A new study shows that younger women aged 40 to 49 who undergo screening mammograms are diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier stage and with smaller tumours.
The research, carried out by University Hospitals in Cleveland, USA, also found that screening mammograms were more likely to identify lesions on the breast that are not cancerous, but are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Latest figures show that 71 per cent of New Zealand women are taking advantage of the free breast screening programme available to those aged 45 to 69 through BreastScreen Aotearoa.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is particularly pleased to see that screening rates for Māori and Pasifika women appear to be on the rise.
Latest figures from BreastScreen Aotearoa show that in the two years to March 31, 2012:
The inaugural meeting of the Cancer Consumer Representative Advisory Group was held on 29th March 2012. This group has been set up to provide advice on the support, recruitment, development and training for cancer consumer representatives across the cancer spectrum. BCAC committee members Dr Chris Walsh and Rowena Mortimer are members of the group whose membership is made up of representatives of the regional cancer networks, NGO's, cancer groups and Māori.
A new study shows that even moderate weight loss could reduce the risk of breast cancer by lowering the levels of oestrogen in the body.
The new research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in the USA is the first randomised, controlled clinical trial to test the effects of weight loss on sex hormones in overweight and obese post-menopausal women.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition applauds new funding in Budget 2012 for cancer nurse co-ordinators to help alleviate the stress faced by New Zealanders with cancer.
The Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, has announced an additional $33million over the next four years for better and faster cancer services. This includes funding for dedicated nurses to co-ordinate cancer patients’ individual care and support.
Judith Butler’s story.
If someone was to tell me I was going to be bald like Bull Allen for a summer, wear pink and sit naked in a bin covered by kiwifruit, I would have told them they had forgotten to take their medication.
But that is exactly what did happen. I kept a diary of the first five months which has been quite emotional reading back on it.
By Anne Hayden, PhD
BCAC member Anne Hayden shares her treatment story to highlight that there may be alternatives to the usual options of palliative chemo and radiotherapy when newly discovered breast cancer metastases are found.
Enjoy Arnott’s Tim Tam during May and help support women living with breast cancer.
May marks a month-long fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC). Supported by Arnott’s, the fundraiser asks you to ‘Show Your Heart’ by buying Tim Tam during the month from Countdown, Super Value or Fresh Choice supermarkets to help BCAC support thousands of women and their families as they tackle breast cancer.
March 2012
"Selective Use of Postoperative Radiotherapy AftEr MastectOmy (SUPREMO) trial"
A new clinical trial, SUPREMO, has recently opened at Waikato hospital inviting participation from women who have had a mastectomy for breast cancer and may be scheduled to undergo radiotherapy following their surgery.
As part of their work around Consumer Engagement, the Health Quality and Safety Commission, is sponsoring 15 people to attend New Zealand’s first health literacy conference. It is being organised by Workbase New Zealand and will be held at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland on Tuesday 1 May 2012.
