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Other FundingConferences/Public ForumsMammography Machine
The Foundation’s direct mail appeal in Auckland was very warmly received, and we would like to thank everyone who donated towards the $112,000 needed for this vital piece of equipment. The mammography machine is now in place and the service up and running. The Counties Manukau area is large – covering Howick, Pakuranga, Manukau, Papakura, across to Kawakawa Bay, Franklin, and down to Port Waikato. Fifty-four thousand women are eligible to be screened in this area alone and the mobile van and new mammography machine will help make this happen and help save lives. Radiation Therapy Research Position
The radiation therapy department at Auckland Hospital installed a new dedicated CT scanner in 2005 and would like to further its use for patients who require treatment to the breast area. Paula’s new research position focuses on the best way to do this. Utilisation of full CT imaging would replace the conventional simulation appointment patients currently have which takes about 1 hour. A CT scan appointment would take only 30 minutes and allow the opportunity for the dose of radiation treatment to be optimised throughout the breast tissue. National Conference on Diseases of the Breast The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation first supported this inaugural conference in 2003 by sponsoring one of the international speakers – Dr Jennifer Cawson, a Radiologist from Melbourne. In 2005 the Foundation was a Platinum Plus sponsor of the conference and also organised a half day public forum with the participation of some keynote speakers at the end of the conference on Saturday 5 th November. Go to Education & Awareness for further information and to download the speakers’ presentations. The Foundation has also sponsored and supported a number of other breast cancer related conferences as well as sponsoring New Zealand medical specialists to travel overseas to attend scientific meetings and conferences. Taranaki Breast Project Ultrasound Post-Graduate Study Specialist breast cancer nurse Paula Whitfield was awarded $2,380 in 2005 to assist with her Masters dissertation. Paula is undertaking a Masters in Nursing and researching the role of the breast cancer nurse within New Zealand. Breast Cancer Interest Groups The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation supports a number of other breast cancer groups with grants:
The Golf Girls Fellowship As a result of funds raised from an annual charity golf tournament the Golf Girls Fellowship was established. This Fellowship was administered by the Foundation and has enabled breast cancer specialists to further their training and development in their area of expertise. 2001 Recipient: Dr Alessandra Canal, a plastic surgeon specialising in breast reconstruction was awarded by the Fellowship $11,650 which enabled her to travel overseas to study the latest techniques at leading units in France, Belgium, England and the United States. 2002 Recipients: Dr Jan Craik, a surgical pathologist specialising in breast cancer pathology was awarded $11,000 and travelled to London to attend a postgraduate course in diagnostic histopathology of breast cancer. Dr Craik was the only Australasian pathologist attending. Dr Craik is a surgical pathologist working at North Shore Hospital. The Foundation awarded a second Golf Girls Fellowship to Geraldine Meechan a Psychologist at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. The fellowship will assist Geraldine’s PhD research investigating the psychological impact of malignant and benign breast conditions. The aim of the research is to identify those women most affected by the process of medical investigation, diagnosis and treatment so that early intervention and support can be provided. |
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The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s medical grant of $112,000 has provided a much needed mammography machine for the new mobile unit for BreastScreen Counties Manukau.
Auckland Radiation Therapy Department has received an NZBCF grant of $21,515 to allow Paula Tallon (pictured) to research the development and implementation of a new breast technique for breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy treatment.
Surgical registrar Dr Susan Gollop was awarded $5,000 in 2005 to research why women in Taranaki who are suitable for breast conservation treatment (BCT) choose to have a mastectomy. Data collected from all women in Taranaki with breast cancer over the period 2002-2003 showed a very low rate of BCT (19%) compared with mastectomy (77%). BCT, which consists of wide local excision, axillary dissection and radiation treatment has the same outcome in respect of distant recurrences and overall survival as a mastectomy and axillary dissection. Dr Gollop says Taranaki does not currently have radiotherapy facilities so women who choose to have BCT must travel 3½ hours by road to Palmerston North for six weeks of radiotherapy. She adds that the results of this unique project will be valuable for education, counselling, and treatment of women with breast cancer who are offered the choice of mastectomy or breast conservation treatment – not just in Taranaki, but in other similar environments in New Zealand and overseas.
The Foundation donated $150,000 to the Anne Young Breast Clinic at North Shore Hospital for a dedicated ultrasound machine in 2005. The ultrasound machine is an important diagnostic tool, crucial to any breast clinic, and will ultimately help save the lives of many women in a district with over 475,000 residents. This new machine is more sensitive than previous technology and provides clearer images of smaller lesions. It also enables very accurate visual guidance for biopsies.
Dragon Boat Teams nationwide
YWCA Encore Programme |
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