Looking back at 2025 and the upcoming festive season!
Hi everyone,
🎄Can you believe there are only a few more days until Christmas?! Make sure you've seen my personal message to the Online Network as we prepare for the festive season. Watch my message here
As we enter into the final weeks of the year, I wanted to check in and share some of my reflections from 2025. I am very conscious of the way we are all feeling after the horrendous events of Bondi last weekend. This will impact us all very differently and I do hope that you have reached out for support if you need it. It is hard for many of our team to understand given we were only at Bondi in October connecting with the local community there.
💡 We are finishing this year with a milestone that epitomises how we advocate for people living with metastatic breast cancer. For 27 years, we’ve fought for visibility for this community, and now we know there are 20,950 Australians living with metastatic disease, people who have too often been invisible in the health system. This is significantly more than previously estimated. And behind this figure are real people. It is also clear that we now have more work to do to ensure our services and information are reaching all those living with metastatic breast cancer. Knowing the number is a key milestone, now we need to make it count. Read more about our pledge below.
❤️ We also know that moments like this can land differently for everyone. BCNA is here to provide support and resources to help you. Remember that our Helpline is here 1800 500 258 between Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm AEDT, or request a time for us to call you. We’ll keep pushing for better care, better treatment, and better outcomes, while being a trusted place to turn to for anyone affected by breast cancer.
đź’Ş Access to the best treatment is fundamental to our work and that is why I am also proud that we drove submissions to ensure two new treatments for metastatic breast cancer and high-risk early breast cancer added to the PBS. This means more affordable access to life-changing options.
🫶 2025 also saw the power of community in every corner of Australia through our fundraising events including at the MCG’s Pink Lady Match. There is nothing more powerful that watching people connect – it brings a sense of belonging that is hard to describe but one I know you all feel on this Online Network.
One common thing we do continue to hear in the community is that breast cancer is done – we all know that this is simply not true. So our messages to the general public have been about how far we have to go in early detection, treatment and care. We used Breast Cancer Awareness month to shift the community discussion to improving early detection through our Know Your Yourself. Feel Yourself. campaign, including a step-by-step video that encourages women to know their normal so they can identify changes early.
I was shocked to hear so many young women tell us that they had never known how to check their breasts or that they had never really looked at their breasts before. We as a community have perhaps underestimated the knowledge of our young women – so if you can please help us to promote the educational video I would love you to. Know Yourself. Feel Yourself.
A massive thank you to our hundreds of incredible volunteers and our dedicated Consumer Representatives who have supported us this year at our events, offices, and campaigns. We couldn’t do what we do without you!
We know this can be a difficult time of the year for many of you so I am so pleased the Online Network will be here for you and for the many people who may be coming to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis for the first time. The magic of this Online Network is that you truly understand, you offer emotional support during difficult times, and creating spaces where you can share practical advice, find hope, and at times humour when we need it most! So never underestimate how your posts or questions can make a difference.
From me and the whole team at BCNA thank you for being a valued member of our community and I hope you have a summer full of joy.
đź’¬ What was your memorable moment this year and what are your fun plans for this summer?
I cant wait to get my feet in the sand and salt water in my hair!
Regards,
Kirsten Pilatti,
CEO, BCNA
