news
Breast cancer
and disability
A
ustralians with a
disability who have been
diagnosed with breast
cancer and their carers will now
be able to access information
resources to help them live well
after their diagnosis.
Breast Cancer Network Australia
(BCNA), the peak national organisation
vision to provide a better breast cancer
after research found that existing cancer, has developed two fact sheets breast cancer resources were not in - ‘Keep breast cancer away’ and ‘Life appropriate adaptive formats and did and their carers have struggled to
after breast can cer’, which are available not provide adequate information on find accessible information about how
in Easy English written form, audio, and the interaction between disability and breast cancer treatment and its side
HTML for screen readers. breast cancer, or adequately prepare effects could affect them. We hope
people for the process and impact of these new resources will make what
treatment. can be a scary and stressful time a little
A new video, ‘Living with a
disability and breast cancer’, has also
been released and features people BCNA Director of Programs
with disability who have dealt with and Services Felicity Munt said the
breast cancer treatment. resources are an example of BCNA’s
Get moving
T
he Cerebral Palsy
Alliance (CPA) wants
Australians to stand up
and get moving.
Tegan Butcher, from the CPA
Youth Service and a trained exercise
“Sitting is the new smoking
journey for all Australians.
“In the past, people with disabilities
easier to handle,” Felicity said.
The new resources can be accessed
via www.bcna.org.au
Fourteen-year-old Ben Tudhope,
and it’s more dangerous than not who has Cerebral Palsy, represented
exercising,” says Tegan. “Aussie Australia in para-snowboard cross at
workers are prioritising their work, the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics.
sitting on that desk chair far too long Ben believes that: “Everybody
in the day and not exercising. should do exercise and be as outside
“The World Health Organisation
and active as possible.”
physiologist, says the latest research has recommended 10,000 steps shows that Australia is the 19th most because it helps us maintain our it’s a challenge I need to overcome
sedentary country in the world, cardio-metabolic health which every day. When I was diagnosed
lagging behind the World Health means that we are keeping our body they said I may not be able to walk
Organisation’s recommended 10,000 and our heart healthy for a long and and I’m just so lucky to be able to, as
daily steps by more than half. happy healthy life.” nearly half of people with CP can’t,”
Research carried out by
08
The resources were developed
for Australians affected by breast
According to Tegan, initiatives
“My biggest barrier is my CP and
he said.
Steptember - a CPA fundraising like Steptember have succeeded initiative - revealed that 54% of in getting people moving more, has been helping me since I was
full-time employees blame their particularly in the workplace, with born and Steptember is a way that
workload as the main barrier to many people saying they would be everybody can participate.”
exercising with only 32% leaving much more likely to participate in their desks for long enough to reach workplace health activities if bosses help the 34,000 Australians living
10,000 steps a day. and colleagues were supportive. with cerebral palsy.
news
“The Cerebral Palsy Alliance
Steptember raises vital funds to
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