We want more families to experience the love and presence of their mums, sisters, aunts, partners and friends for long fulfilling lives.
This year, 650 New Zealanders will die of breast cancer. But they don’t need to. Together, we can change that.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is New Zealand’s specialist breast cancer organisation.
We empower communities with education, fund ground-breaking research and innovation, provide compassionate patient support, and advocate for change so more New Zealanders with breast cancer can live and live well.
Every day, ten New Zealanders are diagnosed, but together, we can make zero deaths a reality.
Our vision
Zero deaths from breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Zero means no death that could have been avoided or delayed. For most, that means breast cancer found early, diagnosed quickly and treated effectively, so they go on to live long, fulfilling lives.
For some, cancer will return or be found once it has spread. For them, zero means a future where advanced breast cancer is a long-term condition, managed with the right care, so they can live well, on their own terms, for years spent with the people they love.
It’s bold, but achievable: deaths have already fallen 40% since 1994, and closing gaps in access, equity and speed will save many more lives.
How we will get there
Education and awareness
Early detection is the most powerful chance to save a life. Our Breast Nurse Educators, Pink Campervans and campaigns help New Zealanders know their normal, get screened, and act quickly on any breast change.
Research and innovation
As the largest funder of breast cancer research outside Government, we invest more than $1.9 million a year in research and clinical trials that lead to better care and effective treatment.
Patient support
No one should face breast cancer alone. Our Breast Nurse Specialists and Nurse Advice Line, which takes more than 10,000 calls a year, support patients and whānau from diagnosis to treatment and living well after breast cancer.
Advocacy
Survival shouldn’t depend on luck, money or where you live. Our advocacy helped raise the free mammogram age to 74 and secure funding for key medicines. Now we’re pushing for enhanced screening, digital pathology and fairer access to life-saving treatment.
Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae – the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register
You can’t change what you can’t see. The Register holds anonymous data on more than 60,000 New Zealanders diagnosed since 2000. It reveals the inequities behind avoidable deaths and guides the programmes working to ensure more families keep their special people.
Who we reach
Everyone in Aotearoa, with a special focus on remote communities and those who face the greatest barriers to care. People with breast cancer and their whānau. The health professionals, researchers and decision-makers who shape treatment. And the support groups walking alongside patients across the country.
Our symbol is the ‘pink ribbon’
It's the international symbol of breast cancer and trademarked to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ in New Zealand. October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month – our breast health awareness messages peak at this time of year. A large percentage of our work is funded by donations received each October, from community fundraising events and the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is a member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand and adheres to ethical fundraising practices. Its annual financial statements are prepared by Deloitte and audited by HLB Mann Judd Ltd chartered accountants.