Young Action on Breast Cancer

YABC MISSION STATEMENT

Young Action on Breast Cancer (YABC) is committed to advocating the specific needs and issues which face younger women affected by breast cancer, providing a voice.

 

WHO IS YABC?

In 2004, four young Victorian women affected by breast cancer came together to discuss an action plan that would help address the unmet needs experienced by young breast cancer women. YABC was borne. 

YABC operates as a committee, which meets monthly.  It comprises of six dedicated young survivors who volunteer their time and energy to the projects and initiatives set out by YABC. The committee has close links to The Young Ones support group and Breast Cancer Action Group (BCAG) reporting regularly in the fore mentioned newsletters.

 

YABC AIMS TO:

• Establish regular forums for young Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer
• Raise awareness around the issues affecting younger women
• Develop projects that support the needs of younger women
• Advocate on issues relevant to younger Australian women affected by breast cancer

 

WHAT DOES YABC DO?

 

Our Achievements:

2005          In March, YABC ran a workshop which focused on young single women.

 

2005     Changes in the Making, young women’s journeys through breast cancer was a play written and directed by 2 committee members and was performed October 2005, helping to highlight the issues for young women.

 

2006     YABC pilots the Care Package for newly diagnosed women with Western Health.

 

Our Planned Initiatives

2007     Planning is underway for a major forum that looks at Fertility, Menopause and Sexuality. Sponsorship will be provided to assist interstate and rural participation. Details will appear on website early next year.

 

2007     To increase the distribution of The Care Package to other major Victorian Hospitals

 

2008 and beyond….

• To continue to raise awareness and to advocate around issues affecting young women
• To implement the Care Package nationally

 

 

Becoming Involved.

 

Young Women affected by breast cancer are invited to help us achieve our mission. Details for becoming involved are listed below.

 

Email                ya-bc@hotmail.com

Phone               0411 235 964

Visit                 http://www.theyoungones.asn.au/young_action_on_breast_cancer

 

 

Up Close and Personal 2

The 1^st 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