DRAGONS ABREAST – Keeping the Spirit Alive! One Journey — Many
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Dragons Abreast ACT & Region www.dragonsabreast.com.au Abreast of the news newsletter Under the umbrella of Breast Cancer Network Australia P.O. Box 7191 Yarralumla ACT 2600 Issue 31 May 2009 15th UICC Reach to Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Conference One journey — many people Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane 13-15 May 2009 http://www.reachtorecovery2009.org/ Report by Kerrie Griffin Introduction You are not alone was a recurring theme as Sincere thanks to Dragons Abreast ACT who inspiring speakers spoke of the amazing research sponsored my participation at the Reach to and support networks happening around the world. Recovery International conference. I’ve included The plenary and workshop speakers were hyperlinks to relevant resources for your future professionals of a very high calibre who were able reference. Here is my summary of the plenary to translate complex research findings for the sessions and workshops that I attended which was layperson in a relevant and succinct fashion. only a small part of this enormous conference. It was difficult to chose from so many topics. Many Professor Jeff Dunn, Conference Chair and CEO thanks to Bea Brickhill, DA ACT, a recently Cancer Council Queensland, spoke of the diagnosed friend, for sharing the journey with me infectious buzz at any breast cancer meeting but as well as providing her notes on the media especially at this conference as women networked workshop. I enjoyed meeting and mingling with and shared support. He said the conference had many new, kind and generous people from around the international spirit of common goals, working the world and Australia, including the ACT. It was together with health professionals, governments, an uplifting and challenging experience. community, and colleagues from support organisations. ‘This conference gave women Link to the PDF including abstracts: affected by breast cancer the opportunity to build http://www.qldcancer.com.au/reachtorecovery2009/conference/d new support networks with other women from all ocuments/ProgramBook over the world. It empowers women to take action to raise awareness of breast cancer in their local The theme One journey many people was echoed communities.’ throughout the Reach to Recovery conference by all the keynote speakers. It is particularly poignant I must acknowledge the outstanding Conference that it was the idea of Lyn Moore, DA Brisbane organisers, Queensland Cancer Council and and long time BCNA Queensland Representative. wonder woman Megan Dwyer (Amazon Heart cofounder). Kerrie Griffin, Gillian Horton (Bosom Buddies BCNA Liaison); Barb, DA Bryon Bay; Alison Meretini and Jacki Spence, ACT Lyn Swinburne CEO BCNA; Glenise Webb, and Natrasska Cancer Council and Lyn Moore, DA Brisbane and BCNA Chiron Bosom Buddies; Gertrude Nakigudde, Uganda Queensland Women’s Cancer Support Organization; Lyn Moore and Kerrie Griffin at the pink Parliament House reception DRAGONS ABREAST – keeping the spirit alive! 1 . Kerrie Griffin, Lily, Malaysia; Mornington Peninsula Malaysian delegates; Michael Connolly, Indigenous artist; members including ; Gail, Jo Lovelock, Amazon Heart Natrasska Chiron and Lyn Moore with the cooperative painting (far right) at the pink Parliament House reception including dragon boats painted at the preconference workshop Conference networking highlights We enjoyed and joined in with the 45 Taiwanese delegates who gave an enthusiastic singing and Conference highlights included many networking dancing performance, screen presentation and gifts opportunities to meet some of the 600 plus to encourage attendance at the next Reach to delegates. We enjoyed a pink Welcome Recovery International Conference to be held in Reception at Parliament House on Tuesday Taipai from 9 to 12 November 2011. Each evening after the preconference workshop on morning, we had the opportunity to have breakfast Indigenous art. We had fun at the Adventure and enjoy tai chai (day 1) or yoga (day 2) at 8am. Workshop at Riverlife on Wednesday. I chose Following the conference, some paddled with DA Indigenous dance in order to meet international Brisbane and visited a jazz festival. The following visitors but I also gained insight from the week, Megan and Meredith organised the Amazon Indigenous dancers as they answered questions Heart Thunder Brisbane to Sydney trip with 39 that no Australian would ask (like where are the Harley Davidson trail blazers for a motorcycle ride women dancers)! It was a mutually empowering of a lifetime. and beneficial experience. We stayed for the BBQ and watched the sunset, then stars, as we sat near Day 1: Survivorship the river on a clear and perfect night and returned by ferry. I caught up with a few at the young Plenary 1.1 The opening was spectacular with an women’s drinks at the Fox Hotel afterwards. Indigenous dance troupe’s welcome to country, fire making and a smoking ceremony to cleanse the On Thursday evening, many wore impressive delegates. Four Amazon Heart members rode national dress to the Conference Dinner at the their Harley Davidson motorcycles into the beautiful old sandstone Brisbane City Hall. We conference centre to deliver the message stick; applauded the international and Australian award which travelled around the world on a journey of winners including Sandra Gregg, a Queensland hope connecting breast cancer survivors and breast care nurse and trainer, won first prize in the drawing delegates to Brisbane for the conference. 