Why Im proud to be a Pink Lady by Mandy Forteath
Hello everyone, This is a great article written by Mandy Forteath who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks ago at BCNA titled 'Why Im proud to be a Pink Lady.' https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/why-im-proud-to-be-a-pink-lady/news-story/31abd9d5b1f98949e8476f9c4602e052Friday 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 TeamMedia opportunity in Perth and Sydney regarding out of pocket costs...
Hello everyone, I have been asked to reach out to our online network community to see if anyone may be interested in a media opportunity regarding out of pocket costs. We are seeking someone from Perth and Sydney, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer (not too far post diagnosis), who has experienced out of pocket costs and the need to be told about these out of pocket costs before treatment. There will be an announcement made this week regarding this issue. We are seeking some personal stories and experiences. According to our Media Manager, Kellie Curtain, there is an opportunity for an interview for TV and radio later this week. If you are interested can you please email Kellie asap via kcurtain@bcna.org.au Thanking you Giovanna
Call out for anyone living in Queensland who has experienced out of pocket costs for breast MRIs
Hi everyone, I have another call out for someone interested in talking to the media! There is so much interest at the moment in breast cancer related stories so we want to make the most of this. This time a senior journalist with a major paper is wanting to run a story on the lack of rebates for breast MRI and wants to interview a Qld woman. If you live in Qld and were left out of pocket for your MRIs and are interested in speaking to the media about your experience please direct message me Thanks!
Media call-out: The Age looking for a Melbourne woman with radiotherapy tattoos
Hi there, Online Network! A journalist from The Age is looking to interview a woman in Melbourne who has had radiotherapy and therefore had radiotherapy tattoos. It's for an article about a new process at the Alfred Hospital where radiotherapy can be carried out without the need for tattooed markings. If you're interested, please email me (Sophie Benjamin) at sbenjamin@bcna.org.au. Thanks!
Exploiting breast cancer
Is anyone else as furious as me about the revolting, demeaning ad campaign by Honey Birdette exploiting Breast Cancer Awareness month? I'd like to know if our leaders are going to write a position statement on this. https://www.collectiveshout.org/honey_birdette_sexing_up_breast_cancerMedia request - Women in all states/territories who can speak about allied health
Hello everyone, We are looking for one or two women in every state and territory who would be happy to speak to the media about the importance of allied health services, for example, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, lymphoedema therapists, social workers, etc. for a media campaign in relation to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The key issues include: - Cost - Under GP Management Plans and Team care arrangements, women are eligible to claim a Medicare rebate for up to five visits per calendar year to allied health practitioners; we want this extended to 10 visits per year. - Availability of services – for example availability of services in outer regional or rural areas. If you are interested, please email Andrew Ellis, Media Manager at BCNA aellis@bcna.org.au Thanking you
