In this edition...

BCNA News and Updates

Breast Cancer Research and News

Special Interest Research and News

Breast Cancer Websites

A special message from Raelene Boyle

I am delighted to let you know that the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon has announced that their event in May will now be named in Kerryn McCann’s honour.

At the request of the McCann’s, participants have been asked to help raise money for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) as a way to thank us for the support we provided Kerryn on her journey.

Since Kerryn’s passing, so many people have asked me how they can help and this is a perfect opportunity. The Run for Kerryn is a wonderful way for Australians to pay tribute to a BCNA champion. We would love your support for this event, so please register yourself or your team and start training. The Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 17 May 2009.

Kerryn made Half Marathon history, winning the event a record number of four times and the 2009 women’s trophy will be renamed the ‘Kerryn McCann Trophy’. To register to participate in the run please go to http://halfmarathon.smh.com.au/. 

Looking forward to seeing you at the starting line!

Regards
Raelene Boyle
 

• To view BCNA's media release, click here. For more information about the Run for Kerryn, clck here.

  (Image: Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

BCNA around Australia

BCNA’s program of forums for women with breast cancer for 2009 started with a full house at our Sydney event, ‘Insights into breast cancer pathology’ in February.

Presentations from Assoc. Professor Michael Bilous and Assoc. Professor Fran Boyle described how breast cancer pathology tests are done, and how they inform decisions about treatment options for women. Breast cancer survivor and author Stephanie Dowrick inspired the group with her insights on emotional wellness after breast cancer.

BCNA’s Policy Team is compiling a report that will be available on our website within the next few weeks. Images of the Sydney Forum are on our website now. As the event booked out within three days, we are considering holding a second Sydney Forum later this year. 

Upcoming Forums to be presented or supported by BCNA around Australia include:

• BCNA’s CEO Lyn Swinburne will present, with BCNA Board Member and breast cancer survivor, Raelene Boyle, at our Bendigo Forum on 25 March.  Visit our website for more information.

• The Tasmanian Breast Cancer Conference ‘Closing the Gap – Sharing, Caring and Support’ - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, will feature a range of interesting and inspiring presentations for women, partners and supporters across Tasmania. This event is proudly supported by BCNA.  For further details visit our Tasmania events webpage.  

• The Hunter Breast Cancer Forum ‘Love and Breast Cancer – its impact on women, their families and friends’ - Sunday 24 May, is also proudly supported by BCNA. For further details, click here. 

These events keep our members up to date on breast cancer issues and provide opportunities to meet other breast cancer survivors. We will continue to notify you of future events across the country.

• Keep an eye on our website as event details are posted.

My Journey Quilt Fundraiser

Pink Lady events are an opportunity to support BCNA, with all proceeds allowing us to support women with breast cancer. A Pink Lady event can be any activity from a simple afternoon tea to a fancy cocktail party; the size and scope of the activity is up to you. Here is an example of a recent Pink Lady activity:

In June 2008, BCNA member Jurina, finished making a quilt, named the My Journey Quilt and decided to sell raffle tickets to raise funds for BCNA. This quilt was made with love over five years as Jurina collected different pieces of fabric that represent different parts of a breast cancer journey.

‘It has the baldness, the nurses, the herbal teas, the support groups, the coffee with a friend, the phone chats, the shopping and gardening therapy, the relaxation therapies, the flop outs, the hats and scarves and the hope. The border is all about love, care, support and help. It does not have nice neat little orderly boxes because breast cancer is not a nice orderly, neat experience.’ JURINA, Qld.

Jurina registered her activity with BCNA and actively promoted the quilt raffle through the local hospitals and shopping centres in her community. Jurina asked friends and members of her local breast cancer support group to help her sell tickets.

When the raffle was drawn, Jurina had raised over $2,500 for BCNA. Well done and thank you Jurina!

If you would like to organise a Pink Lady fundraising activity for BCNA or if you know someone who would, please contact Siobhan Macken (Community Events Officer: smacken@bcna.org.au) to discuss your thoughts and learn how BCNA can support you in your efforts.

