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
