Disappointed in The Beacon's name change

Message from BCNA’s CEO

Hello and Happy New Year everyone

I have just returned yesterday from a three-week break.

I apologise for the delay in responding to some of the comments that have appeared on the online network in relation to BCNA’s magazine. @iserbrown is correct, BCNA’s office has been operating with skeleton staff since reopening on 2 January.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback and comments. You have reaffirmed how valued the magazine is and how important it is that it continues.

Over the past 18 months, BCNA has conducted more than 3,000 interviews Australia-wide with women and men affected by breast cancer as part of the State of the Nation project. These interviews have helped paint a picture of the issues that exist for Australians affected by breast cancer and confirm where BCNA should be focusing its attention as we move into our 20th anniversary year.

After listening to members, we know there are different levels of engagement with the magazine and we are keen to ensure that that the magazine remains relevant for all Australians affected by breast cancer.

With this in mind, we feel that after 81 issues of The Beacon it is time to freshen up its look with a new format to refocus its content and create a better reading experience.

The name change coincides with the launch of the refreshed magazine.

We know that people continue to be confused by who’s who in the breast cancer space and we need to strengthen awareness of BCNA and its contribution within the breast cancer landscape.

The purpose of the name change to the magazine is to reinforce the association between BCNA – the Pink Lady organisation – and the magazine.

While the past 20 years of BCNA have seen many changes an enduring image remains – that of the Pink Lady. A symbol of hope, strength and survival, the Pink Lady reflects our unwavering focus on the people affected by breast cancer, not the disease. It not only differentiates us from the other breast cancer organisations, it is fundamental to our identity. We continue to form the Pink Lady at important events such as the Field of Women, which will be held again in 2018. We are very proud of our brand and what it has come to represent to all Australians affected by breast cancer.

The name change is in no way intended to exclude men. Over the three years I have been with BCNA I have made active efforts to better address the needs of men diagnosed with breast cancer. BCNA has had a booklet called Men get breast cancer too for some years, however we now also provide oncologist John Boyages’ book on breast cancer in men to all newly diagnosed men. We have fostered opportunities for men with breast cancer to gain skills in consumer advocacy and awareness-raising and two male members attended BCNA’s biennial summit last year for the first time. We are also very proud to have been active in raising awareness among the Australian community that men get breast cancer too, including by acknowledging Male Breast Cancer Awareness Day for the first time last year.

Pink Lady will continue to share stories and information about men with breast cancer (@Chester80$$ generously shared his story with us in 2015).

For those who are interested in the origins of the blue man silhouette pictured in @traveltext’s post, it first appeared at our Field of Women in Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens in 1999. The blue silhouettes will continued to be included at Fields throughout the year. At the Field of Women at the MCG on 12 August this year, we plan to include 148 blue ponchos to represent the number of men expected to be diagnosed this year.

This move to the Pink Lady has been done without any money being spent on engaging design agencies or on marketing, and the layout and design has been created by our internal designer.

BCNA is committed to creating the best possible publication for our members. We are hopeful that you will enjoy the new format and would genuinely welcome feedback on the first edition.

Warm regards

Christine