Cancer Education for Kiwi's

As a healthy young woman living my dream I never expected to hear the words "You have Breast Cancer".

Alarmingly Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women world wide and every year as many as 3000 women and 20 men are diagnosed with Breast Cancer in New Zealand.

There is a lack of understanding and knowledge surrounding this illness and by accessing information and collaborating with organisations outside of New Zealand we can better educate and equip New Zealander's to be more aware of their bodies with the hope of encouraging early detection and better survival rates from Cancer.

As a survivor of Breast Cancer I look back and I feel that there are a lot of things I should have known about this illness. This lack of knowledge made me fear Cancer. My experience over the past two years has made me want to ensure that others will not be put in the same situation - especially young people.

Amazing things are happening in the USA, Canada and the UK and Europe. Being able to partake, contribute and collaborate at these events will ensure that New Zealand is represented and that young Kiwi's will benefit from the resources gathered.

I will travel to and attend three important conferences in the USA in 2015.

All information and resources gathered will be shared and feedback to Breast Cancer and Cancer organisations in New Zealand to benefit New Zealander's.The information will be used for education and awareness campaigns in the hope that early detection rates will increase and there will be a reduction in the number of those diagnosed. There will also be more support and information for individuals going through the disease.

The aim of this project will be to use information gathered to develop resources and come up with education and awareness campaigns for New Zealand.

Where I will be going....

Young Survival Coalition Summit

Houston Texas. USA. 6-8th March 2015.

Connect with 600+ survivors at this US national event for young women affected by breast cancer and their co-surivivors.

http://summit.youngsurvival.org

Cancer Con

Denver, Colorado USA. 24-26th April 2015.

Young adult cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, researchers and digital health partners will unite for change on behalf of the young adult cancer movement.

http://cancercon.org

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

San Antonio, Texas USA. 9-13th December 2015.

An international scientific symposium for interaction and exchange among scientists, clinicians and advocates in breast cancer

http://www.sabcs.org.

This project is supported by The Cancer Society of New Zealand and The Breast Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. These organisations are unable to offer financial assistance.

Pledge before Wednesday 25th February to go into the draw to win a double pass to Future Sound System valued at $240NZD thanks to Frontier Touring!

http://www.frontiertouring.com/futuresoundsystem