Top Content
Category Content
Recent Content
📢 Have you ever faced a big bill, or a long journey just to get a diagnostic breast scan? We want to hear from you.
When you find a concerning lump or notable change in your breast, one of the most important things that you should be able to access quickly and safely is the answer to: is this breast cancer? We know that for too many people in our community, the pathway to diagnosis is full of barriers: high out‑of‑pocket costs, long waitlists, no public imaging options, or hours of travel just to access essential scans. ✨ As part of our End‑of‑Financial‑Year national advocacy campaign, we’re calling for fair and equitable access to diagnostic imaging for all Australians. To do that, we need real people to share their experiences and stories that show what is happening right now. BCNA is seeking lived experiences from anyone who has faced challenges such as: 🔸 Travelling long distances or interstate for a diagnostic breast scan 🔸 No public diagnostic facility available in your region 🔸 Significant out‑of‑pocket costs for essential imaging 🔸 Long waitlists that delayed your diagnosis 🔸 Impacts on treatment, health outcomes, or mental wellbeing due to these delays. 💪 Your story is powerful. It can help us demonstrate that access to a diagnosis is not a luxury - it’s a right. Your story will help us advocate for a system where every Australian gets the answers they need, regardless of their bank balance or their postcode. If you’re interested in having your voice heard and suppotring BCNA's advocacy efforts, please complete our Expression of Interest form here; 👉 https://formstack.io/907FC All stories will be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality by our Communications department. Thank you for helping us shape a better system where every Australian can get timely, equitable access to the diagnostic care they deserve ❤️
Aligning PBS Policy with Contemporary HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Care
I am concerned about a structural problem in how HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is managed under current PBS rules. Patients who achieve an excellent response to T-DM1 or T-DXd cannot step down to maintenance trastuzumab without being deemed to have “failed” the antibody–drug conjugate. In practice, stopping treatment is administratively treated as progression. This creates several problems: It discourages rational de-escalation after deep response. It forces patients to remain on intensive agents despite cumulative toxicity. It prevents planned treatment breaks or step-down strategies. It risks exhausting future options prematurely. In many other jurisdictions, sequencing is more flexible. De-escalation to maintenance trastuzumab, with or without endocrine therapy, after a strong response is not automatically classified as drug failure. Re-challenge with an ADC remains possible if progression later occurs. The current PBS structure appears misaligned with contemporary oncology, where depth of response, toxicity management, local treatment of oligoprogression, and strategic preservation of future options are central principles. From a health economics perspective, allowing maintenance trastuzumab after response to T-DM1 or T-DXd is likely to be cost-neutral or cost-saving. It may reduce cumulative ADC exposure, delay subsequent high-cost therapies, and lower toxicity-related healthcare utilisation. In my own case, multiple HER2-targeted regimens have achieved systemic control. My disease has presented as isolated liver oligoprogression, managed with histotripsy overseas at significant personal expense. The resistant lesions were destroyed locally. I now have minimal detectable disease, yet very limited PBS-funded systemic options remaining because of line restrictions. This is not solely a personal issue. As ablative and other local treatments expand, more patients will experience prolonged control with episodic oligoprogression. Funding rules need to reflect this evolving reality. Without reform, Australian patients risk running out of PBS-listed options earlier than necessary, remaining on unnecessarily toxic regimens, and falling behind international standards of adaptive HER2 management. The intent of PBS safeguards is understandable. However, equating treatment cessation with treatment failure is often biologically and clinically inaccurate. Greater flexibility around maintenance trastuzumab and ADC re-challenge should be considered if Australia is to keep pace with modern HER2-positive metastatic care.📢 Help Us Advocate for Better Access to Day Chemo & Day Procedures 🌟
We’re looking to connect with patients who are currently stuck on public waiting lists, especially those waiting for day procedures or who are travelling long distances just to receive day chemotherapy. If this sounds like you (or someone you know), we’d love to hear from you. 💡 Why we’re gathering volunteers We’re working on an initiative to highlight how shifting more elective procedures (including all day chemotherapy) into day hospitals could make a meaningful difference. Day hospitals can perform these treatments at around half the cost of overnight hospitals. If more care moved into this setting, it could help reduce pressure on private health insurance premiums and create a more efficient system overall. At the same time, we believe public patients shouldn’t be left waiting months when many of these procedures could be done safely and promptly in day hospitals. Your stories can help demonstrate why this matters. 🤝 How you can help We’re seeking volunteers willing to share their experience (big or small) to support this advocacy work. Your voice could help drive change toward a system that is fairer, faster, and more affordable. If you’re interested in being involved or would like more information, please get in touch with Jannette at 0419 204 059 or admin@executivecounsel.com.au Together, we can push for solutions that truly put patients first. 💙📝Survey: Were you Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Between Screens?
Breast Cancer Network Australia is inviting women in our network to share their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer soon after receiving a BreastScreen Australia “all clear” result , often called an interval cancer. ✨ In March, a BCNA‑trained Consumer Representative will be presenting at the BreastScreen Australia Conference, bringing real women's voices directly into discussions about screening, communication, and care. To ensure the presentation truly reflects these experiences from across Australia, we’re gathering insights from our Online Network community who have received an interval cancer diagnosis. 📝By completing this short survey, you’ll help shape the presentation and strengthen the messages delivered to clinicians, program leaders, policymakers, and researchers. Your voice matters – help shape a national conversation 💬 👉 Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DXXGBZW 🗓 Closes: Friday, 06 February 2026 Thank you for sharing your experience and helping to shape the future of breast cancer healthcare🙏📣 BreastScreen progress has flatlined. BCNA’s response to AIHW data.
