Invitation to a free online information session
Hi everyone, Letting you know about a free online video information session that BCNA is hosting for those recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The session will provide practical tips about the information you need to help you through this time and guidance on how to make the treatment decisions that are best for you. Hear from leading experts, as well as a breast cancer survivor, who will share tips on what she wishes she’d known when first diagnosed and trying to make treatment decisions. This is an interactive information session, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Speakers: Caroline Baker, breast surgeon Kathryn Wallace, breast care nurse Renee Gani, breast cancer survivor Event details Date: Wednesday 27 June Time: 7.00 – 7:45 pm (AEST) Where: online – from your computer, laptop or tablet Your local time WA: 5.00 NT, SA: 6.30 ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC, QLD: 7.00 CLICK HERE TO REGISTEROnline video information session now available on website
Hi everyone, Our inaugural online video information session for those recently diagnosed with breast cancer was a huge success on Wednesday night with over 100 people participating. The session provided practical tips to help you through this time and guidance on how to make the treatment decisions that are best for you. Speakers were: Caroline Baker, breast surgeon Kathryn Wallace, breast care nurse Renee Gani, breast cancer survivor To see the webcast, click on this link. You will need to register to view the webcast (if you haven’t already) and then login.The Beacon - 1st June 2022 edition
Hi everyone, The latest issue #91 of The Beacon is available now and should arrive in your inbox today. Alternatively you can access it here via the link https://www.bcna.org.au/news-events/the-beacon-magazine/issue-91-june-2022/ Enjoy the new interactive format and as always, we welcome your feedback.The Beacon - 1st September 2022 Edition
Greetings everyone, The latest issue #92 of The Beacon is available now and should arrive in your inbox today. Alternatively you can access it here via the link https://www.bcna.org.au/news-events/the-beacon-magazine/issue-92-september-2022/ There is also a 'Download' option if you prefer to read it as a PDF. Enjoy!Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer
The BCNA Member Support team would like to share the link to the quick reference guide Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer CC QRG Breast 2021.pdf (cancervic.org.au) The optimal care pathways describe a model of cancer care that puts the patient at the centre of care decisions. They describe a national standard of high-quality cancer care that all Australians should expect. The aim of the model is to improve patient outcomes through promoting quality cancer care and ensuring that all people diagnosed with cancer receive the best care, irrespective of where they live or receive cancer treatment (Cancer Council VIC, 2021). The Cancer Council are in the process of refreshing the consumer version of the optimal care pathways. You can find more information in relation to the optimal care pathways on the Cancer Council website Optimal cancer care pathways | Cancer Council References Cancer Council VIC. (2021). Optimal care pathways for people with breast cancer. https://www.cancervic.org.au/downloads/health-professionals/ocp/CC%20QRG%20Breast%202021.pdfPink Hope (Australia's Hereditary Cancer Charity) - Events
Robyn (Programs Manager) at Pink Hope wanted to share to several events they have got coming up that are are focused on supporting people with hereditary cancer risk: (Sharing here in addition to the Hereditary Genetic Mutations and Breast Cancer group) Fri June 21st – Community catch-up dinner Brisbane Sat June 22nd – Info & Support Day at Royal Brisbane Women’s hospital Fri July 19th - Community Catch-up dinner Melbourne Sat July 20th - Info & Support Day at Uni of Melbourne Fri Aug 9th – Community Catch-up dinner Sydney Sat Aug 10th – Info & Support Day at Macquarie Uni, Sydney Flyers attached and website info via the link https://www.pinkhope.org.au/join-an-event
BCNA Information Forum - recordings available soon
Hi everyone, We are holding an Information Forum in Mission Beach on Tuesday 24 October, 9.00am - 3.00pm. This will be our last in-person Information Forum for 2023. The forum will also take place online, with sessions occurring in our main presentation room being shared live on Zoom. During the event, you will hear from - Those with a lived experience of breast cancer Medical Oncologist, Dr Michelle White Clinical Psychologist, Chloe Oliver Sexual Health Physician, Dr Tonia Mezzini Exercise Physiologist, Jody Spicer Physiotherapist, Maebh Coleman Deirdre Maunsell, Breast Care Nurse We will cover current and emerging treatments, sexual health, strategies to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing and share local services and support. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet others in the local Mission Beach community. You can register to attend either in-person or online by clicking here. The presentations will be made available to view on-demand following the Information Forum but we would love to see you on the day, whether that be in-person or via Zoom. Please feel free to share the registration link with friends and family. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post them below. Many thanks, @Carissa_BCNAFriday Update - 17th April 2025
Hi everyone, We’re back with your latest update from Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA)—keeping you across activity happening within the organisation and the broader community. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, navigating treatment, or supporting a loved one, we hope you find the update useful. We cannot believe it is Easter already! Hope you can enjoy the time in a way that feels right for you. You may even like to grab a hot cross bun this Easter at Bakers Delight! Did you know Bakers Delight and BCNA have had a partnership for 25 years? (Read more about this amazing partnership in this update). 