Upfront About Breast Cancer

It's important to consider your lifestyle and what activities you want to be able to do after a breast reconstruction and also how you want to feel. Physiotherapist and researcher Dr Deidre McGhee, and Jodi Steel, who had a breast reconstruction two years ago, join host Kellie Curtain to discuss how to optimise your physical preparation and recovery after breast reconstruction surgery.

• For more information on physical preparation and recovery after Breast Reconstruction, BCNA has joined with Breast Research Australia to create a resource. Physical Preparation & Recovery After Breast Reconstruction

FURTHER RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey online tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Reclaim Your Curves

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by the Dry July Foundation.

Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

For people who have had cancer, the fear of it recurring can be real and pervasive. In this episode of Upfront About Breast Cancer, host Kellie Curtain talks to breast surgeon Professor Bruce Mann and psychologist Jane Fletcher about how to manage the fear of cancer recurrence, and at what point you should seek further help and advice.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Fear of cancer recurrence (bcna.org.au)
• Fear of cancer recurrence (BCNA fact sheet)

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by the Dry July Foundation.

Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

Every day, two women aged between 20 and 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2018, Sofi Leota was one of these women, receiving a diagnosis at age 23. In this episode of Upfront About Breast Cancer, host Kellie Curtain talks to Sofi about fertility, losing your hair, connecting with other young women with breast cancer on social media and the challenges of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Breast cancer in young women (BCNA.org.au)
• Fertility-related choices: a decision aid for younger women
• 23 and breastless: Sofi Leota's blog

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by the Dry July Foundation.

Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

We all know that staying active is good for you both physically and mentally. But what about when you have breast cancer? When should you exercise? What type of exercise should you be doing and how much of a difference does it really make?

In this episode of Upfront About Breast Cancer, host Kellie Curtain talks to expert Associate Professor Prue Cormie and two-time breast cancer survivor Jo Francis about their experiences with exercise and cancer - including tips on how to get started, how exercise can help to minimise side effects and why breast cancer survivors should look for an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Find an accredited exercise physiologist near you who has completed professional development in breast cancer treatment
• Find an exercise physiologist near you
• EX-MED Cancer
• Exercise and staying fit (BCNA.org.au)
• BCNA fact sheet: Medicare Chronic disease management plans
• Exercise and breast cancer (BCNA booklet)

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by the Dry July Foundation.

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

There are almost 2.7 million carers in Australia, but many people who provide support to someone with breast cancer don't see themselves as a carer - especially if the person with breast cancer is a partner, a child or a close family member. Stuart Diver was the sole survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide which killed 18 people, including his first wife Sally. He found love again with his second wife Rosanna, however she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after they returned from their honeymoon and Stuart cared for her until she died from metastatic breast cancer in 2015. Stuart is still living in Thredbo, where he is raising his and Rosanna's young daughter Alessia. In this episode of Upfront, Stuart speaks about his experience supporting Rosanna through early and then metastatic breast cancer, and the importance of carers being proactive about their own mental and physical wellbeing in a time of stress and uncertainty.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Caring for someone with early breast cancer
• Fear of breast cancer recurrence
• Metastatic breast cancer and fear of cancer progression
• GP Mental Healthcare plan treatment information
• Tips from carers on how friends and family can support them

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode was made possible through the Supporting Women In Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer program, funded by the Australian Government through Cancer Australia.

Sexual wellbeing is often a low priority for those receiving treatment for breast cancer but it’s important to be aware of how your body will change and what you can do to help ease symptoms.

In this episode of Upfront, Sexual Health Nurse Simone Sheridan talks about how sexual well being is more than sex and genitals, answers the awkward questions many are too embarrassed to ask and explains why it’s not ok to push through pain.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Sexual wellbeing hub (BCNA.org.au)
• Let's Talk About Vaginas group on the BCNA Online Network

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode was made possible through the Supporting Women In Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer program, funded by the Australian Government through Cancer Australia.

The days and weeks after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. While everyone's individual diagnosis and prognosis is different, new treatments can extend and improve the quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer in a way that means metastatic breast cancer can share some similarities the treatment of chronic illness. In this episode of Upfront About Breast Cancer, host Kellie Curtain talks to oncologist Professor Fran Boyle and Rachelle Gebert, a mother of two small children who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2016 about symptom management, treatment side effects and coping mentally with the challenges of a metastatic diagnosis amid the challenges and responsibilities of day-to-day life.

Rachelle died in April 2021. She was happy for us to continue to share this content and her story.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA's Hope & Hurdles Kit
• BCNA's free and confidential metastatic breast cancer phone counselling service
• BCNA Online Network
• Telling your children (bcna.org.au)
• Metastatic breast cancer hub (bcna.org.au)
• Metastatic breast cancer - where to find support (bcna.org.au)
• Fear of cancer progression (bcna.org.au)
• Metastatic breast cancer: an introduction (BCNA fact sheet)
• Exercise and breast cancer (BCNA fact sheet)
• Upfront About Breast Cancer - Episode 6: Telling your children you have cancer

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode was made possible through the Supporting Women In Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer program, funded by the Australian Government through Cancer Australia.

Breast reconstruction surgery recreates the shape of the breast following a mastectomy or lumpectomy. There are many different kinds of reconstruction and lots to consider. Then of course, there's the emotional impact that goes along with it. In this episode of Upfront About Breast Cancer, host Kellie Curtain speaks to plastic and reconstructive surgeon Richard Zinn and BCNA Director of Programs and breast cancer survivor Kellie Shewring about reconstruction, from implants to tram flap to recovery - and whether you even need to have one at all.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network and the Choosing Reconstruction group
• BRECONDA breast reconstruction decision aid
• Surgery (bcna.org.au)
• Breast reconstruction (bcna.org.au)
• My Care Kit
• BreastsurgANZ: find a surgeon

Upfront About Breast Canceris a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode was made possible through the Supporting Women In Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer program, funded by the Australian Government through Cancer Australia.

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

Find out more about Breast Cancer Network Australia and how we support Australians with breast cancer at bcna.org.au/.

Since we recorded our episode about breast reconstruction, important information about a specific kind of breast implant being linked to a rare form of cancer has come to light. Kellie Curtain speaks with breast surgeon Melanie Walker about the recently announced recall of Allergan's textured breast implants, and what actions (if any) women with concerns about their implants should take.

RESOURCES:

• Textured implant update (bcna.org.au)
• Read BCNA’s news item TGA recommends ban on textured breast implants
• Read BCNA’s news item Australian authorities a step closer to banning some textured breast implants
• Visit the TGA’s website to read more about BIA-ALCL

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

Find out more about Breast Cancer Network Australia and how we support Australians with breast cancer at bcna.org.au/.

Telling your child you have cancer is not an easy thing to do. When do you tell them? How much do they need to know? If you have young children is it easier to not tell them at all? On this episode, Kellie Curtain speaks with breast cancer survivor and mum-of-two Anita Ledger and John Freidsam from CanTeen about starting the conversation, dealing with a child in denial and the importance of keeping the lines of communication open no matter your child's age.

RESOURCES:

• BCNA's My Journey Online Tool
• BCNA Online Network
• Telling your children (bcna.org.au)
• My parent has cancer - support and information (CanTeen.org.au)
• Dealing with your parents cancer (CanTeen fact sheet)
• Parenting Through Cancer (CanTeen booklet)
• CanTeen Connect for Parents
• Medikidz comic book (early breast cancer)
• Medikidz comic book (metastatic breast cancer)

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by the Dry July Foundation.

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258.

Find out more about Breast Cancer Network Australia at https://www.bcna.org.au/