Waikato research making a difference

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in New Zealand with one in nine women diagnosed during their lifetime. In the Waikato more than 400 women, and in New Zealand over 3000 women, are diagnosed each year.

Sadly, each year we lose 600-700 of our loved ones to this disease — more than our annual road toll. Although it is less common, men can also get breast cancer, with 20-30 Kiwi men diagnosed annually.

Improving breast cancer outcomes through research

Breast cancer isn’t just one disease, there are many types.

Thanks to research, treatment and care are now individualised to the type of breast cancer and the wishes of each woman.

Over 50 years ago the only treatment for breast cancer was a radical mastectomy and old-style radiotherapy, which was an extremely disfiguring operation. Through clinical trials research, we’ve come a long way since this era.

Waikato-based research is enabled by the Breast Cancer Research Trust (BCRT); a local charitable trust established in 2000 by a group of Waikato Hospital breast cancer specialist nurses and doctors.

This trust is a platform for grant applications, fundraising and receiving donations, established as Te Whatu Ora Waikato doesn’t receive direct government funding for research.

Since 2000, the BCRT has enabled over 50 clinical trials and studies to introduce new surgeries, radiotherapy, drug treatments, and new devices and technologies.

The trust also enables research for improving quality of life, reducing side effects and better communication of complex treatment options.

Examples of some research are:

● An international clinical trial that aims to find out if a laboratory test of the genes of breast cancer tissue can be used to identify women with a low risk of cancer recurrence and therefore can safely avoid radiation therapy after surgery.

● Waikato researchers have introduced the use of a small radioactive seed for marking nonpalpable tumours prior to breastconserving surgery. The seed is a guide for surgeons to know exactly what area of abnormal tissue to remove. The seed has proved to be better than our previous marking technique.

● Through clinical trials research we are improving drug treatments for advanced breast cancer and extending the lives of women with what is still deemed incurable cancer.

For further information go to www. breastcancerresearch.org.nz

Early detection saves lives

From the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register we know if a woman has a screendetected breast cancer i.e. diagnosed when small, her chance of being breast cancer free at 10 years is over 95 per cent.

Early detection also means those

diagnosed undergo less radical treatment, for example: breast conservation surgery rather than mastectomy; no chemotherapy versus need for chemotherapy.

Early detection through regular mammograms is important for all women, but especially for Māori women/wāhine who are at even higher risk, and have double the death rate compared with NZ European women.

Regular mammograms

● A screening mammogram is the best method for the early detection of breast cancer with no symptoms.

● We recommend women start having annual screening mammograms between age 40-49 and then once every two years from 50 years (and up to age 80 — as long as women remain in good health). BreastScreen Aotearoa is New Zealand’s free two yearly breast screening programme, for women aged 45-69. In New Zealand there is

work being done on raising the screening age to 74. Phone 0800 270 200 to enrol in this programme or do it online at www.timetoscreen.nz

Breast screening

● Can show changes in the breast often months or years before anything can be seen or felt.

● Can detect breast cancer early, which means a good chance of cure.

● Can detect about 75 per cent of unsuspected cancer in women under 50 and 85 per cent in women over

50.

● Is safe because only small amounts of radiation are used in two-yearly screening, though may cause anxiety because some changes detected are not due to cancer but require further work-up to prove this.

More and more women than ever before are surviving a diagnosis of breast cancer thanks to early detection and more-effective, safe and tailored treatments developed through research.