September 2006
The Young Ones
September 2006 Newsletter
In this month’s The Young Ones newsletter . . .
This month I had the pleasure of attending the Otis Foundation units in Bendigo for the launch of Heartsongs in the Key of C, a collection of short stories and poems written by women affected by breast caner (including a few Young Ones!), which was reviewed in last month’s newsletter. It is now available to be borrowed from The Young Ones Library.
Not only was the launch a great success with readings and entertainment, it was also a great opportunity to show case the magnificent Otis units. It was my first visit and I was really impressed. These units allow people who are living, or have lived with, breast cancer to enjoy a time of restoration, relaxation and rejuvenation without the burden of having to pay for accommodation. They are located in a bush setting and are beautifully furnished and self contained. You can find out more about Otis by visiting www.otisfoundation.org.au. I have a short DVD in The Young Ones library which shows just how beautiful these units are. If you’d like to borrow it, just give me a call.
As a member group of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), The Young Ones were recently invited to join representatives for other member groups to attend BCNA’s National Summit. Kerri Guy represented The Young Ones at the summit and her report is included in the month’s newsletter.
With October being breast cancer awareness month, and Australian Breast Cancer Day on 23 October it’s going to be very busy. Check out the activities in the What’s Happening Next Month? section, and on our website.
October – breast cancer awareness month and a great opportunity to fund raise!
Help The Young Ones with fundraising by selling or purchasing BCNA Pink Lady badges. Badges sell for $5 each, with $2.50 of the proceeds going to The Young Ones. If you’d like to order a box of 50 badges, or would like to buy badges in bundles of 10, please contact me (details at the end of the newsletter).
Bring your partner/support person to our October meeting
Don’t for get that at our next meeting The Young Ones is celebrating breast cancer awareness month by inviting our members to bring along their partner/support person to our meeting. This is a great opportunity for our partners and support people to meet each other, ask questions and find comfort in shared experiences - in the same way we do through our meetings. Please RSVP by 20 October, by email or phone with the names of you partner/support person, so we know you’re coming.
Rita Marigliani, The Young Ones Coordinator
Report – BCNA Summit 2006: Many Voices – One Tune
I attended the BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia) summit held in Sydney on the 11–13 September as a representative of The Young Ones & Young Action on Breast Cancer. The aim of the summit was to bring BCNA’s member groups up to date on the work that BCNA are doing, together with what we as member groups can do to help promote awareness of breast cancer and BCNA’s programs in the community.
The sessions ranged from the history of BCNA, to the programs that are run by BCNA to help women throughout their journeys. As survivors we can help by promoting the My Journey Kit to newly diagnosed women. BCNA’s ultimate aim is to ensure that every newly diagnosed Australian woman receives a kit within one week of diagnosis. Discussion was held as to why women are not ringing the number for the kit (automated phone system can be too complicated for older women), together with the delays in the receipt of the kits in regional areas. These issues are being addressed currently by BCNA. We also learnt more about The Field of Women and Mini-Fields, which have been developed as an important way of BCNA getting their message out across the country. If you are interested in hosting a Mini-Field, have a look at the website which will give you more information together with contact details: www.bcna.org.au.
Our day concluded with a celebration at North Sydney Leagues Club. Here we were treated to Karaoke. Those who know me will be happy to hear that I did not participate (my singing would possibly have cleared the room)! It was a great opportunity to meet some new women, together with catching up with some who I have not seen for a couple of years.
Day 2 commenced with Gerda Evans speaking about the Seat at the Table program, and being a Consumer Representative for BCNA. Then three Consumer Representatives spoke about the different things that you can do as a rep. The first speaker was Marie Polla-Mounter who spoke about doing media interviews. She had some very good tips for dealing with the media and was very entertaining. Next was Vivienne Gregg who spoke about giving talks to different groups. And the third speaker was me. I spoke about BCNA’s Advocacy and Science Training program, together with attending conferences as a BCNA rep. Other sessions that day included BCNA’s work on policy issues, how BCNA have worked with the media; and living with secondary breast cancer. Two women from the Advanced Breast Cancer Working Party (Maria Waters and Veronica Macaulay-Cross) spoke very movingly about their journey, and the work that is now being done for women with advanced cancer. BCNA are currently working on a “My journey kit” for women with advanced breast cancer. Stacey Lord from Bakers Delight then spoke about the sponsorship and fundraising that they provide to BCNA, and the support that their franchisees give as well. And something that we can all do – if you are in a Bakers Delight, say thank you to them for the support that they give to BCNA.
Workshops were held on the following topics: Running a Mini-Field, working with the media, running a support group; and people, groups and dynamics. These workshops were an opportunity for all of the member group representatives to share stories and receive tips and advice from other members.