• To view upcoming events, click here.

Depression and Breast Cancer Fact Sheet

It was just one thing on top of another – the surgery, the chemo, my marriage, the kids, my job, thinking about my mortality – and I just hit the wall.’  Judy, age 52.

BCNA, in conjunction with beyondblue: the national depression initiative, have developed a fact sheet, Depression and Breast Cancer to help support women with breast cancer.  Depression after breast cancer is common - up to half of all women who have early breast cancer may experience depression and/or anxiety in the first year after diagnosis, according to a recent study. And yet, many women with breast cancer tell us that they can't easily talk about depression, and often don't know where to turn for help.

The fact sheet provides information on depression, its links with breast cancer, available treatments and where to get help.

• Click here to view the Depression and Breast Cancer fact sheet or phone 1800 500 258 (freecall) and we will post you a copy.

General Research News

Exercise and Breast Cancer

There is a growing body of evidence about the benefits of exercise for survivors of breast cancer. Recent research from the University of California suggests that women with good physical health have a better prognosis after breast cancer diagnosis than women in poor physical health. Physical activity is also found to have positive affects on the physical and emotional health of women with breast cancer.

A meta-analysis by researchers at Nottingham University Hospital Trust looked at sixty five studies on therapeutic exercise programs for women with breast cancer. The review found that in most cases there was high adherence to, and completion rates of, exercise programs by women with breast cancer. However, only half of the women who were offered the program took up the opportunity. The main reasons for refusal were disinterest or impracticality of the program. The researchers suggest that the design of exercise programs need to be modified to better suit the needs of the majority of women.

• For more information on the University of California research, click here. Details of the Nottingham University study can be found here.

Research from the 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

The 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) held in Texas in December 2008, brought together academics, researchers, consumers and health professionals from around the world. A key focus of the conference was the comparison of Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) as treatments for postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

One study from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) compared three AI’s, Anastrozole, Exemestane and Letrozole, with Tamoxifen. The results of this meta-analysis suggest some women experience a reduced risk of recurrence of breast cancer and prolonged disease free survival when comparing the AI's with Tamoxifen.

Also presented at SABCS were the results of the BIG 1-98 trial. This trial compared Letrozole with Tamoxifen as monotherapy as well as sequences of Letrozole and Tamoxifen. Preliminary results suggest Letrozole is better at prolonging disease free survival over Tamoxifen. Further, sequential treatments did not prolong disease free survival when compared with Letrozole alone. Trends in the data suggest that Letrozole may be of most use for women with a high risk of recurrence.

While research highlights the benefits experienced by some women using AI's, there was much acknowledgement of the important role Tamoxifen plays in women’s health care. This also highlights the benefits of individualising treatments to the specific needs of each woman.

• Abstracts can be found by following the links below:

  EBCTCG Research 
  BIG1-98 Trial 

Conferences

The 15th UICC Reach to Recovery Conference

BCNA is proud to be a partner of the 15th UICC Reach to Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Conference, to be held in Brisbane from 13 -15 May 2009. This is the first time the conference will include consumers, support organisations and health professionals from around the world.

The three key areas for discussion at the conference are survivorship, peer support and capacity building. Delegates will be able to share their experiences, and gain insight into the experiences of women with breast cancer from around the world.

•  For more information, click here.

9th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer

The 9th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer will be held in Dallas, Texas from 27 February – 1 March 2009.

This is the only international event focused on the unique needs and issues faced by women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45. Young women and their caregivers are invited to attend. Conference workshops will cover a range of survivorship issues including treatment options, fertility, sexuality and depression.

Lexie Warren, one of our fantastic BCNA Advocates, is attending this year’s conference. If you are also planning to attend, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at policy@bcna.org.au or call Ami on 1800 500 258 (free call).
 

• More information on the conference can be found on the Young Survivors website.

Special Interest Research and News

Family History and Hereditary Breast Cancer

Women with Breast Cancer in Rural and Remote Areas

Young Women with Breast Cancer

Secondary Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Websites