đŁ BCNA's Strategy 2025â2030 Now Available
We are absolutely thrilled to share something truly special with you - Breast Cancer Network Australia's Strategy 2025â2030 is officially available to view and it marks a bold, inspiring new chapter for all Australians affected by breast cancer. This strategy isnât just a document. It's a promise to be louder, braver, and more determined than ever in driving change. Built from the voices, experiences, and hopes of people all across our community, this roadmap sets out the ambitious work ahead - from strengthening advocacy and pushing for equity in care, to elevating lived experience so every voice is heard where it matters most. ⨠It reflects where weâve been. It celebrates where we are. And it charts a powerful path for where weâre going, together. You can read the full strategy here: đ https://www.bcna.org.au/media/l5ua3c3e/bcna-strategy-2025-2030.pdf Weâd love to know: What excites you most? What sparks hope or inspiration? Your insights continue to shape everything we do, and this moment is very much yours. Thank you for being at the heart of our community - your courage, honesty, and support drive the work ahead. Hereâs to five years of impact, connection, and meaningful change. đđŞđąWednesday Wellness - 18Mar26 - Living beyond limits of breast cancerđą
Hi everyone. This Wednesday Wellness, we felt inspired to honour the strength it takes to live beyond the limits that cancer can place on people. Cancer changes routines, energy, emotions, and plans, but it never gets the final say in who someone is. Every day, people facing cancer show extraordinary courage in the quietest ways: getting out of bed, asking for help, attending appointments, smiling through fear, or simply choosing hope when life feels heavy. These moments matter. They are victories! đŞ Beyond the limits of cancer is a space filled with: ⨠Resilience - the ability to rise again, even when strength feels hard ⨠Community - the comfort of knowing you donât walk this path alone ⨠Joy - found in small moments that illness cannot touch ⨠Possibility - the reminder that life is still here, still meaningful, still yours Whether youâre in treatment, living with breast cancer, supporting someone you love or honouring another's journey, take a breath today and remind yourself: You are more than this moment. You are more than a diagnosis. đŞ Kristal - Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Earlier this week you will have seen our post about Kristal, breast cancer survivor who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as a personal goal and fundraiser for BCNA earlier this month. You are an inspiration Kristal! Read more here đŞ Dragons Abreast - If you're feeling adventurous! Dragons Abreast Australia brings breast cancer survivors together through dragon boating, helping them regain physical strength, confidence, and wellbeing after treatment. Their inclusive teams welcome people of all fitness levels and backgrounds, creating a supportive space to reconnect with their bodies and rebuild hope. With more than 30 groups nationwide, members find friendship, encouragement, and a sense of belonging as they paddle side by side. Through their visibility and community presence, Dragons Abreast also helps raise awareness about breast cancer and the power of active recovery. Each boat on the water is a symbol of resilience and a reminder that healing is stronger when shared. Get in touch with Dragons Abreast here. Whilst climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or dragonboating might not be what you had in mind, ask yourself, what small actions you can take this week to live beyond the limits of breast cancer â¤ď¸ Let everyone know your tips in the comments!Labour Day Public Holiday - March 9th
Please note that BCNAâs Online Network will not be moderated on the Labour Day public holiday, Monday 9 March 2026, as the BCNA Helpline will be closed. During this time, please ensure you are familiar with the following support services: BCNAâs Website Information & Resources Hub - Explore articles, stories and podcasts to help navigate breast cancer 24/7 Support Services Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 13YARN: 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; available throughout the day) Although moderation will be paused, the Online Network will remain open and active. You are warmly encouraged to continue asking questions, sharing your stories, and reaching out for support within the community whenever you need it. If you would like a callback from the Helpline, please submit a request via: https://www.bcna.org.au/helpline-self-referral-form/ We hope you all have a lovely long weekend!
