Information for First Peoples

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in First Nations’ women.

If you are one of these women, or know one of these women, BCNA has information in different formats to help support you during treatment and beyond.

My Journey

BCNA’s free online information tool My Journey provides information to support all people who are diagnosed with breast cancer. It includes information specifically for First Peoples. 

When you sign into My Journey and check the box to identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, you will be welcomed with a video that features some of the First Peoples women in the BCNA community. We want you to feel supported and a part of our community right from the start.

You will be able to watch the videos outlined below, read information about breast cancer treatment and care, and find links to other information that may be helpful to you.

My Journey is available via the web browser on your laptop or computer.

Videos

BCNA has developed videos that feature First Peoples women talking about their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

To watch the videos and have access to a range of other articles and resources to help you at every stage of your breast cancer, sign up to My Journey.

First Peoples women share their breast cancer journey

Hear from First Peoples women about their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer and why you should connect with others and seek support and information.

First Peoples and their stories

Advice for our peoples and communities

It’s important to ask for help and accept help from the people around you, educate the younger generations about breast cancer, talk to your community and share stories.

Advice for our peoples and communities

Connection to culture

Discover why it’s important to look to your community, including friends and family, for strength and connection and how speaking to others who have had similar experiences can help you.

Connection to culture

Family and support

Everyone copes differently during and after breast cancer treatment. The women share how they coped including having family and friends around to support them, speaking to other people around them and doing things that made them happy.

Family and support

Questions to ask your healthcare professional

Don't be afraid to write down and ask questions you want to ask your doctors. People are often given lots of information which can be hard to understand all at once. Questions the women in the videos asked include learning more about treatment, access to healthcare and clinical trials, side effects of drugs and how to speak about your diagnosis to those around you.

Questions to ask your healthcare professional

Looking after yourself

Hear why it’s important to listen to your body and look after yourself, and why eating well and exercising can help you through your breast cancer treatment and afterwards.

Looking after yourself

Treatment

Hear about women’s experiences with chemotherapy, radiotherapy (radiation) and surgery to help others adjust their expectations if they need these treatments.

Treatment

Working during treatment

Women talk about how they managed their paid work while having treatment for breast cancer. The women share how adjusting your work schedule and having structure and something else to focus on may help you.

Working during treatment

Worry about cancer coming back

Worrying about cancer coming back is normal and the women share what they do to help them worry less.

Worry about cancer coming back

Things you can do now

Listen to BCNA’s podcast Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Watch BCNA’s video Culture is healing: The making of the possum skin cloak now available for First Peoples going through cancer treatment at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Watch BCNA's video Women’s weaving workshop for First Peoples women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Read Cancer Australia’s Cancer – what to expect: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have cancer
Visit Cancer Australia’s Our Mob and Cancer for information and resources for First Peoples diagnosed with cancer.
Visit My Journey, BCNA’s online tool for information tailored to your diagnosis. My Journey has a Symptom Tracking tool that you can use to help you record your pain, what works for you and what doesn’t.
Join our Online Network if you think that talking to others online and sharing experiences will help.
Contact BCNA’s Helpline on 1800 500 258 between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm AEST Monday to Friday, for information about the services and support that may be available for you and your family.