Here is a link to the ban cigarette displays

Welcome to the Cancer Control Council’s December 2007 Newsletter
We sent out a request to all those on our database for news on what was happening around the country. We have been flooded with info, updates and news. Trouble is, we are going to shift our website in the New Year and that will mean it will be more user friendly and we ultimately want it to be more interactive. So this Newsletter will bear no real resemblance to what we will produce in the future and we are sending this one out direct on email – but a copy of it will be on our website as well. So keep the stories, information and updates coming. The world of Cancer Control is a very challenging but satisfying place to be working. It is full of all the good things in life, passion, commitment and hope. Your contributions reflect all of those qualities and we will do all we can as a council to keep you informed about what is going on in Cancer Control and advocate on your behalf to the Minister. We will also check the progress of the Cancer Control Strategy and provide advice on what we can do better to both you and the Government. So read on and discover what others are up to. Merry Christmas to one and all from me (Craig) and the team, Scott, Tina, Mary Clare, Matt and Katie.
BREAST CANCER NETWORK HAS BUSY END TO A BIG YEAR

At parliament, on 5th September 2007 Breast Cancer Network (NZ) Inc
submitted evidence in support of their call for a breast cancer risk reduction
and prevention strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease.
Gillian Woods and Barbara Mason together with Dr Meriel Watts addressed
the committee on behalf of the 10,969 signatories to the petition that was
presented to Green MP Sue Kedgley and other MPs in November 2006.
While acknowledging that the causes of breast cancer are an interplay of
familial, environmental and lifestyle factors, Breast Cancer Network called for
better information for the public, research into the links between environment
and breast cancer, and regulation to reduce exposure to substances that
show links to breast cancer in laboratory studies.
The first national conference for those who have experienced breast cancer
which was held in Rotorua from October 26 to 28th and was a resounding
success. The conference was attended by more than 470 women and men
from throughout the country.
Breast Cancer Network publishes a bimonthly magazine ‘Upfront’ which is an
informative publication containing articles of interest to women who have been
affected by breast cancer. It includes researched reviews on breast cancer
risk reduction, diagnosis and treatment, recent news items, personal stories
and interviews, book reviews, and events.
“BAN CIGARETTE DISPLAYS” CAMPAIGN TAKES SHAPE

There is plenty happening on the tobacco front with a campaign to ban
cigarette displays – here is the link to keep you up to date:

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR CANCER CONTROL LEADER

New Zealand Cancer Control Trust’s Executive Director, Professor John
Gavin, has been awarded an honorary doctor of science degree at the
University of Otago.
The doctoral degree is the fourth awarded to Professor Gavin during a
distinguished career in teaching, research and community service spanning
nearly 50 years. His doctorates include degrees of Doctor of Dental Surgery,
Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy and Doctor of Science in Pathology.
Professor Gavin discovered early the rewards and fascination of research.
During the next 40 years he was highly productive and innovative in his
research, delving into a range of topics, including heart valve grafts, the
effects of loss of blood supply to heart tissue and deafness following acoustic
trauma. By 2000 he had published nearly 200 academic papers, and his
research teams had won more than $2.8 million of grants.
Following overseas academic appointments early in his career, Professor
Gavin was appointed Associate Professor Pathology at the Auckland School
of Medicine in 1970. His 30-year teaching and research career at the Medical
School included a variety of roles and responsibilities, including Head of the
Department of Pathology and membership of both national and international
bodies. Since retiring from the Medical School, Professor Gavin has been an
Emeritus Professor of Pathology.
In 2001 he turned his energies to new challenges through his appointment as
Executive Director of the New Zealand Cancer Control Trust. In this role he
assumed leadership in establishing a partnership between government and
non-government sectors to develop The New Zealand Cancer Control
Strategy and its associated action plan. The aims are to reduce the
incidence, impact and inequalities with respect to cancer.
In 2005 Professor Gavin was appointed a member of the Cancer Control
Council, an independent advisory body providing strategic advice to the
Health Minister and to the wider cancer control community. He is a life
member of the Cancer Society, in recognition of his service as inaugural chair
of the Society's National Scientific Committee, and a Trustee of the Genesis
Oncology Trust.
BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS OUT FRONT IN DRAGON BOATS

