đđ¤â¤ď¸NAIDOC WEEK: Sun, 5 July 2026 â Sun, 12 July 2026
NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate, recognise and honour the strength, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples đŞ This NAIDOC Week, we invite you to revisit insights shared by BCNA Board Member and proud Aboriginal woman, Jacinta Elston, as she reflects on her experiences from the 2024 Think Tank discussions on cancer care for First Peoples. Drawing on her own breast cancer experience, Jacinta speaks about the importance of culturally safe care, listening to First Peoples' voices, and strengthening the approaches we know are making a positive difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by breast cancer. As we celebrate this year's NAIDOC Week theme, we also acknowledge the ongoing work needed to ensure equitable and accessible cancer care for all First Peoples communities. đFor information and support for First Peoples, visit our website: https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/articles/information-for-first-peoples đOr contact the BCNA Helpline on 1800 500 258, Monday to Friday, 9amâ5pm.Chest Cancer Breast Cancer
Hello readers (all members, carers, staff, the public), Having read various requests, pleas, posts that communicate the need to INCLUDE males, in fact all people of any gender and age, and still see vastly inadequate awareness and action, please understand why this call for action might reflect how urgent, emphatic and furious it can become. How many requests, how many years, how many lives suffering shame/embarrassment/stigma/isolation, how many deaths, how much ignorance, even among today's GPs, how little support, how many undiagnosed cancer cases??? For anyone who cannot feel empathy, like it-does-not-affect-me or they-are-JUST-minority, then think⌠if it is your: son, brother, father, partner, husband, grandfather, grandmother, child, other loved ones, or someone you respect. Actions please, especially by BCNA, and other organisations, in the position of power to do something about it -right now. Strongly recommend: Marketing Team, able and influential. BCNA pagesâ banners are the worst misinformation propagator of âwomen-only, pink pink bathing-big-busts-the-goal-in-life; no children, no males, no matter cancer undiagnosed untreated they are nobody. Requests of years ago still ignored. Please right now stop plastering pink pink bright pink all over, highlighting bulging breasts in pink bathing suits as if for a women-only swim club, exclusively pink bright pink skirts, and just women maniacally laughing. Over-the-top incongruous. Please donât switch to extreme stereotypes either, like typically the most wrinkly hand being held by an age-contrast hand, in copy-cat robotsâ stock-photos marketing. While youâre adjusting, please very ably and kindly reduce all the auto flipping/sliding panels, hyperactive donate-button, and fast drop-drown whenever we just hover or just breathe; itâs turning us into a nervous twitchy moving-image-nauseous wreck. Some have x months to live, can marketing spend 3 hours to make a beta, 3 days to go live, for them to see in time? Merchandise. Please adjust the pink pink pink ribbons. How about a more INFORMATIVE, educating, creative, inclusive pink+green+brown for example, avoiding gender-again gender blue. Something neutral and universal? A flower+leaf+stem, sun moon star, or a simple band? A sticky post please, kind can-do staff, to educate and change habit. Something like âGenderless breast cancer affects allâ, in green? Avoid gender-colour. Members posting please use neutral communication instead of all these âlovely ladiesâ. We are supposed to know better, and the public can read these posts to learn from us. No, it is not enough to have ONE day of the year for half the population -cancer affects everyone in the personâs life. No, it is not acceptable to shove males, children, and so-name-called CALD (we are all of us diverse multicultural so itâs not right for one group to name call the âothersâ as diverse) to go talk among yourselves in that corner or in a locked group. As if get out of my sight. As if we donât care. As if youâre not one of us. It is not fair to burden this task on the shoulders of the ânot one of usâ to educate the mass. The task is on us. Please get updates of info to reach and make sure GPs and all other medical professionals are up-to-date and aware. Still a problem, in 2026. Please action, everyone. Kind members please do, if not already. Please search âmaleâ, âmenâ, and topic âInclusionâ 2019? on this site, to listen, to hear, to understand, to be kinder. Letâs mark todayâs date 20-Mar-2026 awaiting action. We are counting, each day. More suffering. Any effective action. Please. With hope and thanks. [Edit: Tagging PeterBâ and traveltextâ to acknowledge and show appreciation.]March 6th was Lymphoedema Awareness Day â¤ď¸
Living with lymphoedema after breast cancer can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Itâs okay to feel upset or overwhelmed by the experience of a chronic condition. Whether itâs impacting your body image or your relationships, your feelings are valid. The good news? As you learn to manage the physical symptoms, the emotional weight often lifts too. Steps to support living with lymphoedema: ⨠Talk to your team: Reach out to your breast care nurse, GP, or therapist. ⨠Access help: Ask your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan and/or a Chronic Condition Management Plan for Medicare-subsidised support. â¨Connect: Sharing experiences with others who "get it" can make all the difference. Our incredible Online Network is here for you, please reach out whenever you need to chat. For more information and support call our Helpline on 1800 500 258 between Monday â Friday 9am â 5pm.Breast cancer has seen a rise in the diagnosis of young women - awareness is key! đ
Growing numbers of women are being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40. While experts are not able to say for sure what is driving this, the impact is still notably huge on both the healthcare system and the real lives of real people. Finding breast cancer early gives you the best chance of effective treatment. Being breast aware at any age means knowing whatâs normal for your body, so changes can be noticed sooner. Consider this your friendly reminder to #Know Yourself. Feel Yourself. , and that awareness and early detection are key. Don't be afraid to share the love and gently 'nudge' your close friends & family to be more breast aware â¤ď¸ đ Learn how to perform a breast self-check at https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/screening-and-diagnosis/how-to-check-your-breasts đWatch the 9 news coverage of the issue here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/929813956177041đą Wednesday Wellness - 05Nov25 đą
