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📢Have You Taken Endocrine Therapy After Breast Cancer Surgery? We'd Love to Hear From You
Have you been diagnosed with Stage 2 to 3 HER2-negative, HR-positive breast cancer and received treatment after surgery? BCNA is partnering with Inherited Cancers Australia (ICA), So Brave, healthcare professionals, and independent healthcare research agency Elbow Insight and Strategy to better understand the experiences of people diagnosed with this type of breast cancer. The findings will help improve understanding of the challenges, needs, and experiences of people affected by breast cancer, and help inform future support for our community. 🌸 Who can participate? 👇 You may be eligible if you: ✅ Are aged 18 years or older ✅ Have been diagnosed with Stage 2 to 3 HER2-negative, HR-positive breast cancer ✅ Are currently taking, or have previously taken, treatment after breast cancer surgery, including hormone-blocking (endocrine) therapy What's involved? 📝 The study starts with a few short screening questions to confirm eligibility. If eligible, you'll be invited to: ✨ Complete a 25-minute online survey ✨ Optionally register your interest in a second phase involving a 7-day online diary (approximately 45 minutes in total) As a thank you for their time, participants will receive a payment for participating. 💕 👉 Interested in participating? Register for the Research Study Here Thank you for helping us better understand and support people affected by breast cancer. 💖🔔 Update on access to Zoladex treatment
We heard your concerns about AstraZeneca's decision to discontinue Zoladex 3.6mg from 1 November 2026 - and we went to work on your behalf. After coordinating advocacy with clinicians, consumers and key stakeholders, we're pleased to share that options will be available for those affected, including a free access program for eligible patients and work underway on alternative treatment pathways. Supply continues in the meantime and we'll keep you informed every step of the way. Full details available through the link in our bio. If you need support, our Helpline is here for you on 👉 Reach out to the BCNA Helpline 1800 500 258 for information and support Read more here: 🔗 https://www.bcna.org.au/latest-news/bcna-news/update-on-access-to-zoladex-treatment🗣️ Invitation to share your voice: Understanding Cancer Related Stigma Through Lived Experience
BCNA’s Consumer Engagement team is inviting members of our Online Network to share their experiences of stigma and shame following a cancer diagnosis. Cancer related stigma is not only about visible changes. It can be social, cultural, emotional, and systemic. It can affect how people see themselves, how others respond to them, and how safe they feel seeking care or support. These experiences are often deeply personal, and they can vary widely across communities, cultures, and healthcare settings. 🌏 Why your perspective matters In June, a BCNA trained Consumer Representative will be presenting at the Multinational Association of Supportive Cancer Care Australia Conference. This presentation will bring consumer voices into an international conversation about whole person care, supportive care, and the importance of patient partnership in addressing stigma. To ensure this presentation truly reflects the diversity of experiences across Australia, we are gathering insights from our broader network of members. 📝 Take part in the survey By completing this short survey, you will help shape the content of the presentation and strengthen the messages shared with clinicians, program leaders, policy makers, and researchers. Your voice will help ensure lived experience remains central to conversations about stigma, care, and support. 👉 Take the survey here 🗓️ The survey closes on Friday 8 May 2026 📩 If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] Thank you for considering sharing your experience and helping amplify the voices of people affected by cancer.🌸 Research opportunity: Healthy lifestyle support after breast cancer
Women across Australia are invited to take part in a research study exploring views on exercise and nutrition support after a breast cancer diagnosis 💗. This study aims to better understand what encourages or discourages participation in lifestyle programs, when support feels most helpful, and what information women need to make informed decisions. The findings will help shape the design of a future exercise and nutrition trial for women after breast cancer treatment. 👥 Who can take part Women aged 18 years and over who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage, are currently in treatment or have completed treatment, and live in Australia. 📝 What’s involved Participants will be asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire. There is also the option to take part in a short online or phone interview lasting around 30 to 40 minutes to share views in more depth. Participation is voluntary, and people can pause or withdraw at any time. 🔬 Researcher spotlight This study is led by Dr Cindy Tan, a senior clinical dietitian and cancer survivorship researcher with more than 20 years of experience supporting women after cancer. Dr Tan is passionate about developing practical, realistic lifestyle programs that support confidence, wellbeing, and long‑term health after breast cancer 🌱. 📩 Want to know more For study enquiries, contact Dr Cindy Tan at [email protected] For BCNA related questions, contact [email protected]🍎Help shape a new nutrition resource after cancer treatment
A new research study called Survivorship Bites is inviting people with a lived experience of cancer, as well as carers, to take part in co‑designing a nutrition resource for people living with and beyond cancer. This study aims to create practical, evidence‑based information to support eating and drinking well after cancer treatment. Participant experiences and ideas will help guide the development of this new resource. 👥 Who can take part? People aged 18 years and over Victorian residents Those with lived experience of cancer within the past 10 years, or carers for someone who does 💬 What’s involved? Up to four online workshops via Microsoft Teams Each session runs for around 1.5 to 2 hours One short online survey Gift vouchers are provided to thank participants for their time 📅 Important dates Expressions of interest close 14 April 2026 If this sounds like something of interest, members are encouraged to express interest via the link or QR code provided below. Your voice can help shape meaningful support for people after cancer treatment 💛 For more information please contact Project Officer: Kirsty Rowan Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Phone: (03) 8559 5220 Email: mailto:[email protected]📢 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 [email protected] 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/
