Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
News & updates
Our latest news, press releases, blog posts, Pink Ribbon Bulletins & Pink Ribbon Press.
Blog
13 January 2017
Researchers may have found a solution for chemo-brain
One of breast cancer’s biggest survivorship problems could be solved with brain exercises.
Press release
16 December 2016
Newbie and “old hand” share $160K breast cancer research payday
Two breast cancer researchers – one at the top of her field and the other a promising newbie – have been awarded 2017 fellowships by the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation. The fellowships are worth $80,000 each.
News
05 December 2016
Good news / bad news – Pharmac’s new drug deal a bitter pill for 160 long-suffering patients
Pharmac’s decision to fund pertuzumab (trade name Perjeta) from January 2017 for New Zealanders with advanced (metastatic) HER2+ breast cancer will be good news for patients diagnosed from the New Year onwards, but is a bitter pill for the 160 Kiwis who have been deprived of this significantly life-extending drug so far and now appear to be shut out of the new agreement.
Blog
07 October 2016
One-off breast cancer treatment should be publicly available
New international research confirms that a single, highly targeted dose of radiotherapy during surgery is just as effective as three weeks of radiotherapy after surgery, for women with low-grade, oestrogen receptor positive cancers.
Blog
24 August 2016
HRT risk for breast cancer higher than previously thought
A new study published in the British Journal of Cancer suggests that the risk of breast cancer associated with women taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is much greater than previously thought.
Blog
23 August 2016
New study reveals who benefits most from exercise during breast cancer treatment
Being physically active isn’t just good for your heart, your mood and your waistline. Exercise also reduces your risk of getting a few different types of cancer.
Press release
08 August 2016
Winning breast cancer studies bring personalised approach to treatment
The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation has announced the results of its Innovation and Impact in Breast Cancer funding round, with four winning studies to receive a total of $340,000. The NZBCF believes the winning studies could make a real difference for Kiwi women in the short to medium term, as well as making progress towards its long-term vision of “Zero deaths from breast cancer”.
Blog
13 July 2016
Partial mastectomy better for survival than mastectomy?
A new study from the Netherlands has shown that a smaller surgery that removes only part of the breast, plus radiation, is just as effective as a mastectomy, and may even improve survival rates.
Press release
27 June 2016
$300,000 awarded to researchers investigating breast cancer patient data
Two new investigative breast cancer research projects, using 15 year-rich data from the New Zealand Breast Cancer Register, have been awarded a total of over $300,000 with funding provided by a joint partnership between The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).
Blog
08 June 2016
Worrying about wasting GPs’ time is stopping people from seeking help
A UK study has revealed that many patients don’t report cancer “alarm symptoms” to their GP, because they’re worried about wasting their GP's time.
Press release
23 May 2016
Promising young scientists awarded $160,000 to fund innovative projects in breast cancer research
Two exceptional breast cancer research projects have been given the green light thanks to the provision of research grants from the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF).
Press release
20 May 2016
New database and funding improve access to breast cancer clinical trials
Around the world, the 20th May is regarded as the anniversary of the first ever clinical trial1 and is recognised as International Clinical Trials Day.
Blog
12 May 2016
What about the other breast?
More women are having their unaffected breast removed to prevent the return of cancer. But are these extra surgeries really preventing anything?
Blog
12 May 2016
Late-night snacking could increase your breast cancer recurrence risk
Recent research is encouraging breast cancer survivors to ditch the late-night snacks and extend their overnight fast in order to prevent cancer recurrence.
Press release
11 March 2016
Quarter-million in grants to Christchurch Hospital will bring new treatments and improve patient safety
The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation has committed almost a quarter of a million dollars ($243,000) to new projects at Christchurch Hospital, with an emphasis on improving survival, prolonging life for women with advanced disease, and improved patient safety.
Blog
02 March 2016
5 burning questions Kiwi cancer researchers could answer
February 4, World Cancer Day, was a chance to reflect on the burning questions that remain unanswered for the disease that is now the single biggest cause of death for New Zealanders.
Press release
04 February 2016
5 burning questions Kiwi cancer researchers could answer
February 4, World Cancer Day, is a chance to reflect on the burning questions that remain unanswered for the disease that is now the single biggest cause of death for New Zealanders.
News
14 December 2015
Mammograms save Kiwi lives – it’s official
The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation says new research released today by BreastScreen Aotearoa should give Kiwi women confidence that our mammogram screening programme is the best way to find breast cancer early and to save lives.
Press release
11 November 2015
$300K to target new areas of breast cancer research
The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation is calling for proposals to address some of the most challenging areas in breast cancer research, including prevention of the disease, prevention of metastasis (the spread of cancer, which is what causes the 600-plus breast cancer deaths in NZ each year), and improving clinical practice for better patient outcomes.
News
29 September 2015
New NZ research focuses on Vitamin C and breast cancer
A new research study will analyse the level of vitamin C in breast tumours, and compare health outcomes for patients with different levels of the vitamin.
News
19 May 2015
Thumbs-down NZ on International Clinical Trials Day
Kiwis have nothing to celebrate this International Clinical Trials Day (tomorrow, Wednesday May 20), says the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
News
06 March 2015
Laser treatment study a first for NZ
International Lymphoedema Awareness Day - March 6, 2015
Press release
04 February 2015
BCFNZ marks World Cancer Day with grants to improve knowledge and treatment of local cancers
Today, World Cancer Day, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ announced the winners of its research funding contest for studies based on New Zealand’s breast cancer patient registers, awarding six grants for pilot studies to researchers from Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Dunedin.
News
29 January 2015
Promising new advanced TNBC drug accessible for NZ women – at a cost
Results of a small but interesting trial of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for advanced triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) were released in the USA recently.