Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
News & updates
Our latest news, press releases, blog posts, Pink Ribbon Bulletins & Pink Ribbon Press.
Press release
27 July 2023
Breast cancer screening bill pulled from ballot
Today Dr Shane Reti's private member's bill to increase the breast screening age to 74 has been drawn from the ballot box, taking us one step closer to our older women being able to access free mammograms.
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
July 2023
Mānawatia a Matariki! This issue of the Bulletin wishes you a happy Māori new year, welcomes the release of the Government's new Women's Health Strategy and has the details for our upcoming webinar. Read more and catch up on our news for July!
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
June 2023
The June edition of the Bulletin is dedicated to our patron Dame Rosie Horton, who passed away in May. We share some of Dame Rosie's legacy, a founding trustee and chair of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and known as a leading philanthropist across the country
Press release
08 June 2023
Pharmac breast cancer cost-saving proposal welcome but ignores patients facing “dead-end”
We're welcoming Pharmac's proposal to replace Herceptin with a cheaper and safe alternative for HER2-positive breast cancer, but we're disappointed Pharmac's medical advisors won't widen access to this drug for certain patients who have run out of options.
Blog
05 June 2023
Suzie's reconstruction diary part 5: Feeling stronger
This is the final part of Suzie’s journal. She talks about her recovery and feeling stronger, attending her daughter's wedding, getting Covid-19 as well as her feelings about her new breasts.
Press release
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Blog
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
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
Blog
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
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
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
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.
Blog
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
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.
Pink Ribbon Bulletins
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
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!
Press release
19 October 2022
Support for Reti’s breast screening bill – “our older women’s lives are worth saving”
After years of campaigning for the breast screening age to be raised to 74, we fully support National MP Dr Shane Reti's attempt to get this enshrined in law.
Press release
17 October 2022
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artists join us to promote the importance of mammograms
Members of Te Puāwai weavers feature in our new awareness campaign called Mammograms For Us to encourage wāhine to book their mammograms.