News & updates • Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

News & updates

Our latest news, press releases, blog posts, Pink Ribbon Bulletins & Pink Ribbon Press.

Press release
Revealed: Where our political parties stand on tackling breast cancer
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.
Press release
MPs back charity’s plea for improvements to breast screening
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.
Press release
“Don’t suffer in silence”: Charity urges breast cancer survivors to act on long-term effects
03 February 2023

“Don’t suffer in silence”: Charity urges breast cancer survivors to act on long-term effects

Ahead of World Cancer Day (4 February), we're highlighting the issue of long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment, to gain more knowledge in this under-researched field.
Press release
Widely available heartburn tablet offers hope for Kiwi breast cancer patients
09 December 2022

Widely available heartburn tablet offers hope for Kiwi breast cancer patients

Results from the PantoCIN trial, which was co-funded by Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, have shown that a widely available heartburn medication can prevent delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy.
Press release
Support for Reti’s breast screening bill – “our older women’s lives are worth saving”
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
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artists join us to promote the importance of mammograms
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.
Press release
Experts adopt new guidelines to improve treatment for Kiwis with advanced breast cancer
13 October 2022

Experts adopt new guidelines to improve treatment for Kiwis with advanced breast cancer

We’ve worked with the country’s top breast cancer specialists to develop new clinical guidelines for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
Press release
“No good reason why free mammograms for 70-74 year olds can’t happen right now”
05 October 2022

“No good reason why free mammograms for 70-74 year olds can’t happen right now”

The Government has an opportunity to show leadership for women’s health this October by immediately raising the free breast screening age, says Justine Smyth, chair of BCFNZ.
Press release
Free breast screening for more NZ women will categorically save lives
04 October 2022

Free breast screening for more NZ women will categorically save lives

We welcome the National Party's commitment to raise the free screening age to 74 and now we want to see all other political parties make the same commitment.
Press release
Gordon MacLeod appointed as new BCFNZ trustee
20 July 2022

Gordon MacLeod appointed as new BCFNZ trustee

We've welcomed business leader Gordon MacLeod to our Board of Trustees.
Press release
Pharmac review: "How much improvement can be achieved is questionable"
01 June 2022

Pharmac review: "How much improvement can be achieved is questionable"

The Government has accepted most of the findings from Pharmac's independent review, but we question how much improvement can actually be achieved.
Press release
Breast screening review must address the mammogram backlog
25 May 2022

Breast screening review must address the mammogram backlog

Health NZ’s review is an acknowledgement of the crucial role of screening in woman's health, but it must include a plan to clear the mammogram backlog.
Press release
Budget 2022 lets down the women of NZ
20 May 2022

Budget 2022 lets down the women of NZ

We're deeply disappointed by the Government's 2022 Budget, which has failed to deliver the $15m we've been asking for to clear the mammogram backlog urgently.
Press release
“The future of breast screening is on a knife-edge”, MPs hear at Pink Ribbon Breakfast in Parliament today
12 May 2022

“The future of breast screening is on a knife-edge”, MPs hear at Pink Ribbon Breakfast in Parliament today

One week before the Government's Budget, we held a Pink Ribbon Breakfast at Parliament, calling $15m of targeted funding to clear the mammogram backlog.
Press release
Breast cancer diagnoses are not “keeping pace with what we’ve seen in the past”
30 March 2022

Breast cancer diagnoses are not “keeping pace with what we’ve seen in the past”

The Prime Minister has claimed levels of cancer diagnoses appear to have “recovered” after being impacted by Covid lockdowns over the last two years. We disagree.
Press release
New BCFNZ-funded nurse making a difference in Canterbury
09 March 2022

New BCFNZ-funded nurse making a difference in Canterbury

Meet Katherine King, Canterbury's first oncology clinical nurse specialist dedicated to breast cancer.
Press release
Breast cancer survival laid bare in new report
04 February 2022

Breast cancer survival laid bare in new report

We've published a report on the most comprehensive review ever conducted on breast cancer in NZ. It shows an impressive improvement in five-year survival rates. But 10-year survival is much lower, and the stats are worse for Māori, Pasifika and younger women.
Press release
10,600 New Zealanders call for urgent action on breast screening
09 December 2021

10,600 New Zealanders call for urgent action on breast screening

We've delivered our Missing Women petition to ACT's Brooke van Velden. More than 10,600 people signed it, calling for the Government to make sure women can access life-saving mammograms.
Press release
Mt Eden x Laken Whitecliffe collab for breast cancer
01 December 2021

Mt Eden x Laken Whitecliffe collab for breast cancer

Auckland DJ Mt Eden and artist Laken Whitecliffe have teamed up to create a music video and artwork as a fundraiser for the Foundation.
Press release
133 MISSING WOMEN: Breast cancer cases going undetected because of Covid-19
14 October 2021

133 MISSING WOMEN: Breast cancer cases going undetected because of Covid-19

At least 133 women across Aotearoa New Zealand have no idea they have breast cancer right now, warns Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Take action by signing our petition!
Press release
Wāhine toa star in new breast cancer campaign using the power of poetry
03 October 2021

Wāhine toa star in new breast cancer campaign using the power of poetry

Spoken word poets Ngā Hinepūkōrero have teamed up with Breast Cancer Foundation NZ to release a new poem highlighting the importance of mammograms this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Press release
New Zealand turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
29 September 2021

New Zealand turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

More than 30 landmarks and prominent buildings across Aotearoa New Zealand are lighting up in pink this October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Press release
ABCpro making a difference for Kiwis with advanced breast cancer
12 August 2021

ABCpro making a difference for Kiwis with advanced breast cancer

Joy and Huia are taking part in the pilot of ABCpro, a new telehealth nursing service we've launched at Waikato Hospital. They speak out about how ABCpro is making a huge difference in their lives
Press release
Jacinda Ardern artwork up for grabs to raise funds for breast cancer
13 May 2021

Jacinda Ardern artwork up for grabs to raise funds for breast cancer

The Port Waikato Pink Ribbon Breakfast Team is hoping they'll raise thousands for BCFNZ through the auction of a framed picture drawn and signed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.