BCNA Policy Priorities 2025
Every day, 58 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer. Too many face high financial costs, and ongoing emotional and health challenges. That’s why BCNA is calling on the Government to make treatment more affordable, improve early detection, provide better support, and invest in vital cancer data. 🔗Read our policy priorities via the link BCNA Policy Priorities 2025Australian women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk
Approximately 10% of women have high breast density. At this point in time, thousands of Australian women are being denied important information about their breast health which could empower them to better understand and manage their risk of breast cancer. BCNA’s Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston, says Australia’s approach to population-based screening is not keeping pace with growing evidence that supports routine reporting of breast density. This due to the absence of national reporting standards and a lack of software in publicly funded screening services that can effectively measure breast density. “Every woman has the right to know and understand her breast cancer risk through standardised breast density reporting,” she says. “For those identified as high-risk or with high breast density, it is essential that clear options and pathways are available to support early detection and proactive risk management.” Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is currently advocating for a unified national approach to reporting breast density through Australia's national population-based breast screening program – BreastScreen. Mammography images showing the difference between spotting cancer in a fatty breast (top) vs dense breast (bottom). It's like "spotting a snowman in a snow storm". You can read BCNA's media release via the link Australian women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk Read ABC's feature piece on our advocacy efforts: Mandatory breast density reportingLaunch of the Australian Cancer Plan
Hello Online Network members, We heard from our BCNA staff members attending the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, that the 'Australian Cancer Plan' has been launched today. To learn more about the new Australian Cancer Plan, which aims to improve prevention, screening, treatment and management of all cancers for all people across Australia see Australian Cancer Plan website.
