From the Project desk

Young women with breast cancer

Breast Cancer Network NZ and Breast Cancer Support Auckland are in discussion over the development of an on-line forum for young New Zealand women with breast cancer. We know that young women want on-line contact and support from other young women, as well as information that is geared to their age and situation. Upfront U Kaiora is currently running articles for younger women, and developing a young women’s page on this website – contact us if you would like to share your story or help develop the page. Contact us

Upfront U Kaiora

Members can now choose a colour on-line version of Upfront U Kaiora or a black and white posted copy, and the magazine has a change of style

Action during the last 12 months

DVDs for breast cancer - Polly’s Global Walk and You’re Not Alone
We provided 10 breast cancer groups throughout New Zealand with a free DVD of Polly’s Global Walk to use for an event or fundraising. See Polly’s website www.pollysglobalwalk.com for video clips of the DVD.
You’re Not Aloneto give away to women with secondary breast cancer who live in New Zealand. Secondary Cancer

Library Displays

In October 2009 we sent information packs to 25 provincial libraries. The goal was to introduce women in smaller centres to information about breast cancer risk reduction. We will send information packs to more provincial libraries in October 2010.

Booklet - Reduce your breast cancer risk - Everyday actions for New Zealand women. This booklet was reprinted in 2010 to provide information for young women, and is being distributed in cooperation with several large organisations who provide services for younger women. See Resources.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE

For the last 2 years we have focused our efforts on recommendations from the BCN 1st National Breast Cancer Conference in 2007. BCN has worked alone on some recommendations, and in some cases has worked with other cancer groups to promote the implementation of the recommendations through their services. In this way, more goals can be achieved, and connections between groups are strengthened.

See Resources.

Secondary Breast Cancer – Living with Hope in your Heart

Recommendation – “That BCN develop a ‘chat room’ or an online message board facility on their website”.
The good news about the online forum is that Sweet Louise now has a forum up and running, and it’s available for all those in New Zealand with secondary breast cancer at www.sweetlouise.co.nz.

Recommendation – “That more information be available to women with metastatic disease, particularly on the BCN website".
We now have a section for women with secondary breast cancer on this website. See Living with Secondary Cancer. Here you will find personal stories and articles, resources and links.

Rural Women Workshop

Recommendation 48 - “that patients be provided with better information on the travel subsidies available”
See Issues 87, 88 and 89 of Upfront U Kaiora on the Resources page. The editor has interviewed 3 women who had to travel some distance for treatment, and examined the overall situation of rural women in New Zealand.

Travel subsidies

From 2006 ‘The National Travel Assistance Scheme’ has been in place, administered by the Ministry of Health, who will contribute towards travel costs if certain mileage and number of visits are met. The scheme has some tight parameters and for this reason, may not meet the requirements of all rural women. Reference to the policy can be found at www.moh.govt.nz. Costs are reimbursed, so you pay, keep your receipts and apply after the event. You can also request a brochure - Ministry of Health phone 0800 281 222.

Other assistance is available from Work and Income New Zealand and your local Cancer Society. Each Regional Cancer Society has slightly different criteria for travel assistance so please contact your local branch. Your local Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) or Family Support Centre will know if there are shuttles or other transport arrangements to your cancer treatment centre, and in some centres these groups may even make your booking for you.

Assistance from Work and Income is income tested and most likely in the form of a ‘Disability Allowance’ to a maximum of $54.05 per week. You will need to apply at your nearest WINZ office. The limits for the income test may surprise you so check out www.winz.govt.nz and give them a call.

Lifestyle and Environment Workshop

Recommendation – that education of New Zealanders regarding environmental influences on the development of breast cancer be addressed and implemented as a key priority.
We have organised meetings in Auckland where reducing the risk of breast cancer has been addressed. We met with the former Cancer Control Council to request action on the BCN petition and have approached a number of scientists to discuss the idea of a scientific forum on bisphenol A.

The BCN leaflet Reduce your risk – everyday actions for New Zealand Women has been redesigned for young women. It is available for individuals and organisations, also on line - see Resources.

BCN has been in touch with Plunket and The New Zealand College of Midwives about the oestrogenic properties of bis-phenol A in plastic baby articles. Upfront U Kaiora has featured the harmful effects of plastic additives on breast cell development. Articles have been written for other publications, including Pink magazine, to reach a wider readership.

Recommendation – that local councils be approached by residents and rate payers and asked to ensure that safe alternatives to harmful chemicals are used.
We have produced guidelines for people to use in approaching local government bodies to work towards reduced use of pesticides. See Resources.

Recommendation – that consumer products endorsed as being in support of breast cancer (eg pink ribbon tagged products) should have no harmful chemicals added.
BCN has brought the challenging question of “pinkwashing” into the public arena by way of an article in Upfront U Kaiora and discussion amongst breast cancer groups. We will keep a watch on this as any unethical pink practice by businesses negatively affects the risk reduction message which needs to be promoted. We have also discussed the safety of several foodstuffs, relating to hormone disruptors.

Recommendation – that there be more, widely available literature about breast cancer and chemicals
We have reviewed Dr Meriel Watts’ book Pesticides and Breast Cancer – a Wake Up Call, and surgeon, Trevor Smith’s book,” Breast Care,” and we continue to update members on this topic in Upfront U Kaiora. Visit our Links page to read about overseas groups working on Stop Cancer projects.

Recommendation – that the impact of the environment on the development of breast cancer be constantly brought to the attention of the media.We sent a press release and submission about Endosulfan, which has now been banned in New Zealand, and a letter to the NZ Herald about bisphenol A.

Source: morgueFile.com