Article
The Young Ones
October 2007 Newsletter
In this month’s The Young Ones newsletter . . .
This October has been a busy breast cancer awareness month. For us there was the extremely successful 1st national conference for young women affected by breast cancer; Up Close and Personal 2. For those who attended, the conference was not only informative, providing the most up to date information on issues relevant to young women affected by breast cancer, but a fantastic opportunity for young women to connect. Congratulations to the Young Action on Breast Cancer committee for putting on this fabulous event. Read YABC Chairperson, Mary Macheras-Magias’ report in this month’s newsletter.
The National Breast Cancer Centre’s annual Pink ribbon breakfast this year was hosted in Melbourne as well as Sydney. This year the event launched the Breast Cancer risk calculator. This tool, designed to calculate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, could be helpful for friends and family who may be confused about their personal risk. Also in this month’s newsletter there is the opportunity for you to nominate a clinician you believe should be recognised for their exemplary service, in the inaugural AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Care Award.
Rita Marigliani, The Young Ones Coordinator
Up Close & Personal 2
The 1st National Conference for young women with breast cancer – Up Close and Personal took place in Melbourne October this year. This was the first time that young women from around Australia had the opportunity to come together to a Conference designed specifically around the issues affecting them. This was a Conference organised by young women for young women.
Up Close and Personal 2 was made possible by the determined commitment, passion and energy of Young Action on Breast Cancer (YABC) organising committee: A small group of young volunteers, who through their vision inspired others to join them in making this event possible.
The Conference aims were to inform; connect; and advocate. These aims were successfully delivered through the wide range of quality speakers who presented during the plenary and workshop sessions; the performances that brought to life issues that touch young women; the amazing hypothetical session that included a panel of experts who so generously shared their knowledge on topics relevant to young women; the amazing energy of the women who attended; the evening celebration that allowed women to have a good time in the company of their peers; and finally the discourse and breadth of ideas shared in the final summation.
Recommendations that were put forward during this session included:
- Better communication and awareness from GPs in diagnosing younger women is needed. Women should not be dismissed when presenting with symptoms simply because of their younger age.
- Although information dissemination has improved there still appears to be discrepancy in information that is provided to young woman. It was recommended that all young women (pre-menopausal) should be informed about fertility options before treatment.
- Financial guidelines and assistance:
- Free mammograms and ultra sounds
- Better financial support
- Improving resources:
- Links to specialists
- Information for women with children
- Accessing support groups
- Support groups for partners; carers
- Breast Care Nurses for all women
- Advanced Young Women’s Group
- Peer support program that helps connect women
- Develop medical databases
- Linking YABC nationally
- Rotating the Conference around Australia to improve accessibility for other young women
- Increasing awareness around young women’s issues
Transcripts, presentations and photos from the Conference will be made available on www.yabc2007conference.org late November.
YABC thank the women who attended and helped make this such a wonderful and vital event and to our amazing speakers. Thank you to our major sponsors: BCNA; Think Pink Foundation; NAB; and Edgar Trust Foundation.
Mary Macheras-Magias, YABC Chairperson
NBCC’s Breast Cancer Risk Calculator
Australian women will now be able to calculate their own risk of developing breast cancer with a new tool being launched today by the National Breast Cancer Centre.
The interactive tool is designed for women aged 20 years and over. It asks a series of questions about a woman’s age, family history of breast and ovarian cancer, genetic factors, height, weight, alcohol intake, menstrual and reproductive history, and previous breast conditions to calculate her risk of developing breast cancer compared to another woman of her age.
The calculator informs women if they are at ‘low or average risk’, ‘moderately increased risk’ or ‘potentially high risk’ of developing breast cancer. It also provides details of what has contributed to this risk.
The risk calculator can be accessed at the National Breast Cancer Centre’s website www.nbcc.org.au. The calculator is part of a National Breast Cancer Centre mini-site about breast cancer risk factors that rates the importance of different risk factors, dispels the myths and clarifies the different ways risk can be explained.
Calling for entries for the Inaugural Breast Cancer Care Award
The search has begun for healthcare professionals who provide amazing support and care for their patients affected by breast cancer. The inaugural AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Care Award aims to recognise general practitioners, surgeons, medical oncologists, pharmacists, nurses and social workers, and celebrate their exceptional commitment and compassion for their patients.
