Pink Ribbon Breakfast -Whangarei

Pink Ribbon Breakfast -Whangarei

Everyone will be in ‘the pink’ next Tuesday (19 May) with the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) shouting staff at the Mauri Ora Breast Clinic service breakfast in acknowledgment of their work towards detecting breast cancer in Northland. The one stop shop clinic is dedicated to screening and the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

“May is Pink Ribbon Breakfast month so we thought that this would be a nice way to let the wider world know about the good work being done in Northland”, offered Evangelia Henderson, NZBCF chief executive.

Working closely with GP’s and local community health providers the Breast Service offered at the Mauri Ora Breast Clinic is focused on reducing inequalities and barriers for all women accessing breast screening services.

“A key to the success of the BreastScreen programme at Northland DHB has been the whole of community approach and a collaborative team effort, involving clinical, health promotion and administrative staff across the Northland and Waitemata region, PHOs, GPs, Māori health providers, and of course the women”, acknowledged Barbara Miller, operations manager, Mauri Ora Breast Clinic.

“We are thrilled that the Foundation is visiting Northland to celebrate the work our staff do”.

Northland DHB has consistently increased its breast screening rates and up until the new census data was received, consistently exceeded the national target of 70% annually for Māori (73 percent) and non-Māori women (74.6 percent).

“The 2013 census captured an additional 2000 people who had previously not been counted in Northland and within that are women that we need to reach in terms of offering free breast screening services”, Barbara said.

“Our new campaign message ‘’protecting the future of our Wāhine’ aims to highlight why breast screening is important for all eligible women aged 45 to 69 years of age. Of the 300 women screened, ten will be recalled and two will have cancer. We need to screen those 300 women to find the two so it’s really important to reach all Northland women every year”.

May 1 is the first day of Pink Ribbon Breakfast month. Over the course of the month, more than 2000 Kiwis will invite their friends or colleagues for breakfast to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation funds research in New Zealand hospitals and universities in the areas of new drug development, research into the genetic factors that contribute to cancer spread, and support for clinical trials that provide access to new and expensive treatments.

The NZBCF also funds breast cancer patient registers in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch, tracking patient treatment and outcomes to monitor treatment effectiveness and identify inequalities of access or care.

Media Invitation

Media are invited to attend the celebration breakfast – Tuesday 19 May -8.30 am
The Mauri Ora Breast Clinic, Cnr Maunu Roads and West End Avenue, Maunu, Whangarei.

Interviews available

Caroline Thomas, NZBCF National Educator
Barbara Miller, operations manager, Mauri Ora Breast Clinic
Breast Cancer survivors
The clinic will be decked out in pink for an ideal photo opportunity.

Key messages

Nearly 10% of women in New Zealand develop breast cancer.
• The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.
• Free mammograms (breast x-rays) are available for eligible women aged 45 - 69 years through the National Breast Screening Programme.
• Screening mammograms detect breast cancer before you can feel or notice anything unusual.
• Early detection and treatment can save lives.
• Mammograms need to be repeated every two years.
• Most women who have mammograms will be reassured they do not have breast cancer.
• Most women who develop breast cancer have no relatives with the disease.
• Women of any age who feel or notice anything unusual about their breast should seek advice from their doctor.

For more information and recipes, or to register to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast, visit www.pinkribbonbreakfast.co.nz

ENDS

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