📚 Resource of the Month: “My Journey” upgrade If you haven't explore it it yet, BCNA has launched its new My Journey with better information and support for people impacted by breast cancer! You would've noticed that My Journey and Online Network can now be found in one place for a more streamlined user experience across all devices. We collaborated with consumer representatives and healthcare professionals in creating and reviewing our evidence-based content, ensuring the new My Journey features a broad range of the latest and most credible resources for you. Watch the video here of Naveena (BCNA Consumer Representative) talking about how to navigate the platform. If you have any questions, please go to our Frequently asked questions page in the first instance. To ensure we do not miss any of your feedback or technical issues please log these under the Get in Touch form to ensure feedback is collected in the centralised area. A special thank those of you who have supported us with feedback and troubleshooting solutions during the transition to the new platform. 📢BCNA in Action: Policy Priorities 2025 With breast cancer being the most common cancer affecting Australian women, annually it is costing the Australian Government nearly $1.8 billion. As we approach the federal election, BCNA is advocating for systemic change in four key areas: Reducing the financial costs of breast cancer treatment and support – Women with breast cancer experience high out-of-pocket healthcare costs as well as indirect costs such as loss of income, leading to substantial financial burden. Prioritising risk-based stratification for early detection and breast screening programs – Genetic conditions and breast density can significantly increase breast cancer risk. Access to specialist diagnostic and screening tests is limited due to restrictive eligibility criteria, cost, and workforce shortages, particularly in regional areas. Addressing unmet supportive care needs for people impacted by breast cancer – Advances in treatment continue to improve survival rates, but physical and emotional impacts such as chronic pain, fear of recurrence, and lymphoedema remain complex and require greater attention. Investing in a sustainable and comprehensive cancer data ecosystem – The lack of comprehensive cancer data, including metastatic staging and recurrence, limits evidence-based healthcare planning and investment. In addition to these priorities, BCNA continues to work alongside the Australian Access to Breast Reconstruction Collaborative Group (AABRCG) to advocate for those at inherited risk of breast cancer to access surgery as a Category 2 rather than Category 3 - preventing people from being diagnosed with breast cancer while they wait for essential risk reducing surgeries. To read more about this collaboration click here. We are also continuing to drive policy reforms that enhance metastatic breast cancer (MBC) staging and recurrence data reporting. 📢BCNA in Action: National Cancer Survivorship Conference 2025 BCNA recently hosted a pre-conference workshop From Patient to Partner: Unlocking the power of consumer engagement at the 2025 National Cancer Survivorship Conference , aligning with the conference’s goal of building capability and capacity in survivorship care and research. The workshop focused on strengthening research impact through effective consumer-researcher partnerships. The session explored best practices for embedding consumer voices in research to enhance study design, improve relevance, and drive meaningful translation into clinical practice. Led by BCNA, in partnership with COSA, the University of Queensland and Translational Research Institute, the workshop highlighted collaborative approaches to integrating consumers into survivorship research, supporting sector-wide learning and capability building. BCNA funded the attendance of BCNA Consumer Representatives and supported the involvement of other peak cancer NGOs involved in the ACNNP to come together. There was shared interest to prioritise reducing barriers and increasing participation in consumer engagement in research, policy and practice. For those newer to consumer engagement, conversations provided encouragement on how to keep moving forward with curiosity and respect. We look forward to sharing the formal evaluation outcomes with all participants and our network. Hear about the conference highlights 🤝BCNA Celebrating partnerships RED ENERGY For a decade now, Red Energy has turned pink for BCNA. Yesterday BCNA and Red Energy celebrated an incredible 10 years of partnership. Since 2015, Red Energy has supported the 58 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer, including being a Major Partner of Pink Lady Match and Pink Sports Day program, which galvanises communities across Australia. Red Energy’s belief in BCNA’s cause manifested itself in the development of the Red BCNA Saver Plan*, through which Red Energy has contributed over $2.3 million on behalf of its customers. 🔗Read more about the impact of this colourful and thriving partnership via the link Red Energy's 10 years of turning pink for BCNA BAKERS DELIGHT From 1–21 May 2025, Bakers Delight bakeries across the country will turn pink to show their support for Australians affected by breast cancer. This year marks a very special milestone, 25 years of partnership between Bakers Delight and Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). Together, we’ve raised over $27 million to ensure that no one diagnosed with breast cancer is unsupported. 🔗Read more about this incredible partnership via the link Bakers Delight Breast Cancer Campaign Partnership 🎉 Event Spotlight: Carman's Fun Run is coming to Sydney in 2025! Carman's Fun Run SYDNEY 2025! We’re thrilled to share that the wildly popular Melbourne event Carman's Fun Run is coming to Sydney in 2025! Join us on Sunday 21 September as Metcalfe Park, Pyrmont, turns pink as our partners at @carmanskitchen and @solemotive bring this fantastic event to a brand-new city. Whatever your speed, we have an option for you. Choose to join our 5km, 10km or half-marathon run, or gather your friends and family for the 5km Pink Lady Walk. If you register now, you’re taking advantage of the EARLY BIRD RATE! Be quick because this discount stops 29 April 2025. Click on the link to find out how to register Register Here 👂 We Want to Hear From You! What topics do you want to see more of in the community? Share your feedback, questions, or ideas via helpline@bcna.org.au or reply directly to this post. Take care and keep the conversations going! @BCNA_Mod Team
Share your views: Information and support needs of people following treatment of breast cancer
Hi everyone, Erana from BCNA here! I’d like to invite you to participate in a research study opportunity led by James Cook University. Please see details below. If you can't access the QR code you can also follow this link Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this research, please contact the research lead Tracey Ahern at tracey.ahern@jcu.edu.au This study has been approved by the James Cook University Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (#H9326).
