Julie Ince-Demetriou: Privileged to attend and represent NBCF at the Early Breast Cancer Awareness event at Parliament House
National Breast Cancer Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“No cancer is a good cancer.
This sentiment was at the heart of this weeks Early Breast Cancer Awareness event at Parliament House, which I had the privilege of attending, representing the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Thank you to Inherited Cancers Australia and Novartis, Australia and New Zealand for the invitation and for spotlighting the unmet needs of women living with early breast cancer.
The event hosted by Senator Deborah O’Neill, Michaelia Cash, and Kylea Tink, Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Cancer Care and Cure, also saw Ged Kearney and Gavin Pearce put their support behind the discussions.
Their presence underscored the importance of a multi-partisan approach to addressing health challenges, like breast cancer. The event shared interim findings from Project Shirley, an Australian-first patient study co-led by Inherited Cancers Australia and Novartis Australia.
The findings are confronting:
Misperceptions that early breast cancer is ‘curable’ or ‘a good cancer’ mean half of patients feel uncomfortable discussing their diagnosis.
Only 28% of patients feel they truly understand their risk of recurrence.
Fear of recurrence dominates, with patients willing to explore any options to reduce risk.
This event amplified the voices of amazing women like Angelique and Tracey who shared their own personal experience with breast cancer, alongside insights from experts Dr. Jemma Gilchrist and Dr. Sally Baron-Hay, and the advocacy of Inherited Cancers Australia CEO Sarah Powell.
Upon personal reflection, these discussions reinforced why collaboration and research focused on stopping recurrence and progression is central to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Pink Horizon Research Strategy.
So those who face a diagnosis of early breast cancer, don’t face a lifetime of fear. It was also wonderful to meet so many passionate advocates from across the breast cancer community.
Together, we can make a meaningful impact and accelerate progress towards a future of Zero Deaths from breast cancer.”
For more posts like this, visit oncodaily.com.
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