The Pink Caravan’s delivering breast health messages to all corners of New Zealand

Over the next three months the caravan will travel from the Far North to Bluff, with nurses on board to talk to locals about lifestyle, family risk and breast health.

Its first stop was in Rawene, and it was met by a celebration of epic proportions.

Our Pink Caravan manager had been working with an incredibly motivated group of women in Hokianga region, who hosted an “Upstair Downstairs” Pamper Day in celebration of the Caravan’s visit; breast health out the front, cervical smears in the back. It was a one-stop female health shop, advertised locally with a tagline we can all relate to: “Wāhine, are you due, or overdue, for that important check you try to avoid?”

Rawene’s No. 1 Parnell Gallery was decked out in pink, with balloon columns and basketball-sized pink paper orbs. Volunteers came in droves to contribute, giving women free haircuts, massages, facials and manicures. At one point, it seemed like the whole female population of the Hokinaga Harbour was there. A few of the local men popped by too, to see what all the fuss was about (they get their own day too – a Great Outdoors Men’s Health night hosted by ex-All Black Eric Rush).

The day culminated in a performance from Valkyrie, an Auckland-based band with roots in the Far North. The mother of Valkyrie’s lead singer had breast cancer, and so the band was especially motivated to make the trek up north to be part of such an important day.

This year, the Pink Caravan will be visiting small towns; places that don’t have the same variety of health services available as big cities.

New Zealanders living in rural areas face significant challenges when it comes to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Perhaps because mammogram services aren’t as conveniently available, rural women aren’t screened as often for breast cancer. People who are diagnosed with breast cancer in rural areas also lack access to specialised services, including breast care nurses.

The Pink Caravan nurses were there to make sure women living rurally know the signs of breast cancer, how to self-check, and where to get regular mammograms. As well as that, the specialist breast nurses were able to connect with local practice nurses, to share experiences and expertise.

The NZBCF offer support services to everyone with breast cancer, no matter where they live. The free counselling service for patients can be accessed from anywhere in the country, as can the breast nurse helpline (0800 BC NURSE). We encourage anyone, no matter where you are, to make use of these services.

To see where the Pink Caravan is headed this year, visit nzbcf.org.nz/PinkCaravan.