Research into sub-types of breast cancer, imaging and new targeted therapies are becoming increasingly important, attendees at the Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) Annual Scientific Meeting were told.
BCAC this week celebrates the passion and commitment of committee member Jenny Williams who worked tirelessly to raise awareness of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
Jenny died last week, four years after being diagnosed with IBC, and after the cancer had spread to her liver.
BCAC's May fundraiser, Show your heart for women living with breast cancer, has raised more than $60,000 to help New Zealanders battling the disease.
Conducted with the support of Arnott’s Tim Tam, the month-long campaign saw 20 cents donated to BCAC for every pack of Tim Tams sold during May from Countdown, Super Value or Fresh Choice supermarkets.
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition is backing an international move to see psychological and social care recognised as an integral part of cancer treatment.
BCAC has endorsed a statement on standards and clinical guidelines in cancer care issued by the International Pscyho-Oncology Society (IPOS).
The IPOS International Standard of Quality Cancer Care states that:
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.