With all the busy-ness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the launch of the incredible Know yourself, feel yourself awareness campaign in Bondi, it's been a little while since we did a Wednesday Wellness check in! đŹ How are you all feeling today - physically, mentally, emotionally? Check out the following awesome ideas for creative ways you can offer yourself a moments (or a few!) of wellness in these coming weeks: đź Yoga4Cancer Series - Counterpart Gentle, supportive yoga designed for women with cancer. Build strength, reduce stress, and connect with others in a safe space. Click here to book the Yoga4Cancer series đź Virtual Workshops â Look Good Feel Better This month, explore a range of free, live and interactive workshops designed to support people undergoing cancer treatment. From skincare and makeup tips to emotional wellbeing and gentle movement, these sessions offer practical tools and a sense of connectionâall from the comfort of home. Upcoming topics include: Skin Care & Makeup, Wigs & Headwear, and Feel Better Fridays - Join sessions like Chair Yoga, Meditation, Healthy Cooking, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to support your physical and emotional wellbeing. Click here to register for November virtual workshops đź TREK4BCNA - Take on the adventure of a lifetime! Youâre invited to join BCNA community ambassador Kristal in the TREK4BCNA to Mount Kilimanjaro this February. Whether itâs a chance to challenge yourself physically and mentally, a way to show support for others, or to do a life changing trek in memory of someone you love, a group of like-minded people will walk by your side. Click here to learn more about TREK4BCNA đ We hope these ideas and opportunities help support your wellbeing this week- whether you're taking a moment to breathe, joining a workshop, or have something big coming up soon đ If you need further support and information, please reach out to our helpline on 1800 500 258, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.â¤ď¸ This is your sign to take a few moments today for a breast self-check
As we head into the final days of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought we could all use a gentle reminder to take a few moments today for a breast self-check. đđ Knowing your normal means you can spot when something isnât đđ BCNAâs new educational video walks you through a step-by-step self-breast check so you can get to know whatâs normal for you. Learn how to perform a self-breast check here. , and give this article a read for more information. Let's give our breasts they mirror time they deserve đâď¸ Today is men's breast cancer awareness day đŹ
1 in 556 men are diagnosed with breast cancerâin 2023 Paul became one of them. After finding a lump under his left armpit, Paul decided to see his doctor about it and was later diagnosed with breast cancer. A former professional basketballer in the States and in Australia, Paul says at the time he was in excellent shape, living a full life, and his youngest son was just six months old. "The news of a cancer diagnosis for me was loaded with overwhelming doses of shock and fear. Being a man with breast cancer, I felt a touch of shame and embarrassment.â Says Paul Share this post with your friends to remind them to know their normal so they can spot when something isnât, because anyone can get breast cancer. To read more of Paulâs story and for information and resources for men click the link: https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/personal-stories/not-just-a-woman-s-disease/Oct 15th - Lobular breast cancer awareness day
Did you know invasive lobular carcinoma can be difficult to see on mammograms? Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer, but it can be hard to see on mammograms. Why? Because the cancer cells spread through the breast tissue, they donât always form a lump the same way other cancers do. Make breast self-checks part of your regular routine. Knowing your normal can help you spot when something isnât. Click the link to watch our educational video that shows you how to perform a self-check. https://www.bcna.org.au/know-yourself-feel-yourself/Weâre here for youâ¤ď¸
Weâre here for you this October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and every month after. Our Helpline team is available on 1800 500 258 Monday â Friday between 9am â 5pm to take your calls and provide information and support. BCAM can be an overwhelming time for those affected by breast cancer, but BCNA has resources to support you during this time: BCNAâs Online Network- Share stories, ask for advice and offer support in our online community https://www.bcna.org.au/online-network/ My Journey- personalised information and tools to support you including our new notes feature to keep track of questions for your healthcare team, appointments and medications https://www.bcna.org.au/my-journey/ Information and resources hub- articles, stories, videos and podcasts https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/ For more information visit our website https://www.bcna.org.au/đŁ BreastScreen progress has flatlined. BCNAâs response to AIHW data.
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is calling on the Federal Government to immediately action recommended reforms to the national BreastScreen program. The newly released BreastScreen Australia Monitoring Report 2025 reveals a disappointing 2% increase in participation between 2021â22 and 2023â24. âYes, more women are being screened â but thatâs because there are more women, not because the program is performing better.â Says Vicki Durston, BCNAâs Director or Policy, Advocacy and Support Services BCNA is calling for urgent reform: â Risk-based screening â Breast density reporting â AI & innovation investment â National consistency â Equity for Indigenous women BCNA says women and families cannot wait any longer for an effective, modern breast screening program and is calling for urgent action. Read BCNAâs full response at https://www.bcna.org.au/media-releases/breastscreen-progress-has-flatlined-bcna-responds-to-aihw-data/
