Friday update 5 April 2019

Giovanna_BCNA
Giovanna_BCNA Member Posts: 1,838
edited April 2019 in Community news and events

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our fortnightly update.  A big welcome to all our new members who have
joined our online community over the last few weeks.  It’s been a busy few weeks here at BCNA with
some major new announcements. 

Before we get into the announcements, I need to do a bit of
housekeeping. We have recently had an update to our website and you may have
noticed that when you enter your online community username and password, you
are redirected to the image below (with your username)

Click on the ‘Sign in with BCNA’ and you will automatically enter the online
forum.  We are currently working on this
issue and will keep you posted as to when it has been resolved.  

Also, if you are having trouble logging into the
online network via your personal computer, check which browser you are using.  The online network is not supported by Internet Explorer.   Internet Explorer is an
old browser which Microsoft has stopped supporting since 2018.  If you are having problems, try other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.  


Latest News

Metastatic breast care nurses

What great news from the Australian Labor Party, announcing to pledge funding for an additional 24 metastatic cancer nurses if elected.   This acknowledges the need for further support and information required by Australians who are diagnosed with an incurable cancer.   This is something that BCNA have been lobbying for for some time
“We want to make sure that all Australians who are dealing with this
difficult diagnosis get the support they need to navigate our complex
health system and manage the challenges of living with a terminal
illness.”  BCNA CEO Kirsten PIlatti
Its great to see labor's initiative, see here for more
information

 
Palbociclib (Ibrance)
to be added to PBS for Australians with metastatic breast cancer from 1 May
2019

The CDK inhibitor
Palbociclib (Ibrance) will be listed on the PBS as a first line treatment for
people newly diagnosed with metastatic hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative
breast cancer from 1 May 2019.  While this is
good news for some people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, our concern
remains for women and men seeking access to a CDK inhibitor as a second or
later line treatment.  BCNA will continue to work on this issue so
that all Australians living with metastatic breast cancer have access to this
important drug.  For more information Click here


Field of Women
awarded Cause Related Event of the Year at the National Meeting & Events
Australia (MEA) Awards in Brisbane.

BCNA is very excited that Field of Women won this award as
it acknowledges all the hard work that Peter Jones and his team, the BCNA team
and all our wonderful volunteers put into making the day such a success. What
an amazing day to see 12,000 women, men and children come together to form the
Pink Lady on the MCG in support of Australians affected by breast cancer.  A powerful display of strength, courage,
commitment and camaraderie by all and certainly a day to remember.


Community highlights

1.       Anxious
weekend ahead

This thread was commenced by @Kat09 who had
her yearly check-up and was expecting everything to be ok.  Some anomalies found in her scan led to a
biopsy under her arm and ‘waiting’ for results over the weekend with increasing
levels of anxiety.  So many great
responses of support from community members including

‘Distraction is the key.  Enjoy
your weekend and best wishes for results that show your team has been cautious.
Take care.  Perhaps a massage may help’ Iserbrown

We were sorry to hear that the cancer
has returned in your lymph nodes @Kat09
Your team have been very thorough and we wish you all the best with your
upcoming treatment.  

        

 2.       Young
mum going through treatment

Great thread commenced by @Pinkcloverss who was about to start chemotherapy and keen to get advice on how
to keep running a household with a toddler while undergoing treatment.  Our community responded with some great
practical information and tips as well as support and encouragement.  This thread high lights the real day to day
challenges of many women diagnosed with breast cancer.  We hope all is going well with your treatment @Pinkcloverss.


3.       Positive
thought for the day

Great thread with some very inspiring quotes, see the latest post by @LucyDee

'Courage
doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage
is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow'

-         
Mary Anne
Radmacher


Community News

Lymphoedema webinar now available to view

The link for the lymphoedema webcast Understanding lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment is now
available.   If you have already
registered, you will just need to add your email address and then watch the
webcast.  If you didn’t register, you
will need to complete the registration process, once complete you will be able
to view the webcast.   This is the first
in a series of two webinars.  The next
one will be in May. View here


National Advance Care Planning Week 1 - 5 April 2019  

Your life.  Your voice.  Your choice.  

Advance care planning enables people to have a say in the medical care
they receive if they become too unwell to speak for themselves. It gives
them options and a voice, regardless of what the future brings.  While advance care planning is important for everyone its particularly important for people living with cancer.  Our experience tells us that it is much easier to have conversations
about the end of your life when you are well. Breast Cancer Network
Australia is encouraging women and men living with breast cancer to
start these conversations today.  For more information see here


Reminders




Pink Lady AFL Match Sunday 4 May

Families wanting to get along to the Pink Lady AFL Match in Melbourne this year should pop Saturday May 4 2019 in their diary.  Melbourne V Hawthorn at the MCG – 1.45pm game. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

2019 is a Pink Lady Match not a Field of Women. The players wear pink socks and Melbourne players run through a pink banner and guard of honour of Melbourne football club members who have been affected by breast cancer. There’ll also be donation collections and merchandise sales on the day in support of BCNA but not the thousands of people on the field creating the pink lady. The Field of   Women happens only every 4 years.


Research surveys online

At BNCA we are aware that there is lots of great research taking place nationally.  If you do come across research surveys or questionnaires that you would like to let the online community know, please contact myself or Marianne at BCNA.  We have a process that we follow with our policy team to ensure that the research is evidence based, ethics approved and suitable for our members.  We are
most happy to review any information that you think would be good for our
community to know.  Thanks for all the
great support!

This week’s reflective quote

“An open heart is an open mind.” 

 Dalai Lama


Have a great week everyone,

regards Giovanna



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