Warm greetings and welcome to
November! I’m jumping in for 
Community News
Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day (18 October)
Kate was told if she was prepared to wait
six months, she could have a double mastectomy and reconstruction at the same
time in Brisbane. After weighing up her options and receiving advice that it
was safe to wait, Kate opted to have the surgeries done at the same time. But
when her appointment finally arrived, Kate was told they could only perform the
double mastectomy.
18 October was Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, where BCNA continues to call for greater transparency of wait times for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. Kate went on to wait 10 years for breast reconstruction, which is an unacceptably long wait. At BCNA we continue to hear stories of long wait times for surgery and seek to work with health services to improve communication and transparency.
- Read Kate’s story in the October edition of The Beacon
- Find out more about our breast reconstruction advocacy in our Breast Reconstruction 2021 report
Male Breast Cancer Awareness Day (20 October)
Breast cancer is not only a healthcare concern for women. Men get breast cancer too.
Paul was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39. People are often surprised when he says he has breast cancer.
"I’d like other men to be comfortable to share their diagnosis and seek out any support they need. I don’t want men to feel ashamed about it."
Furthermore, Harry Brooks was a passionate advocate for men with breast cancer until he sadly passed this year and you can read his story here.
- Find resources for men with breast cancer on our website.
Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA)
Consumer voice was central at the Clinical Oncology Society of
Australia (COSA) 50th Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne this week when
four of our trained Consumer Representatives (CRs) contributed as panellists and
co-chairs on discussions about cancer care, treatment and support.
Meaningful partnerships between lived experience and research is vital to improving cancer outcomes.
Thank you to CRs Naveena Nekkalapudi, Jodie Lydeker, Victoria Gurvich and Dr Andrea Smith for being a voice for all those affected by breast cancer at COSA.- Read more about the power of BCNA consumer voice at COSA here.
BCNA LGBTIQ+ Women's Health Conference
LGBTIQ+
people with breast cancer experience higher rates of cancer related distress,
lower levels of family support, inadequate information from health
professionals and lower satisfaction with cancer care, BCNA Policy &
Advocacy Officer Julie Rae told a conference last week.
Julie also told
attendees at the LGBTIQ+ Women’s Health Conference in Melbourne that BCNA has
specialised resources for LGBTIQ+ people with breast cancer.
BCNA led a panel
of representatives from The McGrath Foundation, BreastScreen Victoria and Western Sydney
University at the conference
organised by Thorne Harbour Health and ACON.
Living Well, Your
Way was our theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and finding the
support and resources that is right for just you can help you live well your
way.
- You can find breast cancer resources for the LGBTIQ+ community on our website
'I'm not going to be cured' How breast cancer awareness and support sidelines people with metastatic disease
There have been incredible advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years. And stories about celebrities who have “beaten” breast cancer continue to be a source of inspiration for many people.
However, this emphasis on fighting, beating and surviving cancer shuts out the voices of those who will not survive.
- Read the article by BCNA
CR Andrea Smith and researchers from the
University of Sydney
Webcasts/Information Forums
Our Mission Beach
Information Forum was held last week in sunny QLD, where we heard about current
and emerging treatments, sexual health, strategies to enhance physical and
emotional wellbeing. It was also a fantastic opportunity to connect. If you
attended or were with us online, it would be great to hear from you.
Each presentation was recorded and will (along with the Coffs Harbor
Information Forum) be available in the coming weeks.
- Visit BCNA's
YouTube channel to view past Information Forums
Books / Movies / TV Series / Documentaries
5 ways to Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and clinical psychologist Dr Charlotte Tottman have joined forces on this article to help those affected by breast cancer to live well, their way.
- Read 5 Ways to Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis article on the Prevention Australia website
We
hope you have enjoyed this update, please take care and if you have any feedback,
please feel free to comment below or send a private message to:
@Pat_BCNA @Mez_BCNA , @Risha_BCNA, @Denise_BCNA, @Daina-BCNA , @Georgie_BCNA
Or call our Helpline
on 1800 500 258 Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm (AEDT) or email helpline@bcna.org.au.
The mod team -
Mez, Carissa, Daina, Jenny and Pat