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New research has found that random and unpredictable DNA copying “mistakes” are responsible for nearly two-thirds of the mutations that cause cancer.
This means “environmental” influences, such as nutrition and exercise, play less of a role in many cancer cases than previously thought.
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New guidelines in the UK recommend that healthy post-menopausal women with a familial risk of developing breast cancer be prescribed the medicine anastrazole in a bid to help ward off the disease.
The recommendation comes from the UK’s drug regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which has just updated its familial breast cancer guidelines.
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Eating foods rich in isoflavones, which are found in soy products, could help to reduce the death rate in women with certain types of breast cancer.
A new study, published in the journal Cancer, found that isoflavones are associated with lower death rates in women with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer and those who are not receiving endocrine therapy.
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New results from a major clinical trial testing the breakthrough breast cancer drug, Perjeta, show that it helped women with early HER-2 Positive breast cancer live longer.
Headline results from the Phase III APHINITY trial have just been released by the pharmaceutical company Roche.
![Pictured is Gillian Wintrup who would be unable to get public access to Perjeta if her breast cancer progresses further.](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Gillian%20%282%29.jpg?itok=8sNamaKh)
Two of the country’s major breast cancer charities have joined forces to plead for the 160 women denied public access to the breakthrough breast cancer drug, Perjeta.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) are calling on Pharmac to extend funding for Perjeta to women already being treated with Herceptin.
![BCAC committee members Greer Davis and Melissa Bell attended the ANZBCTG conference](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Greer%20and%20Melissa.jpg?itok=viomDs35)
The latest in new and innovative breast cancer treatments and recent developments to empower patients were discussed at the Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Group (ANZBCTG) conference in Australia.
Five BCAC committee members attended the conference which focused on the theme Partners for Progress in Breast Cancer Research and Care.
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The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is thrilled that New Zealand women with advanced breast cancer will finally be able to get the breakthrough breast cancer drug Perjeta from next year, but is bitterly disappointed that a large number will be denied access to this potentially life-extending medicine.
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Moana Papa, a long-time committee member of the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC), talks about her secondary breast cancer diagnosis.
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A group of Kiwis with secondary breast cancer have made a desperate video plea in support of a campaign for greater access to medicines to give them a better chance at life.
The moving video is part of the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition’s (BCAC) drive to get thousands to sign an open letter to the Minister of Health calling for an urgent increase in funding for medicines.
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Storage King NZ is turning pink again this breast cancer month to help support the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and the thousands of New Zealanders diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Now in its fourth year Storage King NZ’s October campaign will see $1 from very tea chest sold during the month donated to BCAC.