Policy & Advocacy Update - Vicki Durston - Feb26
As we continue to move through 2026, there’s a real sense of progress building across breast cancer outcomes - both here at home and internationally. I want to share two important moments that highlight how evidence, leadership, and advocacy are shaping a better future for those affected by breast cancer. ✨ Why AI in mammography can’t wait Eric Topol’s recent article, “Why All Mammograms Should Incorporate AI,” brings together powerful evidence showing that AI in breast screening is no longer a future idea - it’s part of modern, effective care today. One of the strongest examples is the large MASAI trial from Sweden, involving more than 105,000 women. When radiologists used AI as support, the outcomes were remarkable: 👉 29% more cancers detected 👉 24% more invasive cancers found 👉 No increase in false positives or recalls 👉 44% reduction in radiologist workload Two-year follow-up findings were equally compelling: fewer interval cancers, fewer invasive cancers, and fewer aggressive types such as triple negative and HER2-positive cancers. What international evidence now shows International evidence is telling a very consistent story. Large trials and real-world evaluations show that AI-supported mammography can safely increase cancer detection while reducing radiologist workload, without increasing false positives or unnecessary recalls. This matters in a system already under pressure. AI is also changing how we think about risk. New image-based risk models can analyse a mammogram that appears “normal” to the human eye and still identify women at higher risk of developing breast cancer in the next few years. This opens the door to more personalised, risk-stratified screening, rather than the one-size-fits-all model we rely on today. Here in Australia, BreastScreen is a highly respected program, but it was designed more than 30 years ago. While Victoria and NSW are now piloting AI within their services, we still lack a coordinated national approach for integrating AI into breast screening that reflects today’s evidence. What BCNA is calling for We are now at a decision point. The question Eric Topol poses - “If not now, then when?”- is the same challenge facing Australia. For BCNA, this is not about chasing technology for its own sake. We are calling for AI to be treated as a core part of the evolution of breast screening, not an optional add-on. That means: Embedding AI research, evaluation and implementation within BreastScreen Ongoing, in-program national investment in screening research and quality improvement Ensuring that the benefits of new technology are delivered equitably, so no woman is left behind because of where she lives or her background If we get this right, AI won’t replace the program Australians trust - it will strengthen it, helping detect cancers earlier, supporting an overstretched workforce, and moving us closer to truly personalised, risk-stratified screening.🌸 Friday Update – 20 Feb 26
Hello everyone and welcome to Friday! I'm filling in for the Online Network content today, so I thought we’d wind things back to one of my classic Friday Updates - a gentle wrap‑up of what’s been happening across our BCNA community. 🏃♀️ Carman’s Fun Run – What a Day! Last Sunday’s Carman’s Fun Run was an incredible celebration of strength, spirit and community. Despite the rain, more than 8,000 participants came together in a wave of pink and helped raise over $315,000 for Australians affected by breast cancer. A huge congratulations to all participants, and a massive thank you to our amazing volunteers, fundraisers and partners who made it all possible 🙌 🏔️ Cheering on Kristal Kinsela – Trek4BCNA We also want to highlight Kristal Kinsela, one of BCNA’s ambassadors, who is currently undertaking Trek4BCNA: Kilimanjaro 2026challenge. Kristal’s commitment to raising awareness and funds for BCNA continues to inspire many across our community. 🌿 What’s new around BCNA and here in the Online Network Recent posts in our News and events section continue to provide support, connection and valuable information - including: Wednesday Wellness - 18Feb26 - Mindfulness Consumer voice strengthens health education Current Research Exploring the Role of AI in Breast Cancer | BCNA Online Network Lymphoedema Information & Events | BCNA Online Network BCNA's Breast self check | Know Yourself. Feel Yourself. content remains active, helping to promote early detection and greater awareness across our social channels 💗 Signing‑off It’s been great to connect with you all, and I hope you continue to find the support and conversations here helpful. A quick reminder that the BCNA Helpline team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (AEDT) if you need information, support or guidance toward appropriate services.🔬 Current Research Exploring the Role of AI in Breast Cancer
There’s been a bit of buzz lately about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it might play a role in breast cancer screening and risk prediction. For many of us, AI can feel a bit mysterious or even intimidating - so let’s explore it! 👀AI Might Help Spot Breast Cancer Breastcancer.org explains that AI programs are being trained to look at mammograms (sometimes millions of them) to learn what typical breast tissue looks like and what might be a sign of cancer. The idea is that AI may pick up tiny changes or patterns that are easy for the human eye to miss. Researchers hope this could help radiologists detect cancer earlier or decide which images need to be reviewed first. AI is also being tested on other scans like ultrasounds and MRIs. It’s already being used in some parts of Europe, though it’s not standard everywhere yet. At this stage, it’s not about replacing radiologists but supporting the - almost like having an extra pair of very detail‑focused eye. Read more here 🧬Using AI to Understand Personal Risk Another interesting development is happening here in Australia. The VCCC Alliance is sharing early work from the BRAIx project, which uses AI to help predict a person’s risk of developing breast cancer. The system looks at mammogram images from more than 95,000 women and uses advanced computer models to estimate who might be at higher risk in the future. The hope is that AI could help create more personalised screening, meaning people who need extra monitoring might be identified earlier, while others might avoid unnecessary tests. The project is also exploring how AI might help reduce false alarms and missed cancers, two challenges in current screening processes. Read more here ✨Why This Is Interesting (and Why We’re Still Watching Closely) All of this raises some very natural questions: Could AI one day help detect cancers earlier? Might it offer more tailored screening for individuals? How do we make sure it’s safe, fair, and reliable? Researchers are excited about the possibilities, but they also emphasise caution. AI needs ongoing testing and real‑world evaluation before it becomes part of everyday care. For now, it’s simply an area worth watching with curiosity. It may one day become another useful tool in breast cancer screening and risk prediction but like all medical advances, it will take time, evidence, and thoughtful conversation. 💬Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments!