There are to be two dragonboat festivals in Auckland this summer: the Tiger
Beer Auckland Festival in February, which coincides with the Chinese New
Year celebrations, and the National Championships at the end of March. The
breast cancer survivor teams compete as a special category in the Open
section, along with the corporate teams.
The connection between BC and dragon boating started in Canada in 1996.
Dr Don McKenzie began a study to dismiss the myth that upper body exercise
would cause lymphoedema in women post BC treatment. He used dragon
boating because it is a strenuous, repetitive, upper body exercise and an
effective way of studying a large group simultaneously.
Now the sport has become a resource for women post BC treatment for
physical and mental wellness. The bond between the members is very special
- we support each other.
The Nationals promises to be one of the most exciting festivals for breast
cancer survivor paddlers in New Zealand, with about 9 teams of bcs
dragonboaters including at least one Australian team completing . Pink
Dragons will be co-hosting the bcs teams with Busting With Life, their sister
team in Auckland.
Spotlight on the Boobops team
One of the teams, the Boobops, come from Tauranga.
They have paddled in regattas in Hamilton and Auckland and in 2006/07 they
won two breast cancer finals as well as holding a Super 12 Regatta in
Tauranga (first for your province). In September, 13 survivors joined with 9
Waikato paddlers to form a team to compete in the Abreast in Australia
Regatta – and were placed 3rd in our division.
There were over 70 teams (2000 women) competing from 7 countries.
This season Tauranga will field 2 teams with a full survivors and supporters
team - some of our second team are survivors of other cancers. Their club
membership numbers have jumped to over 50.
Contact details for Pink Dragons
Robin Gamble
Team Leader
pinkdragons@ihug.co.nz
28 Epsom Avenue
Epsom
Auckland
Ph (09) 630 6423
Mob 021 146 8381
FEEDING OUR FUTURES UPDATE

Feeding our Futures - the National Social Marketing programme to promote
Healthy Eating for children - has had a busy few months with the launch of a
new tips-based media campaign, the launch of community funding and a
planning for a number of other initiatives underway.
Taking a fresh look at fruit and vegetables

The launch of three new tips in October saw the programme take a new fresh
look at the issue of getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables. All the
new campaign resources are also now available in Te reo Maori. To view

New funding introduced to support healthy eating in communities
Community groups planning efforts to get their local families to eat more
healthily may be able to receive support from a new funding stream launched
by Feeding our Futures.
The new funding is available for activities, events or initiatives taking place
between February and April 2008, which promote healthy eating outcomes for
families or whanau. Applicants will need to show how their activity is
supporting one or more of the Feeding our Futures programme objectives.
These include contributing towards increasing parents motivation, confidence
and skills in implementing strategies to provide a healthy diet for children. The
programme prioritises Maori, Pacific and low income communities.
To access the funding guidelines and application form please visit

Healthy eating on the menu for Children’s Day!
Thousands of kids around New Zealand will have a new item on their
Children’s Day activity menu in 2008: healthy eating. For the first time the
Feeding our Futures national programme will be providing support and
information for parents and community groups involved in activities around
this important national day – 2 March 2008.
Children’s Day is an annual non-commercial day that’s all about celebrating
our nation’s children.
)
You can keep up-to-date with what’s going on with the Feeding our Futures
and you will be added to the communications database.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) Chair attends US conference

BCAC Chair Libby Burgess attended the 30 San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium (SABCS ) from the 12th to 16th of December 2007. Libby successfully applied to the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), for a scholarship of US$2,500 to attend this conference as a patient advocate. Only one advocate scholarship is awarded per country (outside the US). Libby will write a report on her conference soon. “This helps in the wide dissemination of new knowledge from SABCS so that new technologies and treatments can be better understood and thus taken up faster for the benefit of patients worldwide,” said Libby. Her topic is the use of genomic tools (gene expression patterns) in determining prognosis and appropriate treatment strategies in breast cancer. The SABCS is a key annual conference where important new data is
presented to clinicians and scientists with an interest in breast cancer. SABCS
is an international event in which approximately 8,000 researchers,
oncologists, and others in the scientific field learn about and discuss the
current and cutting-edge breast cancer research. Details of the conference