Every day, healthcare professionals provide support to those with breast cancer. This care commonly extends beyond simply providing medical treatment. These healthcare professionals exceed patient expectations by providing invaluable emotional support and assistance. This support helps patients and their families try to come to terms with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and the implications for ongoing health, lifestyle, relationships and finances. Significant advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer means that more women are surviving the disease than ever before. For many women life beyond breast cancer involves having to deal with a number of changes, both physical and emotional.
Nominations can be made by anyone who has experienced or observed the exceptional support that a general practitioner, surgeon, medical oncologist, pharmacist, nurse or social worker has provided to women affected by breast cancer. Nominations are open from September to 31 December 2007. To receive a nomination form email breastcancercareaward@porternovelli.com.au or phone 02 8424 8521
Thank you
Thank you to Maria Stefos and her guests at a Manchester party hosted on 22 October. $231 was raised for The Young Ones through a raffle and donations to help us continue our work providing peer support to young Victorian women affected breast cancer.
What’s Happening Next Month? (See The Young One website for updates)
Cancer Council Victoria – Free Seminar for people living with advanced cancer:
“When cancer won’t go away”
Saturday 1 December, 10.30-2.30pm
Partners, family and Friends are encouraged to attend.
RSVP: PH: 13 11 20 or email cis@cancervic.org.au
BreaCan is a free, confidential information and support service for people affected by gynaecological cancers or breast cancer, their families and friends. Open 10am - 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
BreaCan Resource Centre
Ground Floor
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
POSTAL PO Box 1066, Melbourne Vic 3001
PHONE 1300 781 500 (cost of a local call for country callers)
FAX (03) 9921 0840
breacan@breacan.org.au
www.breacan.org.au
Wednesday 17th October, 11.00am-2.00pm – Music For The Mind, Body & Soul
We all have a connection with music. Our tastes may be different, but still, music has a way of touching our soul. Emma O’Brien, Senior Music Therapist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, will facilitate an interactive session about the way music can be used to help heal and maintain health and well being in our lives. Singing optional, ears a must!
Wednesday 31st October, 12.00pm-1.30pm – The Shape of Things – Bras, Boobs And Breast Forms
Velia McLean, an experienced corsetry and mastectomy fitter who has personally experienced breast cancer, will cover the finer points in finding that elusive well fitting bra. Pauline and Joy, who have also experienced breast cancer, will model the bras. The session will cover traditional bras, bras for breast forms and bathers, as well as tips on looking after your bras and breast forms.
Wednesday 14th November, 12.00pm-1.30pm – Drumming Your Own Beat
Simon Fraser is the owner of VoyeuRythmic – Centre for West African Music and Culture based in St Kilda. He is a professional percussionist who focuses on teaching African drumming, running weekly classes, workshops and drumming retreats. This will be a fun and very interactive session giving participants a chance to experience the stress relief and meditative benefits that African drumming can offer. (Drums provided – no previous experience necessary!)
Thursday 29th November, 12.00pm – 1.30pm - How to Gain Some Control – Nutrition and Exercise
After a cancer diagnosis, women often talk about how they feel like they’ve lost control; how they feel they’ve little choice in what’s happening in their lives. However, we usually have some control over the food we eat and our decision to exercise – or not. Come along and hear Rachael Dalton, Head of Physiotherapy and Gwenda Roberts, Head of Nutrition from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre talk about current and emerging thoughts about nutrition and exercise, and how they influence our health and well being.
Thursday 13th December, 11.00am – End Of Year Celebration Morning Tea
BreaCan invites you to help us celebrate the festive season with friends, fun and some yummy food! We can look back on the wonderful achievements of 2007 and enjoy catching up with old friends and meeting new people from BreaCan. This is always a popular event so to help us cater for all please RSVP by Monday 10th December.
Newsletter Contributions
We welcome all contributions to and feedback on, the newsletter. If you’ve recently read a book, seen a website, lecture or production that you think other young women who have experienced breast cancer would be interested in, or would like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Send all your stories, reviews contributions and feedback to ritamarigliani@netspace.net.au
Our next meeting: Thursday 29 November
Contact details Rita Marigliani
The Young Ones Coordinator:
041 123 5964
Email: ritamarigliani@netspace.net.au
Website: www.theyoungones.asn.au