Later that afternoon we were treated to a panel session where we were brought up to date on what is new in breast cancer, with an opportunity to ask questions of the experts. To sum up, there is really nothing new in terms of surgery, but the new treatments are in the area of oncology and adjuvant treatments. Dr Fran Boyle treated us to another of her entertaining analogies of a multi-disciplinary team (unfortunately for some of us Victorians it was rugby-based), and did mention some new drugs currently in clinical trials. She also made a comment that made most of us sit up and take notice – “Cancer does not always spread through the lymph nodes, it usually goes via the blood stream”. She added that the lymph nodes are often taken as a sign that it has spread outside of the primary area. Assoc Professor Judy Kirk, a geneticist, brought us up to date on genetic mutations and also explained genetic mutation genes in very simple language. As is always the case, the question time was not long enough!
On Day 3 we were given an overview on Herceptin and the advocacy role that BCNA and its members played in getting this funded in a relatively short period of time. Next up was a talk by novelist, columnist, and breast cancer survivor Stephanie Dowrick. She was an inspirational speaker, and I would recommend that you see her speak if you have the opportunity, together with having a read of the many books that she has written. We then attended another workshop as per the listing previously. Then it was time for Lyn Swinburne, CEO of BCNA to sum up, and finally we saw a video that Raelene Boyle had recorded for us as she couldn’t attend.
Overall it was a great opportunity to learn more about BCNA, do some networking and promote The Young Ones! If you are interested in becoming a Consumer Representative, BCNA are running their Advocacy & Science Training in November, call BCNA’s Gerda Evans for more information.
Kerri Guy
The Young Ones Christmas party - Friday 8 December, 7.30pm
Make sure you keep Friday December 8 free for The Young Ones Christmas party. This year we’re out to have some fun at Templebar Precinct, 98 Smith St Collingwood (across the road from Café Coco). It’s a Spag and Drag night - a cheap and cheerful dinner with plenty of time for us to catch up on our news before the Show starts at 8.30. No doubt we’ll be able to compare prosthesis and make up tips!
What’s Happening Next Month? (See The Young One website for updates)
Pink Ribbon Motorcycle Ride - Sunday 22 October 2006
Bunnings Warehouse - 636 Burwood Highway, Vermont South
Join in to help raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and breast cancer research. As women affected by breast cancer you will be provided with the opportunity to participate as a motorcycle pillion rider (if you choose) or alternative transport in one of the Hot Rods attending exclusively to act as YOUR chauffeur, a limited edition enamel badge and a pink wrist band for the free sausage sizzle lunch. Find more details at: www.prmr.org.au.
23 October, Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Nutrimetics 5 Burwood Highway Wantirna, 10.30 to 2.30pm Lee Alexander, Breast Care Nurse at The Valley Private Hospital is once again organising a fantastic day at Nutrimetics. Doreen Ackkerman from The Cancer Council will MC for the day. Contact Lee Alexander on (03) 9790 9333.
The Lymphoedema Association will be hosting a free seminar on
Saturday 28 October, 9am-4.30pm at Ashburton Support Services, 296 High St, Ashburton. Bookings essential – 1300 852 850.
BreaCan is free, confidential information, support and referral service for people with 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
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 4 October, 11.30am-2.30pm The ‘No Experience Necessary’ Writing Workshop
Well, you do need life experience for this workshop... and women have plenty of that! Christine Gillespie will have you writing in no time. Christine is a writer, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. She is an experienced workshop presenter and has worked on the Warrior Women project, helping women to make sense of their experience. Whether you have early or advanced disease come along, even if you haven't written since school ... it will be fun! RSVPs essential (light lunch provided).
Wednesday 18 October, 12.00pm-1.30pm Who is the Health Services Commissioner?
Beth Wilson’s long-standing interest in medico/legal and ethical issues culminated in her becoming the Health Services Commissioner in 1997. In her role she receives and resolves complaints about health service providers with a view to improving the quality of health services for everybody. Listen to Beth talk about what she does, the range of issues she deals with and learn more about your rights as a health consumer.
Monday 23 October, 11.00am-3.00pm Australia’s Breast Cancer Day
Visit BreaCan for a day of indulgence - there'll be an opportunity to try reflexology, massage and maybe a facial or simple make-over. Closer to the day we'll be in touch with more details but if you haven't been to BreaCan before put this date in the diary – it’s an ideal opportunity to visit, be pampered and get to know the service and our volunteers better!
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: Bring your Partner/Support person - 26 October
Contact details Rita Marigliani
The Young Ones Coordinator:
041 123 5964
Email: ritamarigliani@netspace.net.au
Website: www.theyoungones.asn.au
