Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer diagnosis in women, accounting for over 27% of all cancers in Australian women ie 12,170 cases of 44,356 new cases of cancer diagnosed in females in Australia in 2005 (latest figures available).
In 2005 there were 39,097 deaths from cancer in Australia. Overall, the five most common cancer deaths were from lung cancer (7,427 deaths), colorectal cancer (4,165), cancer of unknown primary site (3,445), prostate cancer (2,949) and breast cancer (2,726). These five cancers accounted for 53% of all deaths from cancer.
(Source: Cancer in Australia, an overview. 2008
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).
Information about Breast Cancer
- 9 things you should know about Breast Cancer (Europa Donna Ireland)
- Guide for Women with Early Breast Cancer (Australian National Breast & Ovarian Cancer Centre www.nbocc.org.au (NBOCC))
- BreastCancer.org (informative US site)
- Cancer Institute New South Wales - breast cancer information and resources (note: you may need to register to access parts of this site, but it is free).
- Cancer Council NSW www.cancercouncil.com.au
- The Cancer Council Australia www.cancer.org.au
- Breast Cancer Network Australia provides very useful resource packs –
My Journey Kit, for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer; Hopes & Hurdles, for women living with advanced breast cancer. - Australasian Menopause Society www.menopause.org.au
- Understanding Breast Cancer Susan G Komen for the cure, US
- Young Survival Coalition: Young women and Breast Cancer (US)
- SharingStrength (Canadian)
- Breast Cancer Network of Strength (US)
- Breast cancer (canceranswers.com , US)
Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer (2002)
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management and Support of Younger Women with Breast Cancer
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Early Breast Cancer - 2nd Edition
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Advanced Breast Cancer
Breast cancer reports and research:
- Breast cancer in Australia: an overview, 2009 (AIHW and NBOCC), Media Release highlighting key findings and newspaper article of personal cancer connection with this report.
- Breast cancer risk factors: a review of the evidence (NBOCC), and NBOCC news report.
- Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in breast cancer: 30 year follow-up of survival. McArdle CS, McMillan DC, Greenlaw N, Morrison DS BMC Cancer 2010, 10:398 (30 July 2010)
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling in part of the body that occurs because of a build-up of fluid in the body's tissues. Estimates suggest that about 20% of patients treated for melanoma, breast, gynaecological or prostate cancers will develop lymphoedema. There is no cure, but appropriate management and daily care can reduce swelling, improve movement and prevent infections.
Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices
Connecting with others
- Journeying beyond breast cancer (A mix of medical news and personal views of a young Irish woman making sense of the cancer experience)
