Useful links for members

Support

Cancer Society of New Zealand

Your local division of the Cancer Society will have information about support available for women of other cultural and ethnic backgrounds – please call 0800 CANCER or go to https://www.cancer.org.nz for more information.

Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) (Auckland and nationwide)

The Coalition consists of a number of breast cancer-related Member groups (of which Sweet Louise is one) throughout New Zealand, led by a central committee, collectively advocating to make world-class detection, treatment and care available to all New Zealanders experiencing breast cancer.

Visit www.breastcancer.org.nz for more information and to receive a free copy of Step by Step, a helpful resource for those newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Support (BCS)

BCS offers a nationwide helpline and support groups in Auckland and Christchurch area. All services are delivered by trained volunteers who have experienced breast cancer. To join a group, to find support in your local area, or to speak to someone who has experienced breast cancer, call 0800 273 222 or visit www.breastcancersupport.co.nz

The Grief Centre
This is an organisation with resources, counselling and groups available to help those dealing with grief and loss. It could be useful for you as well as for finding out what support might be available for families. www.griefcentre.org.nz.

Lymphoedema Support (Nationwide)

The Website of New Zealand Lymphoedema Therapists www.lymphoedemanz.org.nz provides contact information for National Private Lymphoedema Therapists and District Health Board Lymphoedema Services throughout New Zealand. There are support groups in some areas. Call your local division of the Cancer Society (0800 CANCER) to see if there is one in your area. There is also a lymphoedema support network – call 09 625 6463 or email [email protected] to find out more.

New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF)

The Foundation has a Specialist Breast Care Nurse who is available weekdays by phoning 0800 226 8773. NZBCF also funds three free counselling sessions for those undergoing treatment or living with secondary breast cancer. Visit their website for more information https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/breast-cancer/advanced-breast-cancer

Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust

The Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust offers support and care for those affected by breast cancer in the Rotorua community. 022 424 6616 [email protected] or www.rotoruabreastcancertrust.co.nz

Wellbeing

Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better is a free programme dedicated to teaching women with cancer, through hands-on experience, techniques to help restore and enhance their appearance during and after treatment. Look Good Feel Better is a step by step make-over session led by cosmetician volunteers. Call 0800 865 432 www.lgfb.co.nz for your nearest programme.

Pinc & Steel

Pinc & Steel are physiotherapists specially trained in cancer rehabilitation. They provide individual and group programmes designed to improve the strength, quality of life and sense of wellbeing for women and men diagnosed with cancer. Pinc & Steel physiotherapists are based throughout New Zealand, see their website for locations and details. www.pincandsteel.com

Time Out

Time Out is a registered charity dedicated to providing free holiday accommodation for people with incurable illnesses and their whanau. Accommodation is available in many locations in New Zealand. To find out more information and to organise time away for you and your whanau, register on www.timeoutnz.org

Hospice

Find out what programmes are offered by your local hospice. Many run a variety of wellness groups including art therapy, mindfulness, yoga, managing symptoms and side effects and some even offer walking groups. Some hospices also provide treatments such as massage and reiki etc. See www.hospice.org.nz or call 04 381 0266 to find out where your local hospice is and what they offer.

Care Community Trust

The Care Community Trust offers free weekends at motel style units at Camp Raglan in the Waikato region. Stays are offered to people living with cancer in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, however if you live elsewhere some exceptions can be made on a case by case basis. Please contact your Support Coordinator to be referred or visit www.carecommunity.org.nz for more information.

Casting for Recovery (CFR)

This organisation provides retreats during the late summer on both the North and South Island, at no cost to participants, which allow people whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish. www.castingforrecovery.org or 027 2796766.

Race4Life

The aim of Race4LifeTrust is to enable people, living with life limiting illness,
to realize dreams that they, and their families can cherish. Their mission is to make wishes come true. Race4Life services the whole of New Zealand. www.race4life.co.nz

Ronald McDonald Family Retreats

The Ronald McDonald Family Retreats provides one weeks free holiday accommodation for families who have experienced the impact of a chronic/long term illness or a bereavement in their family. www.rmhc.org.nz

Please speak with your Support Coordinator for other wellbeing options and retreats in your area. Contact your Support Coordinator directly or call 0800 11 22 77.

Support for young women

Shocking Pink

Shocking Pink supports young women through their journey with breast cancer. Find out more at www.shockingpink.org.nz or [email protected]

Breast Cancer Nirvana

Set up by a young woman with breast cancer, this site is interested in the support needed for women with breast cancer and has ideas and resources on what is useful and what is not. www.breastcancernirvana.co.nz

NZ Young Women’s Online Forum

The NZ Young Women’s Forum is co-hosted by the Breast Cancer Network Australia, Breast Cancer Support and the Breast Cancer Network NZ at www.bcna.org.au. Create your own profile using 3124 as your post code. Using ‘Find Groups’, enter the key words ‘New Zealand’ and scroll down to locate the NZ Young Women’s Group. If you have any problems registering please contact [email protected].

Whole Lotta Life Foundation

The Whole Lotta Life Foundation is for people age 20-45 living with cancer (or diagnosed previously) and offers online support, regional meet-ups and retreats. www.wholelottalife.org

Support for children

Cloud Workshops

This is an art based programme run in conjunction with Mercy Hospice in Auckland for bereaved children and those with life threatening illness in their family. It is for children aged 5-18. www.cloudworkshop.co.nz

Kenzie’s Gift

A charity committed to ensuring the ongoing psychological wellbeing of children who are impacted by serious illness in their families. They provide free one-to-one psychotherapy for children, plus a toolkit for parents. www.kenziesgift.com

Skylight

For resources on helping children coping with a sick parent, see www.skylight.org.nz This website has a number of books and pamphlets to help children and the adults supporting them. Or call on 0800 29 91 00 for more information.

General information and palliative care services

The Cancer Society of New Zealand (Nationwide)

The Cancer Society provides a wide range of professional services and programmes for cancer patients and their families. In some areas this may include accommodation and transport options (Volunteer Drivers) for patients and their family and, in some areas, frozen meals are available for cancer patients. To locate the office nearest you, phone the Toll Free Help Line 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit https://www.cancer.org.nz/

The Cancer Society also offers:
• CancerChat NZ an online chat forum, for people who want to ‘talk’ about their experiences with cancer. www.cancerchatnz.org.nz
• Cancer information library with books and other resources available for loan.
• Cancer Connect a peer support group.
• Counselling services for people with cancer, and their carers can be made by phoning 0800 226 237. A doctor’s referral is not required.

Hospice NZ

There are hospices providing palliative care services in the North Island: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island (Rotorua and Taupo), Taranaki/Wanganui, Hawkes Bay, East Coast, and Wellington/Lower Hutt and Manawatu. In the South Island: Nelson and Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Full information about individual hospices can be found on www.hospice.org.nz or by phoning 04 381 0266.