News & updates • Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

News & updates

Our latest news, press releases, blog posts, Pink Ribbon Bulletins & Pink Ribbon Press.

Press release
Government stalling on breast screening costs the life of one woman every month
01 June 2023

Government stalling on breast screening costs the life of one woman every month

One woman a month will needlessly lose her life to breast cancer thanks to the Government’s latest refusal to uphold its promise of lifting the breast screening age to 74.
Press release
Pink Ribbon Breakfast website crash: “We still need - and can accept - your donations!”
25 May 2023

Pink Ribbon Breakfast website crash: “We still need - and can accept - your donations!”

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is urging New Zealanders to donate to the first ever Pink Ribbon Breakfast Day, despite its website crashing this morning.
Press release
Budget 2023: "It’s hard to see how the Government is serious about its women’s health strategy"
18 May 2023

Budget 2023: "It’s hard to see how the Government is serious about its women’s health strategy"

In response to the Budget 2023 announcement, our CEO Ah-Leen Rayner says: “It’s hard to see how the Government is serious about its women’s health strategy when this Budget has nothing in it for women’s health - let alone breast cancer."
Press release
Pre-Budget warning to the women of NZ: “Brace yourselves for disappointment”
16 May 2023

Pre-Budget warning to the women of NZ: “Brace yourselves for disappointment”

Ahead of Budget 2023, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is issuing a stark warning to the women of Aotearoa New Zealand: brace yourselves for disappointment that our Government won’t do more to prevent deaths from breast cancer.
Blog
Suzie's reconstruction diary part 4: The weeks after surgery
16 May 2023

Suzie's reconstruction diary part 4: The weeks after surgery

After 4 ½ years on the waiting list for bilateral DIEP breast reconstruction surgery and being first on the waiting list for more than a year, Suzie and her husband decided to pay for the surgery privately. This is part 4 of Suzie’s journal of her surgery and recovery. Here she details her experiences over a month after having her breast reconstruction.
Press release
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ pays tribute to patron Dame Rosie Horton
15 May 2023

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ pays tribute to patron Dame Rosie Horton

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is mourning the death of its patron, Dame Rosie Horton, who passed away at Auckland City Hospital over the weekend.
Press release
“It’s not good enough that 10 women in Wellington may have been harmed by a service that is meant to protect them"
10 May 2023

“It’s not good enough that 10 women in Wellington may have been harmed by a service that is meant to protect them"

In response to the two reviews looking into breast screening released today by Te Whatu Ora, BCFNZ CEO Ah-Leen Rayner says the national Breast Screening Action Plan mentioned must be ambitious and deliver tangible change – extending the screening age to 74 and lowering it to 40 for Māori and Pacific women is the bare minimum needed to save more lives.
Press release
Revealed: Where our political parties stand on tackling breast cancer
03 May 2023

Revealed: Where our political parties stand on tackling breast cancer

All New Zealanders can now see where the country’s political parties stand on tackling breast cancer – the leading cause of death for New Zealand women under 65.
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
May 2023

May 2023

Pink Ribbon Breakfast month is here already! Leana kindly shares the story of why she hosts a Pink Ribbon Breakfast for her best friend Angie, we update you on our new Breast Cancer Policy Scorecard, and we share Suzie's diary of her breast reconstruction experience.
Pink Ribbon Press
Pink Ribbon Press - Autumn 2023

Pink Ribbon Press - Autumn 2023

PDF format - 1.1mb
Blog
Suzie's reconstruction diary part 3: Back at home
26 April 2023

Suzie's reconstruction diary part 3: Back at home

This is part 3 of Suzie’s journal of her breast reconstruction surgery and recovery experiences. Here she details her first three weeks being back at home after her breast reconstruction.
Blog
Suzie's reconstruction diary part 2: The hospital stay
18 April 2023

Suzie's reconstruction diary part 2: The hospital stay

After 4 ½ years on the waiting list for bilateral DIEP breast reconstruction surgery and being first on the waiting list for more than a year, Suzie and her husband decided to pay for the surgery privately. This is part 2 of Suzie’s surgery and recovery experiences
News
New Zealand's first ever Women's Health Strategy
17 April 2023

New Zealand's first ever Women's Health Strategy

New Zealand will soon have a Women’s Health Strategy. Right now, there's no mention of breast cancer in the official focus of the strategy.
Blog
"The day has finally arrived": Suzie's long wait for breast reconstruction
10 April 2023

"The day has finally arrived": Suzie's long wait for breast reconstruction

After 4 ½ years on the waiting list for bilateral DIEP breast reconstruction surgery and being first on the waiting list for more than a year, Suzie and her husband decided to pay for the surgery privately. This is a journal of Suzie’s surgery and recovery experiences...
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
April 2023

April 2023

In the April edition of the bulletin, Jason and Georgina share the story of why they host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast every year, nearly 400 people have made submissions on why breast cancer needs to be included in New Zealand's first ever Women's Health Strategy, we share a significant milestone, as well as an update on our Pink Caravan Summer Tour. Happy Easter! 🐰
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
March 2023

March 2023

An update from Sue, our nurse in Tairāwhiti, New Zealand's first ever Women's Health Strategy, our first webinar of the year, and a sneak peek of Pink Ribbon Breakfast 2023
Press release
MPs back charity’s plea for improvements to breast screening
02 March 2023

MPs back charity’s plea for improvements to breast screening

Parliament's Petitions Committee is backing our call on Government to improve access to breast screening, in the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns creating a massive mammogram backlog.
Press release
“Don’t suffer in silence”: Charity urges breast cancer survivors to act on long-term effects
03 February 2023

“Don’t suffer in silence”: Charity urges breast cancer survivors to act on long-term effects

Ahead of World Cancer Day (4 February), we're highlighting the issue of long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment, to gain more knowledge in this under-researched field.
Blog
Summer advice from our specialist breast nurses
22 December 2022

Summer advice from our specialist breast nurses

Our team of specialist nurses have pulled together useful tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Blog
Recipes for the festive season
21 December 2022

Recipes for the festive season

Need some holiday cooking inspiration? We’ve chosen some recipes for the festive season from Everyday Strength, a cookbook with wellbeing tips for cancer patients by food writer Sam Mannering and author Karen McMIllan, both of whom have had cancer.
News
Women can safely interrupt hormone therapy to have a baby, study finds
16 December 2022

Women can safely interrupt hormone therapy to have a baby, study finds

Long-awaited findings from a study looking at pregnancy and breast cancer medication is bringing reassurance to patients and specialists alike.
Press release
Widely available heartburn tablet offers hope for Kiwi breast cancer patients
09 December 2022

Widely available heartburn tablet offers hope for Kiwi breast cancer patients

Results from the PantoCIN trial, which was co-funded by Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, have shown that a widely available heartburn medication can prevent delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy.
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
December 2022

December 2022

In this issue of the bulletin we remember Heidi MacRae, an Auckland GP and fierce advocate for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, who sadly died last month after being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer earlier this year.
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
November 2022

November 2022

The Christchurch Pink Ribbon Walk is just one example of the incredible moments we’ve had throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month - read about the others in our October wrap up!