CEO Update - December 2025
Hi everyone, 🎄Can you believe there are only a few more days until Christmas?! Make sure you've seen my personal message to the Online Network as we prepare for the festive season. Watch my message here As we enter into the final weeks of the year, I wanted to check in and share some of my reflections from 2025. I am very conscious of the way we are all feeling after the horrendous events of Bondi last weekend. This will impact us all very differently and I do hope that you have reached out for support if you need it. It is hard for many of our team to understand given we were only at Bondi in October connecting with the local community there. 💡 We are finishing this year with a milestone that epitomises how we advocate for people living with metastatic breast cancer. For 27 years, we’ve fought for visibility for this community, and now we know there are 20,950 Australians living with metastatic disease, people who have too often been invisible in the health system. This is significantly more than previously estimated. And behind this figure are real people. It is also clear that we now have more work to do to ensure our services and information are reaching all those living with metastatic breast cancer. Knowing the number is a key milestone, now we need to make it count. Read more about our pledge below. ❤️ We also know that moments like this can land differently for everyone. BCNA is here to provide support and resources to help you. Remember that our Helpline is here 1800 500 258 between Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm AEDT, or request a time for us to call you. We’ll keep pushing for better care, better treatment, and better outcomes, while being a trusted place to turn to for anyone affected by breast cancer. 💪 Access to the best treatment is fundamental to our work and that is why I am also proud that we drove submissions to ensure two new treatments for metastatic breast cancer and high-risk early breast cancer added to the PBS. This means more affordable access to life-changing options. 🫶 2025 also saw the power of community in every corner of Australia through our fundraising events including at the MCG’s Pink Lady Match. There is nothing more powerful that watching people connect – it brings a sense of belonging that is hard to describe but one I know you all feel on this Online Network. One common thing we do continue to hear in the community is that breast cancer is done – we all know that this is simply not true. So our messages to the general public have been about how far we have to go in early detection, treatment and care. We used Breast Cancer Awareness month to shift the community discussion to improving early detection through our Know Your Yourself. Feel Yourself. campaign, including a step-by-step video that encourages women to know their normal so they can identify changes early. I was shocked to hear so many young women tell us that they had never known how to check their breasts or that they had never really looked at their breasts before. We as a community have perhaps underestimated the knowledge of our young women – so if you can please help us to promote the educational video I would love you to. Know Yourself. Feel Yourself. A massive thank you to our hundreds of incredible volunteers and our dedicated Consumer Representatives who have supported us this year at our events, offices, and campaigns. We couldn’t do what we do without you! We know this can be a difficult time of the year for many of you so I am so pleased the Online Network will be here for you and for the many people who may be coming to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis for the first time. The magic of this Online Network is that you truly understand, you offer emotional support during difficult times, and creating spaces where you can share practical advice, find hope, and at times humour when we need it most! So never underestimate how your posts or questions can make a difference. From me and the whole team at BCNA thank you for being a valued member of our community and I hope you have a summer full of joy. 💬 What was your memorable moment this year and what are your fun plans for this summer? I cant wait to get my feet in the sand and salt water in my hair! Regards, Kirsten Pilatti, CEO, BCNAWe’re thinking of our community following the events in Bondi yesterday.