2009 AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Care Award and http://www.themessagestick.com/message.php Dr Fran Boyle AM who received a commendation. Meredith Campbell (Amazon Heart cofounder) Plenary 1.3 Professor Anne Stanton, UCLA, USA, received an award for her vision, inspiration and provided an insight into her research into drive for the conference. We were entertained by psychological and physical health and what helps the Breast Wishes crew http://www.breastwishes.com.au/ or hinders women confronted with breast cancer. and danced till the end under the blue luminous She looked at the power of transformation and how dome to a great young swing band. some women are bolstered and develop resilience and find benefits and strength through relationships, enhanced appreciation of life, reassessed priorities, spirituality and health-promoting behaviour. It takes a year to recover from chemotherapy and the highest psychosocial risk is with younger and/or isolated women with chronic stresses. http://cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov/breast_cancer.html Plenary 1.4 Professor Cheng Har Yip, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, (who was awarded the top Reach to Recovery award at the dinner) focused on the global patterns of breast cancer incidence, trends and treatment; based on her research in the epidemiology, early detection and management of Conference Dinner venue, Brisbane City Hall DRAGONS ABREAST – keeping the spirit alive! 2 breast cancer in developing countries. The introduction of a Western lifestyle and diet in developing countries increases the risk of breast cancer. For instance, in Malaysia the rate is 1 in 20 women; with women presenting with more advanced tumours and using joss ticks or burns as traditional treatment. A major fear is that men will abandon them as women are not decision makers in their culture, ethnicity and religion. HIV/AIDs, not breast cancer, is the major health concern that leads to conflicting priorities. Breast Health Global Initiative is working towards evidence-based, economically feasible and culturally appropriate support, advocacy, awareness, education, sharing and empowering women in order to close the gap. Ellen Weaver (left) and Sue Bowen (right), DA Brisbane; at the Indigenous workshop at Riverlife Dr Susan Carter, Rocky Mountain Colorado, showed an inspiring PowerPoint presentation on the benefits of exercise in cancer rehabilitation. Her research found that exercise is empowering and increases energy, improves body image and acts like an anti-depressant medicine. A water treadmill was developed for people with fractures and at risk of bleeding. Exercise during chemotherapy is A tai chi class before breakfast with Glenise Webb, Vice President, Bosom Buddies and other early birds beneficial for the heart. http://www.unco.edu/rmcri/ Workshop 1.4 The Survivorship: Quality of life after Professor Afaf Girgis, CHeRP, (who has an breast cancer workshop drew a full house and international reputation in cancer prevention and probably should have been a plenary session. early detection and was an early supporter of the Anna Hawkes, Cancer Council Qld, outlined the formation of BCNA) outlined the results from the current recommended balanced diet and regular Australian study on Lifestyle behaviours and future exercise program and indicated that people should health promotion priorities for beast cancer try and be lean, not smoke, exercise 30 minutes survivors: the 45 and up study cohort. These daily, eat dietary fibre, limit red meats, avoid results informed the recent NBCF Think Tank* on processed meats and drink in moderation (one program research to identify priority areas, such as drink daily; two alcohol free days = five drinks per physical activity and healthy eating; and to evaluate week). Dietary supplements are not recommended. research and evidence on the five year benchmark Obesity, alcohol consumption, being inactive and after cancer. It appears there is a ‘teachable smoking are still the main lifestyle risk factors. moment’ which motivates women to stop smoking Author’s note: Nevertheless, these criteria do