BCNA conferences

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Australian women affected by breast cancer exchange views, Melbourne 2008

BCNA conferences are an opportunity for people affected by breast cancer to hear about progress made in the field, revisit strategies, identify emerging needs and make recommendations for the future.

Second National Conference 2004

This Second Conference was an important opportunity to:

  • revisit the strategies identified in 1998
  • consider progress made since that time
  • identify emerging needs
  • make new recommendations for the future.

The major challenge identified at the conference was to keep breast cancer on the national agenda. It has been noted that there is a real push to 'tick breast cancer off', to say it has had enough funding and attention. It is important that other cancers receive funding and attention, but not at the expense of breast cancer.

Conference reports

First National Conference 1998

Australian women affected by breast cancer exchanged views on many different topics at the First National Conference and agreed that it was necessary to make a difference to the way in which breast cancer is managed in Australia. The priority actions identified included:

  • BCNA to lobby for breast care nurses to follow women from diagnosis throughout treatment
  • ensure all women are provided with information at the time of diagnosis and before treatment, in particular the consumer guidelines and relevant local information
  • BCNA to lobby the Australian Medical Council and Professional Colleges that communication skills must be made an essential component in initial and continuing medical education and training
  • consumers to promote consumer representation in all areas and at all levels of decision-making related to breast cancer research including the development and coordination of clinical trials
  • undertake to ensure funding is increased and maintained through grassroots approaches (e.g. letter writing, lobbying) for medical, scientific and policy research
  • State and territory groups and BCNA to lobby government for the continued funding of the NHMRC National Breast Cancer Centre
  • develop a mechanism for linking young women nationally
  • lobby the medical profession to ensure that all women are told about the risk of developing lymphoedema following axillary clearance or radiotherapy prior to the procedure to ensure informed consent. Additionally recognition was given to women with special needs through the following actions:
  • lobby to develop resources for indigenous women about information, education, counselling, support and training of aboriginal health workers
  • promote access to clinical trials and ensure equitable access to therapies and drugs for women with advanced and recurrent breast cancer
  • lobby Breast Cancer Support Services and other appropriate bodies to be inclusive of women with advanced breast cancer
  • lobby to improve access to information for rural and regional women, e.g. raise awareness of the National Information Hot Line and develop information packages with local and regional specifics.

Report

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