What happened was deeply distressing. We recognise the impact news like this can have—particularly for people living nearby, those with loved ones in the area, and members of the Jewish community. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, in Sydney and across Australia. For anyone who may need additional support, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are available.BCNA's 🎄Hours & Support Options
We know how important the role we play in your breast cancer journey is, and you know how important you are to us. BCNA will be taking a short break over Christmas, please ensure you are familiar with the following support services available during this time. 📞 BCNA's Helpline’s (1800 500 258) holiday period open times: The Helpline will be closed 5pm, 23 December and re-open on 5 January 2026 at 9am. If you need to talk to someone about a breast cancer diagnosis, you can call Cancer Council on 13 11 20, with reduced hours as follows; Wednesday December 24 – 9am-5pm Thursday December 25 – Closed Friday December 26 – Closed Monday December 29 – 12-4pm Tuesday December 30 – 12-4pm Wednesday December 31 – 12-4pm Thursday January 1 – Closed Friday January 2 – 9am-5pm (normal hours resume) These other services are also available: ✨ Lifeline - 13 11 14 (open 24/7) ✨ Beyond Blue - 1300 224 436 (open 24/7) ✨ If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 1300 YARN is also available throughout the holidays. 🧑🤝🧑Most importantly, BCNA's Online Network will remain an available and active community throughout this time however will not be moderated by BCNA staff from December 23rd to January 5th. Please do continue to ask questions, share your stories, and reach out for support here whenever you need it. We also encourage you to offer support on each other’s posts and comments whenever you can - your kindness and connection makes a world of difference, especially during the festive season and for new people that will join the network or receive their breast cancer diagnosis for the first time during these weeks. From the bottom of our hearts here at BCNA, thank you for all you do for each other ❤️📣 20,950 Australians.
After 27 years of BCNA advocacy, we've reached a milestone moment: For the first time, Australia has a national figure for people living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). That number is 20,950 Australians. These are people with unique, long-term needs who, until now, have been invisible in our health data and largely overlooked in health system planning. On 27 November, we officially announced this landmark data alongside our report; 👉 From invisibility to influence: progress on MBC data reforms in Australia. Together, we can ensure this data translates into meaningful change. People with MBC deserve a health system that sees them, plans for them, and supports them to live longer and live well. This data gives us the foundation to make that happen - but only if we maintain the momentum. What can you do? Sign BCNA's pledge calling for investment in ongoing MBC data collection in all states and territories. 👉 Sign the pledge today 📞 For further support or questions about this announcement, call our Helpline on 1800 500 258 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm AEDT📊 The numbers are out.
Australia continues to lead globally in breast cancer survival rates. The latest 2025 data reveals: ❣️ Five-year survival has risen to 93% (up from 75% in 1987–1991). ❣️ In 2025, around 20,336 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, including 207 men. ❣️ Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Australian women, making up 27% of all new cases. ❣️ The average age of diagnosis is 62, with 80% of cases occurring in women over 50. ❣️ Metastatic breast cancer remains undercounted, but estimates suggest up to 16,000 people are living with it in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. BCNA continues to advocate for national data collection. These statistics highlight both progress and ongoing challenges in breast cancer care and support. Most importantly, they remind us of the big picture behind our WHY - together we work to improve these numbers year on year. 👉 Click here to read more and download the infographic.🏃 Carman’s Fun Run will be back in Melbourne - Early bird reg closes tomorrow!!!🏃
Carman’s Fun Run will be back in Melbourne on 15 February 2026 at Elsternwick Park, Brighton! Early bird registration closes 30 October so register now for the 5k Pink Lady walk, or run the 5k, 10k or half marathon. There’s something for everyone, including your furry friends! Get a group together and fundraise for BCNA to make your run mean more. Register at https://solemotive.com/pages/carmans-fun-run-mel-home🎊 We’re delighted to welcome Christina to the BCNA team! 🎊
We’re very pleased to officially announce that Christina_BCNA has joined the BCNA Online Network team as our newest moderator! Don't panic! Christina is here to be a wonderful addition to our team - the current BCNA mods you know and love are all still here. While the rest of our team continues to support you over the helpline phones, Christina is here as a dedicated presence in the Online Network, helping to nurture connection, conversation, and care within our digital community. Christina is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where people feel supported, heard, and connected. As a moderator, she’ll be helping to guide discussions, offer encouragement, and ensure our network remains a welcoming, respectful and active environment for everyone at all times. You may have noticed a few changes to the Online Network group pages recently, like updated page content, new groups like DCIS and the public Breast cancer awareness group, as well as new forums like Policy & advocacy and new initiatives like our Wednesday Wellness check ins. These are just some changes Christina has been busy making behind-the-scenes as part of her mission to ensure BCNA's Online Network remains an updated, active and impactful space. This is all part of our ongoing campaign to show how much we truly care and invest in our members in the Online Network—because we know how important it is to you. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, deeper connections, and positive energy as we continue to nurture and grow BCNA's Online Network. We’re thrilled to have Christina_BCNA on board and can’t wait for you to get to know her! 💗 Please do reach out and say hello - we know she'd love to hear from you.