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is calling on the Federal Government to immediately action recommended reforms to the national BreastScreen program. The newly released BreastScreen Australia Monitoring Report 2025 reveals a disappointing 2% increase in participation between 2021–22 and 2023–24. “Yes, more women are being screened — but that’s because there are more women, not because the program is performing better.” Says Vicki Durston, BCNA’s Director or Policy, Advocacy and Support Services BCNA is calling for urgent reform: ✅ Risk-based screening ✅ Breast density reporting ✅ AI & innovation investment ✅ National consistency ✅ Equity for Indigenous women BCNA says women and families cannot wait any longer for an effective, modern breast screening program and is calling for urgent action. Read BCNA’s full response at https://www.bcna.org.au/media-releases/breastscreen-progress-has-flatlined-bcna-responds-to-aihw-data/📅 Save the Date - New Global Breast Cancer Care Framework
If you've got an interest into the healthcare system side of the breast cancer experience, you might like to join the VCCC Alliance for an upcoming online event introducing the Breast Cancer Care Quality Index (BCCQI) - a new, globally informed framework designed to help identify gaps in breast cancer care and support action aligned with the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative. 🗓 Monday 2 March 2026 🕐 1.00–2.00pm AEDT (Melb/Syd time) 📍 Online Hear from three international leaders involved in the development of this innovative measurement framework, including: Dr Benjamin Anderson (WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative) Dr Maira Caleffi (Union for International Cancer Control) Dr Ana Rita Gonzalez (Policy Wisdom) This session will explore the global breast cancer cost, the need for consistent care, and how the BCCQI can support countries to translate global targets into meaningful local action within healthcare systems. 🔔 Save the date! 👉 Event information: VCCC Alliance event page🌍 Global Advocacy Win: Breast Cancer Named in UN Political Declaration 🎉
We’re excited to share a major milestone in BCNA's advocacy. Last week, the United Nations formally adopted the Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health - and through the advocacy work of BCNA, breast cancer is explicitly named in the final text 🎉 ✨ Why this matters: Although it might seem confusing for BCNA to focus our advocacy efforts overseas as well as in Australia, the UN declaration helps place critical attention on our own government's ongoing priorities for policy and investment issues that impact people affected by breast cancer. It also enshrines international accountability for supporting people living with breast cancer. 💪 How BCNA made this happen: In July, when breast cancer was missing from the draft UN Declaration, BCNA met with the Australian Ambassador to the UN and the Mission team in New York. We did this because something we know, after 27 years of advocating for people affected by breast cancer, is what is named gets attention, and what is not named is often overlooked. Within 24 hours, we partnered with the Institute of Cancer Policy at King’s College London to produce evidence-based recommendations, informed by lived experience and global data. This paper helped shape Australia’s position, verified by Cancer Australia, DFAT, DoHA, and ministerial offices. In the final negotiations, Australia called for breast cancer to be named. No other country did. But once Australia spoke up, others followed. The result: breast cancer is now in the Declaration and people living with breast cancer in Australia are more empowered to keep speaking up and working towards strengthening our healthcare rights. Thank you to all BCNA staff, partners, and the Australian Government for trusting us to lead this work. Your efforts made this global outcome possible. 📄 If you’re interested on what this all means from an impact perspective, you can read more: 👉UN Political Declaration: https://lnkd.in/gm8fV2MY 👉BCNA & Institute of Cancer Policy paper: https://lnkd.in/gQJcTTSf 👉BCNA takes your voice to the UN General Assembly: https://www.bcna.org.au/bcna-takes-your-voice-to-the-un-general-assembly📊 The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released 2025 breast cancer statistics.
Australia continues to lead globally in breast cancer survival rates. The latest 2025 data reveals: ❣️ Five-year survival has risen to 93% (up from 75% in 1987–1991). ❣️ In 2025, around 20,336 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, including 207 men. ❣️ Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Australian women, making up 27% of all new cases. ❣️ The average age of diagnosis is 62, with 80% of cases occurring in women over 50. ❣️ Metastatic breast cancer remains undercounted, but estimates suggest up to 16,000 people are living with it in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. BCNA continues to advocate for national data collection. These statistics highlight both progress and ongoing challenges in breast cancer care and support. Most importantly, they remind us of the big picture behind our WHY - together we work to improve these numbers year on year. 👉 Click here to read more and download the infographic.🗣️ Share your views: A survey of Australian cancer patients regarding current patient education practices
You can participate in this study if you have received treatment for a cancer diagnosis in the past 24 months. Researchers from Monash University are conducting a survey that aims to identify the current practice of oncology nursing education in Australia. It intends to identify if a consistent and holistic approach to education is being provided and what factors may prevent this from occurring. The survey will explore your experience in relation to the education you received by oncology nurses prior to commencing your initial treatment for your cancer diagnosis. At the conclusion of the survey, you will be taken to a second survey to register your interest to participant in a focus group to discuss your experiences. If you decide to leave your contact details, the researchers will follow up with you and provide further information on what is involved in the focus group. You would then need to provide written consent to participate. For more information and to participate in the study please click the link below: Click here to participate📢 Capivasertib (Truqap) to be listed on the PBS!
The Australian Government has announced that as of 1 October capivasertib (Truqap) will be listed on the Pharmacetucial Benefits Scheme (PBS), providing another vital option for Australians with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. This means more equitable access to a treatment that previously cost over $98,000. This decision addresses an urgent need for effective treatments and provides another vital option for patients when their cancer has developed resistance to existing therapies. BCNA remains committed to fighting for equitable access to innovative treatments and supporting those living with metastatic breast cancer through every step of their journey. Read more about the announcement at https://www.bcna.org.au/latest-news/bcna-news/government-announce-access-to-capivasertib-truqap-another-option-for-those-living-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/
