PROUDLY SUPPORTING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER FOR 25 YEARS
PROVIDING INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
B CNA knows that whole person and recognising their psychosocial, as well as clinical needs. Because of this, we communicate with our network in a variety of ways beyond just sharing the latest in clinical advice, including sharing the stories and experiences of our members. Your insights allow us to know firsthand where information and support is most needed. The way we provide information has adapted to respond to these needs amidst the ever-changing health landscape and evolutions in technology. SHINING A LIGHT In 1998, BCNA Founder Lyn treating breast cancer means more than just treating the tumour. It is about seeing the Swinburne needed a way to stay in touch with the network that was quickly growing, so she sat at her kitchen table and wrote the first edition of The Beacon . The newsletter’s name and purpose were the same – to provide a light through the darkness for people affected by breast cancer.
Today, this magazine continues to share your stories from around the network, and engage our members in conversations – whether about the latest in new drugs and treatments, advocacy wins, or upcoming events. The Beacon is distributed quarterly to over 80,000 subscribers and we are proud to offer this 95th edition! A TRUSTED SOURCE The trust and respect BCNA has gained over the years comes from our approach in translating the latest in clinical advice with a strong consumer lens and purpose. Since 2005, when we produced the first physical My Journey, each new iteration has evolved based on feedback from our network coupled with the latest health information and advice through strong partnerships with health professionals and the research sector. Today, My Journey is an app and website used by 24,000 people and contains tailored information based on your breast cancer diagnosis as well as other factors that may affect how you access treatment and support. Providing tailored information helps alleviate the ‘information overload’ experienced by many who are newly diagnosed, and ensures we are providing information that is both timely and relevant. INFORMATION PROVIDED HOW AND WHEN YOU NEED IT BCNA’s mission is to reach all Australians affected by breast cancer, in even the most isolated areas where we know access to care can be a challenge. Our suite
of digital resources, including webcasts and podcasts , helps people, particularly those living in rural and regional areas, to get the support they otherwise might not be able to access. Our website is a popular source of information and is visited by over 300,000 people every year. ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY From the beginning, people have called BCNA for information and support, and to share their experiences. Our Helpline was compassionate and practical support to over 10,000 people every year, including family and friends of those diagnosed. ‘I feel heard, appreciated and not judged.’ – Helpline caller If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or you’re a health professional looking for trusted resources, call BCNA’s Helpline on 1800 500 258 . PROVIDING SUPPORT IN MANY WAYS officially launched in 2001 and continues to provide In 2004, BCNA teamed up with Berlei to create the My Care Kit to provide a practical support to those who have undergone a mastectomy. My Care Kit is available free of charge to anyone in Australia who undergoes surgery for breast cancer. This year, we will deliver the 200,000th My Care Kit. For more information about My Care Kit and how to order yours, visit myjourney.org.au or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258 .
Everyone experiences shock when diagnosed, but as a man with breast cancer, there’s also a kind of stigma. A lot of men won’t talk about it, and I think suffer psychologically from the fact they have what’s known more commonly as a woman’s disease, which it’s not. I’ve tried to change that for other men through my work with BCNA, so other men don’t feel alone or like they can’t talk about it. – Harry, BCNA Member
Harry with his wife Yvonne
MEETING DIVERSE NEEDS Our growing network has helped us reach more people, hear their diverse experiences, and better understand and address their needs. We offer tailored resources for men with breast cancer, people living with metastatic breast cancer , First Peoples , people from LGBTIQ+ communities , those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and young women . SHARING EXPERTISE BCNA is fortunate for the many health professionals who share their expertise with our network. Our podcast series Upfront About Breast Cancer – What You Don’t Know Until You Do with clinical psychologist and breast cancer survivor, Dr Charlotte Tottman, helps address the gap in access to psychosocial support for those with breast cancer, especially for those in rural and regional areas who may experience further challenges in accessing these services. Listened to over 63,000 times since
being released, the first season covered many topics including dealing with the initial shock of diagnosis, impact on sexuality and intimacy, and fear of cancer recurrence. A second season has just been released. ‘The first series revealed a huge demand for lower-level ongoing support for those with chronic illness. It really filled an unmet need for people on waitlists for
psychological support, people living in rural and regional areas and even those who felt their post-treatment adjustment wasn’t a priority in the mental health system.’ – Dr Charlotte Tottman, Clinical Psychologist Season 2, What You Don’t Know Until You Do: Unlimited , is available now via bcna.org.au or wherever you get your podcasts.
ISSN 1834-5921
RAELENE AND LYN A dynamic duo
Stuart Diver THE INSPIRATIONAL
20 YEARS OF IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS
MANAGING LYMPHOEDEMA
METASTATIC BREAST CANCER Living well with
BREAST CANCER NETWORK AUSTRALIA’S MAGAZINE | ISSUE 82 | APRIL 2018
20th Anniversary edition of The Beacon
Dr Charlotte Tottman (right) with Kellie Curtain at the SEN recording studio
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June 2023 | Issue 95
Breast Cancer Network Australia
bcna.org.au
Issue 95 | June 2023
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