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!Pink 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_BCNA
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).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.pdfFriday Update - 10th March 2023
Hello Online Network members, Hope you are enjoying a lovely Autumn day if you live in Melbourne; it truly is a beautiful season. Reflecting on some of the Online Network’s February activity, it was nice to see that the most activity has been visible in ‘Social Groups’ (private groups). If you have not checked out the variety of groups that may be relevant to your needs, please head to the link Groups Take care and enjoy. Community Highlights Revised Group The private PALB2 Gene Group has been changed to Hereditary Genetic Mutations and Breast Cancer to encompass individuals affected by any genetic mutation that may relate to an increased risk of brest cancer. February 2023 Activity In February the Online Network had 93 new discussions; 596 new comments and 15,032 visits to the community Popular Forum Discussions If you have missed some of the most active discussions in the past few weeks, you can check them out below: New Group Proposal - No Reconstruction post Breast Cancer Surgery What Care Givers do ...... Not doing so well Letrozole - Fracture in spine Mastectomy Posts by 'Category Name' February 2023 Community News BCNA News – 07 March 2023 More research is need into fear of breast cancer recurrence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, participants at a Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) Think Tank heard last week BCNA part of first ever research into fear of breast cancer recurrence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women BCNA News – 02 March 2023 As Australia’s leading voice for people affected bu breast cancer, BCNA is proud its Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston, has been elected president of the General Assembly of the ABC Alliance BCNA’s Director Policy, Advocacy and Support Services elected to international breast cancer body International Women's Day - 8th March 2023 Thankyou to those who supported or participated in the Carman's Fun Run last Sunday. BCNA are pleased to announced that with the work of fundraisers and event partners, we were able to raise over $255,000 to help support of Australians affected by breast cancer. World Lymphoedema Day – 6th March 2023 On World Lymphoedema Awareness Day BCNA is calling for improved equity of access to treatments for lymphoedema. Lymphoedema, which is swelling caused by damage to the lymph nodes, can affect many people following treatment for breast cancer. It is a lifelong condition that can require wearing expensive compression garments to manage the symptoms. The financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis is already significant without the ongoing costs to manage and treat lymphoedema. All states and territories run programs that subsidise lymphoedema compression garments, and BCNA is calling for further investment to make these programs even more accessible in the long term. BCNA celebrates advocates like Monique Bareham who says early diagnosis followed by evidence-based care is fundamental to living well with lymphoedema. ‘Compression is key to managing swelling and access to garments is essential.’ For more information on lymphoedema compression garment programs in your state/territory, see here: https://www.lymphoedema.org.au/.../compression-garment.../ Cancer Survivorship Conference The sixth national Cancer Survivorship Conference has been underway in Adelaide Convention Centre today and yesterday, Hosted by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia - COSA and Flinders University. There were some great speakers at the conference and BCNA held an exhibit there to engage with health professionals, researchers and consumers. A couple of my colleagues came across some practical information that Online Network members may find of interest. They met Rebecca who has gone through her own breast cancer experience and works for the organisation ‘Moo Goo’. Many of you know that the Moo Goo creams have been helpful for people during their radiation treatment and here is the link from our service finder if you would like to find out more MooGoo Prophylactic Measures and Skin Care During Treatment They also found sexual health physician Tonia Mezinni highly informative and engaging. You can check out further information about her via the link https://drtoniamezzini.com.au/ . We also have added another business to the BCNA service finder Olive & Bee This is a natural lubricant created by Claire Osterstock (Physiotherapist) in Adelaide who assist men and women with pelvic pain. The product was handed out after Tonia Mezinni’s session. BCNA presented three of its major projects on detailed posters: Surviving Breast Reconstruction: What Information Would Help Women; Making Metastatic Breast Cancer Count, and Out With Cancer: LGBTQI Cancer Survivorship and Care. Forums / Webcasts Warrnambool Information Forum 28th March 2023 BCNA have announced another face-to-face forum coming in March. You can see the latest discussion here through the Online Network: https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/25352/upcoming-event-warrnambool-information-forum-28-march#latest Port Lincoln Information Forum 7th March 2023 – Recap to come soon The Port Lincoln forum was held this week and I look forward to sharing more details and recap of the event in the next update Books/ Movies / TV Series/ Documentaries Breast Cancer Now - The Chat – The UK’s first group messaging series is live Breast Cancer Now have created a new series called ‘The Chat’. Aimed at encouraging us to question how we speak about breast cancer, highlighting the importance of honesty and real talk in society that typically does not like to talk about. Inspired by real cancer stories – check it out Breast Cancer Now | The Chat That's all for this week and if you have any content you would like to see in the updates please feel free to share with me and I will try my best. @Jenny_BCNA @Carissa_BCNA @Pat_BCNA @Mez_BCNA If you wish to speak with the Helpline team regarding your concern, please call 1800 500 258 Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm (AEDT), alternatively you can email helpline@bcna.org.au The mod team - Mez, Carissa, Jenny and Pat "She stood in the storm, & when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails." - Elizabeth Edwards
