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September 2024
TWIN STUDY COULD REVOLUTIONISE BREAST CANCER PREVENTION
Thanks to your dedicated support, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF)-funded researcher Professor John Hopper is working on new ways to predict breast cancer risk from mammograms that are more accurate than all known genetic factors. The new study involving twins aims to uncover the factors potentially playing a role in increasing risk of the disease.
The study will recruit about 2,000 pairs of twin sisters without breast cancer and 100 pairs with the disease to uncover new insights into the causes of breast cancer both genetic and non-genetic.
Tracey and Tania are one of the pairs of twins who are participating in the study. Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. After 14 months of breast cancer treatment, Tracey is now more than four years cancer-free. Tracey worries for her identical twin Tania as they carry the same genetics.
“I worry all the time. I worry she’s going to have that mammogram and it’s going to come back positive, and we’ll both have to go through it all again,” said Tracey.
Professor Hopper’s study could change breast screening and breast cancer prevention across the world. By combining information gathered from mammograms analysed by artificial intelligence, DNA extracted from blood and personal questionnaires, the work will calculate a person’s personal risk score.
“Studying twins is a powerful way to make new insights into the causes of the disease, genetic and non-genetic, by finding out why they are similar to each other as well as why they differ from one another. In particular, twins allow us to control one of the main variables in our health – genetics. We can then drill down on the role that other factors are playing.”
Research studies like this one conducted by Professor Hopper and his team would not be possible without the generosity of people like you. Thank you for helping us fund life-changing breast cancer research.
INCLUDE A CHARITY WEEK 2-8 SEPTEMBER 2024
Include a Charity Week is a worldwide social change campaign that highlights the impact you can make for a cause close to your heart, through adding a gift in your Will.
The aim of Include a Charity Week is to inspire more people in Australia to add a charitable gift in their Will, increasing the funds invested in the charitable sector and creating a positive impact on society.
A gift in Will to National Breast Cancer Foundation will enable our researchers to continue to make extraordinary discoveries which will protect future generations from breast cancer. It will bring forward the day when no family will experience the heartache of losing a loved one to breast cancer.
Research is a long journey and needs a steady stream of funding. By including a gift in your Will, you can help fund breast cancer research which will save lives. A future with Zero Deaths from breast cancer is something many of us dream of. People like Tina help us make that dream a reality by adding a gift in their Will.
“My darling parents were active members of their community. They taught me it was important to give back and help others. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, my community is the breast cancer community. Leaving a gift in my Will is one of the ways I contribute to my community by helping fund essential breast cancer research and ensuring future generations can achieve their dreams without the fear of breast cancer,” said Tina.
A gift of even 1% of your Estate in your Will, after you have taken care of your loved ones can help create a future where no one loses their life to breast cancer.
We understand that adding a gift in your Will is a very personal decision. You may request our Gift in Will information booklet or if you would like to talk to our Gifts in Wills Team about the steps to create or change your Will to include a gift to NBCF, please get in touch on bequests@nbcf.org.au or phone Diana on 02 8098 4848.
FATHER’S DAY APPRECIATION
To mark Father’s Day this month, we honour the love, support and strength of fathers and father figures. Here are some messages from our community ambassadors to their loved ones in celebration of Father’s Day.
"This is my husband, Riaad. He has been the rock of our family, especially during times when I’ve been unwell. Riaad's unwavering love and presence have shone through the roughest days."
Zayaan, diagnosed 2022
“My one-legged, 75 year old dad “hopped” 100km with me to celebrate life after a breast cancer diagnosis. He showed me that there is beauty and strength in taking things one step at a time. Happy Father’s Day dad. You are my inspiration!”
Czarina, diagnosed 2022
“Happy Father's Day to my selfless husband who held every part of our young family together. During my first infusion he said he wished it was him and not me in the chair.”
Kathy, diagnosed 2023
"Happy Father’s Day to my husband Denis. You always make us laugh, keep our bellies full with your delicious cooking and give exceptional hugs. We love and appreciate you!"
Kelee, diagnosed 2023
CHARITIES HELPING CHARITIES
We are so excited to share with you our recent initiative to contribute to the community. Throughout the year we receive many stamped envelopes from our wonderful community of donors. We have been inspired to assist Rotary Clubs with their ‘Philatelic Garbology’ project rather than dispose of the stamps we receive on our mail.
Rotary Clubs across Australia have been supporting the project which is coordinated by the Rotary Club of Glen Waverley, Victoria and involves collecting the stamps and selling them to local stamp dealers to raise funds.
Over the past 32 years more than $150,000 has been raised to support projects such as End Polio now, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Wheelchairs for Kids and The Cathy Freeman Foundation. For the past six years all funds have been raised for the End Trachoma project. Trachoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world and sadly Australia is the only developed country in the world where it is still prevalent.
We are proud to support Rotary with this wonderful initiative.
If you would like to take part in this initiative, please send your used stamps to:
Camille Rogers,
C/- Sacred Source,
245A Glenferrie Road,
Malvern, VIC 3144
This October, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month shop pink with our Corporate Partners who are helping raise vital funds for breast cancer research.