CEO Update - Kirsten Pilatti
Hi everyone, As we settle into 2026, I hope youâve had a moment to pause, reset, and look after yourself. A new year doesnât always need to come with big resolutions or sweeping changes. Sometimes itâs simply about finding your rhythm again, setting small intentions and making space for what really matters to you. â¨This month, Iâm delighted to share some fantastic news. The UK Government has announced important progress in the reporting of metastatic breast cancer data. Itâs a milestone worth celebrating, especially following the work we did last year alongside Breast Cancer Now and Rethink Breast Cancer Canada. Our policy team played a significant role in advocating on behalf of our community, and that event helped create key connections, including introducing Breast Cancer Now to a UK politician living with metastatic breast cancer who has since become a powerful advocate for change. For those who are newer to BCNA, our three organisations made a pledge during that meeting - an important document that outlines what real, global progress should look like for metastatic breast cancer. Itâs well worth a read if youâre passionate about this area. You can also take a look at Breast Cancer Nowâs recent blog about the UK Governmentâs cancer plan here. Meaningful change always needs champions, and Minister Ashley Dalton is certainly one of them. But champions are inspired by the people around them and thereâs no doubt that our very own Vicki Durston, along with Lisa Rankin and our incredible community members living with metastatic breast cancer, our BCNA Consumer Representatives, and so many others helped drive this momentum in the UK. â¤ď¸ Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support and involvement in our recent activities, including Carmanâs Fun Run in Melbourne and the 13th Beach Pink Players Day. There are so many ways to get involved - participating, fundraising, volunteering, or simply cheering from the sidelines. Every contribution plays a part in strengthening and supporting our community. As we continue through the year, please know how grateful we are to walk alongside you. BCNA will always be here to offer information, connection, and support whenever you need it. Whether youâre joining events, sharing your story, or navigating things at your own pace. đŹ Iâd love to know: how can we best support you this year? What would you like to see more of from BCNA in 2026? Comment below!
Policy & Advocacy Update - Vicki Durston - Feb26
As we continue to move through 2026, thereâs 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 canât wait Eric Topolâs recent article, âWhy All Mammograms Should Incorporate AI,â brings together powerful evidence showing that AI in breast screening is no longer a future idea - itâs 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: đ 29% more cancers detected đ 24% more invasive cancers found đ No increase in false positives or recalls đ 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 ânormalâ 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 todayâs evidence. What BCNA is calling for We are now at a decision point. The question Eric Topol poses - âIf not now, then when?â- 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 wonât 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.đ¸ Friday Update â 20 Feb 26
Hello everyone and welcome to Friday! I'm filling in for the Online Network content today, so I thought weâd wind things back to one of my classic Friday Updates - a gentle wrapâup of whatâs been happening across our BCNA community. đââď¸ Carmanâs Fun Run â What a Day! Last Sundayâs Carmanâs 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 đ đď¸ Cheering on Kristal Kinsela â Trek4BCNA We also want to highlight Kristal Kinsela, one of BCNAâs ambassadors, who is currently undertaking Trek4BCNA: Kilimanjaro 2026challenge. Kristalâs commitment to raising awareness and funds for BCNA continues to inspire many across our community. đż Whatâs 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 đ Signingâoff Itâs 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, 9amâ5pm (AEDT) if you need information, support or guidance toward appropriate services.đŹ Current Research Exploring the Role of AI in Breast Cancer
Thereâs 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 letâs explore it! đAI 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. Itâs already being used in some parts of Europe, though itâs not standard everywhere yet. At this stage, itâs not about replacing radiologists but supporting the - almost like having an extra pair of very detailâfocused eye. Read more here đ§ŹUsing 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 personâs 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 â¨Why This Is Interesting (and Why Weâre 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 itâs safe, fair, and reliable? Researchers are excited about the possibilities, but they also emphasise caution. AI needs ongoing testing and realâworld evaluation before it becomes part of everyday care. For now, itâs 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. đŹLet us know your thoughts on this in the comments!CEO Update - December 2025
Hi everyone, đCan 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. đĄ We are finishing this year with a milestone that epitomises how we advocate for people living with metastatic breast cancer. For 27 years, weâve 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. â¤ď¸ 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 â Friday, 9am â 5pm AEDT, or request a time for us to call you. Weâll keep pushing for better care, better treatment, and better outcomes, while being a trusted place to turn to for anyone affected by breast cancer. đŞ 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. 𫶠2025 also saw the power of community in every corner of Australia through our fundraising events including at the MCGâs Pink Lady Match. There is nothing more powerful that watching people connect â 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 â 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 â 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 couldnât 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. đŹ 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, BCNAWeâre thinking of our community following the events in Bondi yesterday.
What happened was deeply distressing. We recognise the impact news like this can haveâparticularly 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 đHours & 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. đ BCNA's Helplineâs (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 â 9am-5pm Thursday December 25 â Closed Friday December 26 â Closed Monday December 29 â 12-4pm Tuesday December 30 â 12-4pm Wednesday December 31 â 12-4pm Thursday January 1 â Closed Friday January 2 â 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. đ§âđ¤âđ§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 otherâs 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 â¤ď¸
