Together for breast cancer - BCNA

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With October being breast cancer awareness month, we wanted to share updates with you throughout! So simply scroll down this post to see updates within the comments! 
Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts today, and it’s the perfect time to get together with your community to support Australians affected by breast cancer. 

We love to see the Pink Sports Day clubs kicking off the month the right way with their #PLAY4BCNA activities.  Here are a few fantastic photos from our Pink Sports Day hosts so far this year! 

Host your own Pink Sports Day with your club or school team this month by registering here  https://www.bcna.org.au/host-a-fundraising-event/ 

Together we're helping all Australians affected by breast cancer. 

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At Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) our theme this year is ‘Connection and Community- Together for breast cancer’. 

We’ve designed this year’s theme to recognise that, while a diagnosis of breast cancer looks different for everyone, we can work together to ensure all Australians diagnosed have access to the resources and support they need.   

Together we’re making an impact this month by sharing information to help those affected by breast cancer to live well during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond – including topics about metastatic breast cancer, mental health support and how to show your support. 

We look forward to connecting with you this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Find out more about what we're doing here: https://www.bcna.org.au/breast-cancer-awareness-month/

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Meet the Hardmans. 

After facing an initial early breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, Kate was told that her cancer had metastasised to her spine last year. Her cancer spread while pregnant with their third child. 

Kate and her husband Kriss (who faced a testicular cancer diagnosis in 2020) are devoted to sharing their journey on their Instagram page @_thehardmans 

Kate and Kriss are transparent about their experiences, answering questions openly and de-stigmatising what it’s like to live with metastatic breast cancer.  

In this video Kate shares three things she wishes people knew about metastatic breast cancer. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAku5nAvQku/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Community means something different to everyone. But what’s universal is that community can have a positive impact on people affected by breast cancer.  

This might look like dropping off meals, helping with the kids, accompanying to an appointment, hosting a fundraising event, connecting with others in the same boat, or simply having a chat over a cuppa. 

What do you love most about your community and why? 

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What’s something you want people to know about metastatic breast cancer?

"MBC doesn't mean you look sick but there are many side effects to cope with and they vary all the time." - Cathie

Cathie is part of BCNA’s metastatic breast cancer Lived Experience Reference Group using her lived experience to help inform BCNA’s policy, advocacy, and service development priorities.

She says "sometimes, people say I look great, but that day I may have nausea, aches, pain, brain fog, extreme fatigue or waiting for scan results to find out whether the cancer inside is stable. Saying I look good is nice but it can sometimes feel dismissive."

BCNA’s Online Network has a discussion forum for people with metastatic breast cancer to connect and share their experience with others going through the same thing. You can join via the link https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/2-living-with-metastatic-breast-cancer

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Can you believe it's been 20 years since Berlei and BCNA started working together?

Berlei have been such an important part of our community - from supporting BCNA with their Pink Bra Campaign, to their tireless work helping us distribute more than 225,000 free My Care Kit bras to people in the first 12 weeks post-breast cancer surgery and during radiation treatment.

Together we've made an impact, and we’re so thankful for their dedication and support to those affected by breast cancer.

Thank you, Berlei! Here's to many more years of working together 💖

Checkout the Berlei video via the link https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA4capKsMwC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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October 13th 2024

“If we can’t be counted, how can we be looked after properly?”
Counting matters, as Lisa Tobin, BCNA Consumer Representative, reminds us.

It’s been two years since our Making Metastatic Breast Cancer Count campaign and a year since releasing our paper ‘Time to Count People with Metastatic Breast Cancer - A Way Forward’.

BCNA advocates every day for those living with metastatic breast cancer to be consistently counted in cancer registries.

“Despite being raised as an issue throughout BCNA’s 25-year history, we remain in 2024 with no picture of metastatic breast cancer – not just in Australia, but around the world” said Vicki Durston, BCNA’s Director of Policy, Advocacy & Support Services.

Vicki, speaking in Portugal as President of the General Assembly for the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, emphasised the urgent need for accurate data to drive the changes that will improve outcomes for people with metastatic breast cancer worldwide

🔗Read our paper Time to Count People with Metastatic Breast Cancer - A Way Forward via the link https://www.bcna.org.au/resource-hub/research-reports/time-to-count-people-with-metastatic-breast-cancer-a-way-forward/

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‘Ask for and accept all the help you can get. Don’t be too proud to ask.’

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a carer, your role in helping someone with breast cancer is important.

Andrew is a partner of someone with breast cancer who is reminding us that taking time to care for your own health and well being is important.

If you aren’t sure how to support someone in your life with breast cancer or you need help navigating your role as a carer, you can call our free and confidential Helpline for information and support on 1800 500 258 between Monday- Friday 9am – 5pm.

Thank you to the carers of those with breast cancer 💖