A study is currently underway through the University of Auckland to look at the psychological impact of fears about cancer recurrence in women who’ve been treated for breast cancer.

The research project will involve up to 130 New Zealand women who have been treated for breast cancer and is being run by doctoral student, Loshni Rogers.

Speaking with other women who have breast cancer can be a great support as you go through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. 

Now, you can now connect with others who have had breast cancer on the BCAC website – thanks to a joint initiative between BCAC and the Cancer Society of New Zealand.

The breast cancer thread of the Society’s internet forum, CancerChat, can now be accessed on the BCAC site.

I am 54 years old and six years ago when I was doing a breast self examination , I realised that something had changed in my right breast.

It had always been “harder” than the left but I had that checked years before. However, for the last few years, my GP had flagged the upper part of my right breast as an area to ultrasound after my mammogram.

SNAC-2 is a trial comparing two operations for detecting cancer cells in the lymph nodes of women with early breast cancer.

The two operations are:

• axillary clearance
• sentinel node biopsy.

You can find out more about these two techniques on our surgery page.

Women aged 40 years and over who have had surgery for early stage invasive breast cancer are invited to take part in this research study, called RAPID.

Research has shown that breast conserving surgery (removing part of the breast) followed by radiation treatment is as effective as mastectomy (removing the entire breast). 

Radiation treatment after surgery improves the chances of not developing further cancer in the affected breast.

The shock of a new diagnosis; the challenge of treatment; and the relief of survival make for powerful viewing in a new series of web videos exploring Kiwi experiences of breast cancer.

Kiwi Stories of Breast Cancer has been produced by the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and features 15 women and men talking candidly about diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer.  You can view their stories here.

Cancer patients are being urged to get their free seasonal influenza
vaccination before the Government’s subsidised campaign ends on July 31.

Health officials from the National Influenza Strategy Group (NISG) say that many
vulnerable people are still not protected from this serious disease.


NISG spokesperson and virologist, Dr Lance Jennings says it is particularly important
for a large percentage of people to be vaccinated this year to minimise the spread of

28 June 2011

In early May BCAC re-launched their website following several months of research, writing and development. The new website is a comprehensive resource supplying detailed information about breast cancer - the most common form of cancer to affect New Zealand women.

Breast cancer survivor and director of a breast prosthesis importing company, Mary McAvoy, tells us what we need to know about breast prostheses.

A diagnosis of breast cancer arrives with an overcoat of confusion. Processing information, dealing with health professionals at the same time as prioritising emotions both of oneself and of others close is an unimaginable and unique process.

Three Maori women have broken their silence and shared their personal stories of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery in the hope that they can encourage more Maori women to go for breast screening which could save their lives.

The ‘Women to Women’ DVD was launched at Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae (Auckland Airport Marae) in April.