There are many groups and individuals, including cancer patients and their families, friends and associates, who are passionate about reducing the cancer burden in NZ.
Brain Cancer:
The New Zealand Brain Tumour Trust.
Breast Cancer:
There are a number of breast cancer patient support groups:
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) provide information and support for breast cancer patients, and also they provide a free support pack to all those newly diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand.
Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust.
Breast Cancer Support in Northland.
Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust. For more information email them or phone Diane on 021 596 098 or Dell on 021 050 2440.
BreastCancerSupport.co.nz has community support groups, and one to one ‘buddy’ services in the following areas:
Greater Auckland (including a group for Young Women)
Levin
Christchurch City
In addition, in-person, individual support is provided in:
Motueka
Rolleston
Balclutha
They have a Nationwide Help Line available on 0800 273 222 every day of the year.
There are many additional foundations, groups and support groups for breast cancer in NZ, some of which are listed here.
Colo-rectal (Bowel) Cancer:
Bowel cancer support groups are listed here.
Gynaecological Cancer:
New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
Leukaemia and Blood Cancer:
For a calendar of leukaemia and blood cancer support group meetings click here.
Lung Cancer:
The Lung Foundation NZ is an independent non-government organisation dedicated to promoting healthy lungs and early detection of lung disease (including lung cancer, NZ’s biggest cancer killer).
Melanoma:
Melanoma New Zealand is the only charity organisation in NZ for patients dedicated to preventing avoidable deaths and suffering from melanoma.
MelNet is an organization in New Zealand for professionals with an interest in melanoma
Prostate Cancer:
The Prostate Cancer Foundation has nationwide support groups; click here. Their support groups are available nationwide to assist prostate sufferers and their families. The Support Meeting Calendar indicates where and when the next group meets in your area.
Other Cancer Types:
For breast and prostate cancer and other cancer types, search for support groups in your region here.
Maori Supportive Care Groups and Frameworks:
Hei Ahuru Mowai is a National Maori Cancer Leadership Group established in 2012.
- Māori experience the burden of significant inequalities between indigenous and non-indigenous groups across the entire cancer control continuum, resulting in poorer survival and increased mortality. Watch the following video: The uneven playing field: ethnic inequalities in cancer outcomes in NZ – Video by Assoc. Prof. Diana Sarfati (Requires YouTube).
- Hei Āhuru Mōwai – National Māori Cancer Leadership Group was established in 2012 with the aim of ensuring Māori experience high quality equitable cancer services. It is the only national organisation with the purpose of ensuring Māori have the opportunity to engage in Māori cancer control from policy development to implementation across the cancer continuum.
He Anga Whakaahuru is a supportive care framework.
- People affected by cancer should experience an integrated and coordinated system of continued supportive care, overseen by an educated workforce, to ease the social consequences arising from their experience with cancer and to enhance their quality of life.their experience with cancer.
- Refer to the following document that He Anga Whakaahuru have developed for the Standards and Competencies, which describe the level and quality of service that a person affected by cancer should have access to. Also of interest is their training and resources page.
Te Rangawairua o Paratene Ngata, on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, is a new health-research centre, recently opened at Te Whare Hauora o Ngāti Porou in Te Puia, that will investigate conditions like diabetes, gout, and kidney disease. This does not currently include cancer, but this health research centre might include cancer at sometime in the future.
- The centre will operate in partnership with the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Bio-discovery, a network of health researchers, scientists and providers.
Waharoa Ki Te Toi Research Facility at Kaitaia Hospital in Northland is a new health-research centre. This health research centre, which is operating in partnership with the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Bio-discovery, does not currently include cancer, but it might include cancer at sometime in the future.
- “Currently our focus is on metabolic health (genetics linked to type-2 diabetes, obesity and the impact of sugar) as well as infectious disease (strep infections and links to rheumatic fever). Our research programmes involve state of the art approaches and show that Māori and regional communities can play a leading role in world class medical research. The centre is in the process of developing clinical studies in Kaitaia to build sustainable research platforms and recent funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand will provide baseline funding for this until 2022.”