain associated with breast cancer and its treatment.’ says BCAC Chair Libby Burgess.
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Dear Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis, and Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac) David Seymour.
In August last year a promise was made to fund 13 new cancer medicines via a $280 million ring-fenced fund to Pharmac. According to the National election manifesto, that fund was to start on July 1 this year by reinstating the $5 prescription fee. As you stated Prime Minister, those 13 medicines are "for lung, bowel, kidney, melanoma, and head and…
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Have you undergone chemotherapy for cancer for the first time in the last twelve months? Researchers from The University of Sydney are interested in your experience. Participants over 18 are wanted to complete a 20-25 minute online survey.
Breast cancer organisations turned out in force at Valuing Life, a Parliamentary Medicines Access Summit. We all did our best to make the case for broader, faster access to modern medicines to improve the lives of breast cancer patients.
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Good news for New Zealanders with advanced hormone receptor positive HER2 negative breast cancer. From 1st July Pharmac will fund Kisqali (ribociclib) for those who haven’t previously had funded access to Ibrance (palbociclib). BCAC asked Novartis to provide Kisqali free to patients until Pharmac funding kicks in and they agreed. So, if you’re starting or continuing on Kisqali you won’t have to pay medicine costs from now onwards.
![From left to right: Dr. Jenny Lee-Morgan, Director of Pūrangakura who will provide advice to Maria when required; Maria Marama; Dr. Catherine Mitchell, who is Maria's Supervisor.](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Maria%20Masters%20scholarship%20award.png?itok=ihEe7aJT)
Congratulations to BCAC Committee member Maria Marama, who has just received a Masters Scholarship from the Māori Cancer Researcher Awards scheme run by the Cancer Society (Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa) and Hei Āhuru Mōwai (Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa).
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It's Not (Just) About the Breast: The Cancer Road Less Walked A Young Woman's Cancer Story tells the story of Aussie physio Petrina Burnett’s diagnosis with triple negative, BRCA-mutated breast cancer at age 31. It’s a refreshing and much-needed account of what it’s like to face breast cancer as a young woman and to grapple with a genetic disease. Petrina’s deep personal insights and her expertise as a health care provider mean her perspective is rare and valuable.
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BCAC Chair Libby Burgess reflected on this question after attending the premier international breast cancer research conference, SABCS 2023, in San Antonio Texas last month. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking HER2 or hormone receptors. It is the most challenging type of breast cancer to treat, particularly at the advanced stage. However, research over the last 20 years has broadened treatment options and improved patient outcomes.
At SABCS, Libby was…
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BCAC is delighted to see the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) recommend mandating of breast density reporting in both breast screening and diagnosis.