Free NZBCF Breast Health Awareness Seminars
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s popular free nationwide Breast
Health Awareness Seminars will roll out again in 2008, beginning with
presentations around the country in February.
In 2007 the Foundation’s three educators visited over 60 towns and cities
around NZ, and presented over 200 seminars.
This essential education encourages women ( and men ) to be breast aware
and covers information about mammograms, knowing your breasts, the role of
the family doctor, facts, signs and symptoms, risk factors, myths and lifestyle
choices.
A schedule of advertised free public Breast Health Seminars is available on
the Foundation’s webs or anyone wanting more
information about a workplace seminar can phone 0800 902 732 or email
.
New SunSmart campaign Never let your child get sunburnt
The SunSmart brand has been promoted since 1993. It has been successful
in raising awareness of the dangers of harmful Ultraviolet radiation (UVR)
exposure; Tiger Prawn has served SunSmart well over the five years of the
campaign.
The New Zealand Skin Cancer Control Steering Committee Strategic
Framework 2008 - 2011 has as one of its prevention goals to reduce the
incidence of sunburn, particularly acute intermittent sunburn. The other
prevention goal is to reduce the prevalence of cumulative exposure to UVR.
The HSC SunSmart contribution to the “prevention” programme goal is to:
Increase the percentage of parents and caregivers of 8 to 12-year olds who
take steps to protect their children from getting sunburnt.
The “Sunburnt Kids” has its own specific communication goal to: motivate
parents and caregivers to take steps to stop their 8 to 12 year-old children
from getting sunburnt.
The TVC and print material can be viewed at the following link until 26th
December. At which time the TVC will be made available for public view on

View the TVC (up to 26th December 2007) via


Reconstructive Breast Fellowship Grant

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded a fellowship grant
of $35,000 to Dr Meredith Simcock from Middlemore Hospital to start a
Reconstructive Breast Fellowship in Toronto, Canada in 2008.
This highly sort after fellowship will give exposure to all forms of
reconstructive breast surgery, and Meredith will work with some of North
America’s top reconstructive plastic surgeons.
She intends to return to Middlemore Hospital in 2010 to work in the Plastics
Unit to continue the development of their breast service.
Meredith has always wanted to be a doctor, and her love of surgery became
clear early on in her career. She particularly likes the artistic and sculpting
side of breast reconstructive surgery and finds it very rewarding helping
women to become fully functional again.
“I find it a real privilege to be allowed into women’s’ lives at a very stressful
time,” she says.
And to keep her own stress at bay, Meredith makes time for a variety of
interests outside of work, including equestrianism, hockey, skiing and squash.
She also enjoys films, reading, cuisine and gardening.
“If you’re not careful you can become too narrow and focused which can lead
to being stressed and obsessed! It’s important for doctors to be part of
society as well and to see patients as people, not just those in need of care,”
she says.

NZBCF Scholarship Programme Expands
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation has expanded its
mammography scholarships to 9 recipients, up from 6 in previous years. The
scholarships are awarded to Unitec NZ third year students undertaking a
Bachelor of Health Science degree – Medical Imaging, specialising in
mammography. Each student receives $2,000.
Now in its third year, the Foundation’s scholarship programme also includes 6
annual scholarships of $7,000 each for first year radiation therapy students at
The University of Otago.
New Support For Waikato Register

The Waikato Breast Care Register has received a grant of over $57,000 from
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation to assist in its ongoing
maintenance and development.
The register collects up-to-date patient data to be analysed to improve
knowledge, treatments and management of resources to further benefit
patients’ long term outcomes.
The Foundation has been a long term supporter of The Auckland Breast
Cancer Patient Register, and with the new Waikato funding, the Foundation’s
commitment to both is now over $400,000 and ongoing. The Foundation
would like to see similar registers extended to other regions and is speaking
with relevant health professionals to make this happen.

Source: http://cancercontrolnz.govt.nz/sites/default/files/At%20Work%20December%202010.pdf